Completing a week in Kathmandu, Arg.s and I decided to leave Kathmandu to go back to the subcontinent; but through different ways. They were thinking to cross Sunauli border again in order to catch a train from Gorakphur to Rajasthan state and I had decided to cross Mahendranagar border by 20 hour long Nepali bus ride through West Terai region. Well, somehow our attempts to seperate from each other failed:), once again.
After a very uncomfortable and freezing ride, we arrived at the border in the morning and walked for few km.s to find a vehicle to drive us to Banbassa (Indian border town). The Maoist presence in West Terai hadn't let tourism to progress, although there are lots of recommended national parks and nice mountain landscapes in the region. The border is also not used for trade between the two countries as there's no road between the towns.
We spent a few hours in Banbassa to decide which bus we would take. Surprisingly, there are frequently departing buses that goes to the main cities in Uttaranchal, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan states; so don't worry in finding one of them. We had taken the 18 hour long Jaipur bus to go directly to Pushkar. Julian & Renata hadn't seen the town before and I needed a rest after 40 hours of traveling in a bus.
Today, we're going to Jodphur after staying 3 days in lovely Pushkar. I cannot wait to see the Great Thar Desert.
See you soon...
08/12/2007
KATHMANDU (VALLEY)
I really don't know what to write about and how to start. After a while after travelling and writing about the places I had visited, I decided to form the texts before I sat down in front of the computer. Until Kathmandu, it had helped me to organize my thoughts and feelings before passing on you.
I enjoyed my days in Kathmandu; it wasn't because of amazing Newari architecture, delicately carved windows and doors, in and around (esp.) Patan's and Kathmandu's Durbar (Palace) Squares, or it wasn't because of meeting so many people, I met with in Pokhara and Annapurna Circuit, and it wasn't because of the wide range of restaurants, book and music shops and very colorful textile products. Yes, it's a huge valley in the middle of Himalayas that caused a dozen of civilization to set their lives on all through centuries. Yes, it's the meeting point of trekkers and travellers and merchants. And yes, it's a city which has the characteristic of a typical cosmopolitan city.
But I loved it from the first moment I stepped in Thamel, because I simply felt myself walking in Istiklal Street* once again. I saw Tarlabasi St. and Lale Iskembe (Tribe Restaurant) at the start of it, when I looked at the road seen from my table in The Yellow House**. The city had easily pulled me inside of it. After staying there for a week, I can say that it's a huge continously changing puzzle, of which every piece is so unique, but at the same time perfectly fits each other. You just have to come here and make it your own.
* Famous street in Beyoglu, Istanbul (Turkey)
** Very recommended place to stay in Paknajol (near Thamel)
I enjoyed my days in Kathmandu; it wasn't because of amazing Newari architecture, delicately carved windows and doors, in and around (esp.) Patan's and Kathmandu's Durbar (Palace) Squares, or it wasn't because of meeting so many people, I met with in Pokhara and Annapurna Circuit, and it wasn't because of the wide range of restaurants, book and music shops and very colorful textile products. Yes, it's a huge valley in the middle of Himalayas that caused a dozen of civilization to set their lives on all through centuries. Yes, it's the meeting point of trekkers and travellers and merchants. And yes, it's a city which has the characteristic of a typical cosmopolitan city.
But I loved it from the first moment I stepped in Thamel, because I simply felt myself walking in Istiklal Street* once again. I saw Tarlabasi St. and Lale Iskembe (Tribe Restaurant) at the start of it, when I looked at the road seen from my table in The Yellow House**. The city had easily pulled me inside of it. After staying there for a week, I can say that it's a huge continously changing puzzle, of which every piece is so unique, but at the same time perfectly fits each other. You just have to come here and make it your own.
* Famous street in Beyoglu, Istanbul (Turkey)
** Very recommended place to stay in Paknajol (near Thamel)
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