Dear reader,

Earlier today I finally touched down in Tribhuvan International Airport. I've spent the rest of the day practically (as the Nepali often say) in ninth heaven! As soon as I settled into my brilliant hotel I've seen so much that I just have no idea where to start, so I’ll start at the beginning. The first thing I saw as I left the not-so-safe-looking airport (a minimalist area without the usual fast food outlets and souvenir shops that fill most Australian airports) was grab a taxi which took me straight to my hotel in inner-city Kathmandu. The taxi was an extremely uncomfortable drive; I could barely fit into the back and the seats only had a thin layer of cotton-like material as cushioning (fortunately it was unusually cool for most of today so the heat wasn't that much of an issue). The drive was tolerable however, because of the lovely views of terraced fields in Kathmandu Valley which I could see through the grimy windows of the cab. Over-all the trip cost me a full 1000 Nepalese Rupees as my driver was one of the many taxi drivers in Nepal that do not use a meter and, although this is illegal, the corrupt authorities do nothing to prevent this diddling of tourists. Once I reached my hotel and settled my luggage in, I went straight off to one of the main cultural centers of Buddhism: Bodnath Stupa. There I paid the modest sum of 200 rupees for a full guided tour of this magnificent temple, with its huge concrete floor and golden tower. I especially liked the intricate yet majestic carvings throughout the temple. Afterwards I experienced the many shops and cultural attractions around the Bodnath area, I’ll explain this later when I’m more energized. Now that I’m back in my accommodation, the famous Dwarika's Hotel, I am exhausted and I think I’ll go to sleep straight after I go out for dinner. That’s all for today, I’ll keep you posted!

Bodnath Stupa