16. KATHMANDU - PATAN -
KIRTIPUR
Nov 8 - '94 (Kathmandu - Patan)
After an excellent breakfast at 'Helena's' we take a riksja to Patan. The
ride takes 1/2 hour and costs 100 to 150 Rp.
Worth a visit in Patan are 'Durbar Square' and the temple called '9000
Buddha's'.
Yet, we prefer Thamel...
*Restaurants and pubs in Thamel :
-'Oasis' is a restaurant in Freak Street and
has a pleasant terraced garden. The pizza's are really delicious and
cheap...(recommended!)
-'Third Eye' : Indian restaurant with refined and payable specialties, for
example 'Chicken Reshmi Kabab' with nan (Indian bread)
-'Tom & Jerry' : cool pub with good rock, 'happy hours' with payable cocktails
and popcorn. Unfortunately it's closing time at 10 PM.
4 stern police-officers show themselves to urge the still present clientele to leave. You
may finish your drinks in a normal tempo though...
Some 'cool' cocktails : 'Tom & Jerry Base camp' or 'Annapurna Cocktail'
The closing-time applies to all pubs and restaurants in Kathmandu.
-'The Rum Doodle' : the best restaurant that the city can offer (our opinion
;-)). Here you eat in a romantic atmosphere with candle-light and hearth and sit down on cushions
on the floor (a bit Japanese style but still it isn't). They'll only let you in
if you take off your shoes... so wash your feet please ! It's a bit more expensive but
quite rightly because they have a distinct kitchen.
Try for example the 'Mixed Kebap' with rice and vegetables and a sweetish 'Himalayan
mixed tea', you won't regret it.
-'Helena's' : just magnificent for breakfast and all sorts of cakes and
biscuits, also very crowded in the evenings.
Nov 9 - '94 (Kathmandu - Kirtipur - Bhaktapur)
We visit 'Kirtipur' (about 3 miles south-west of Kathmandu), a modest little
town with 20.000 inhabitants which happened to be a independent kingdom in the 18th
century. These days it completely fell into poverty and it became one of the poorest towns
in the country. The old palace is now used to hang up the laundry. Kirtipur lies on a hill
with on top of it a small, neglected temple from where you can see the Kathmandu valley.
It's a good idea to walk about the narrow alleys and meet the local people. There is no
tourism here, everything is authentic.
There are no places to eat or drink something so you better bring your own drinks.
They also make carpets in Kirtipur and possibly it might be cheaper to buy one here
instead of Kathmandu.
From Kathmandu it's quite easy to get in 'Bhaktapur',
either take a taxi (200 Rp) or a trolleybus (3 Rp).
In this city Bertolucci made his impressive movie 'Little Buddha'. To enter
the city you have to pay 50 Rp.
Visited : 'Golden Gate' (Sun Dhoka), '55 Window Palace', 'Durbar
Square'.
There are really too much temples in Bhaktapur to visit in one day. Because of its
middle-aged look the city offers quite some inspiration to photographers.
Our last evening in Nepal : we enjoy the happy hour in 'Tom
& Jerry' and after that there's a sublime meal in 'The Rum Doodle'. |
N E P A L
[ Nederlands ]
Nepal pictures | Borneo | Nepal | Links |
