Beautiful Nepal

My Sahara Airlines flight to Kathmandu from Delhi took just a little more than one hour and twenty minutes. The descend into Kathmandu holds magnificent views. The city is set against the backdrop of the Himalayas and man you just about lose your breath taking in the views.

I handed over US$30.00 for a visa and went to the counter where you get a prepaid taxi. I felt confident that I would be at Hotel Horizon in just a few minutes. I chose Hotel Horizon from the Lonely Planet guidebook in my possession. Well as travellers to the sub-continent will tell, touts can make your life hell. The tout and driver of the cab began their spiel just seconds into the ride. I kept insisting that I had reservations to Hotel Horizon (I did not) but to no avail.

When we pulled up at the hotel it was called Hotel Blue Horizon. I knew this was a bait and switch deal but went inside anyway. The guys at the front desk obviously pay cabbies to bring unsuspecting tourist to their hotel. I was unsuspecting but about ready to put a cap in someone's ass if the hotel sucked.

It all turned out cool though and I ended even returning to Hotel Blue Horizon. The Nepali brothers who run the place are way cool and who can complain about a really nice room for US$8.00. My last night in the hotel was nice because I got to talk to two American brothers who have the travel bug like me. One of the brothers, Gary, has been on the road for 14 years and has no plans of stopping. Sweeeeeeet!!

I checked in, watched CNN and found P.W. dead, Britney divorcing K-Fed, and the Windies confident about winning the Champions Trophy (dammit they lost). So, news in hand, I left for a walk around Thamel.


The first thing I noticed was that Thamel was cleaner than Delhi but choked by carbon fumes too. The second thing were the throngs of tourists from caucasia. What the hell is it with these folks and their big back-packs, North Face gear, and electronic equipment from BestBuy? Whoa, one would swear that every Brad and Amy, Helga and Johan, are going to mount Everest.

Just moments into my "what the hell is so much of caucasia doing here?" I was approached by a Nepali dude obviously high on something. He said "where you from, India?" I said "ummm ..... how long will you go back?" But he did not get my drift or did not care most likely. He then said "do you like enjoyment?" I said "oh yes" not knowing what the hell he was motioning. "Follow me" he said and I caught the drift then. I said no and he looked confused saying "you don't like hash?"

I was about to say "who is Hash?" but just walked away. My head immediately went back to the early nineties when I was leaving Cora's townhouse in Baltimore and a woman walked up to the passenger side of my truck and asked: "Do you date?" .... I nodded my head and she got into my black Chevy S10. "Oh no!" I said, I thought you were asking me if I was dating someone." She gave me the weirdest look and got out of the truck. Damn, wonder how she is doing now?



Anyway, my first few hours in Kathmandu was nice. I liked the buzz and the flashy lights for a bit. Don't get me wrong, Kathmandu is an ancient city and the presence of stunning temples are to be found all around the city.

I returned to my hotel room and watched Jay Leno! Yep ol Jay is on in the sub-continent at 10pm. Makes life easier since you don't have to stay up past midnight to see bands play with Kevin Eubanks :)

I turned in early because all of Nepal likes to turn in at 10:30pm. Even the guide books say that if you are a night-life dude then Nepal is not for you. Oh well, I wonder what Brad and Amy, Helga and Johan, do after 10pm. Most likely they take stock of their conqueror's equipment and talk about the trek, the hike, 'doing Pokhara', or the like. Whatever the motioning, the signifying symbol says "I come from colonial stock and want to mount you and your space!" I just love post-colonial theory ... keeps me angry enough to be aware that we are so colonized. Oh yeah, I should check and see if Madonna or Angelina have bought more children in Africa or Asia. Who would of thunked it, a post-slavery compulsion to purchase black/brown children for their nominal value in dislodging inherent guilt?


Oh yes that is a Britney Spears tee shirt on that young Nepali dude. One of about hundred I saw as I made my way from Kathmandu to Pokhara and to Lumbini where Buddha was born in 563BC. I also saw a fair share tee shirts that depict powerful white American wrestlers. Put together the two images lay plain the path to accepting and even promoting white beauty and power as normative.



Guess the Britney Spears doo dads can be bought at this local version of Target! I wonder if Target knows about this outlet? Copyright infringement and intellectual property rights mean squat in the sub-continent (it may even be a revolutionary resistance but I doubt it). Where do think Brad and Amy, Helga and Johan, loaded up on more North Face and Nike gear? Right inside the Kathmandu Target of course. Oh yeah, I must not forget to tell Angela that she can shop at the Kathmandu Target when, and if, she visits me.