How can I describe Nepal? I think it is nearly an impossible task to describe it from my frame of reference of Western values and culture. But I will try my best to capture the spirit of the place. It is a mixture of the exotic, mystical, exciting, loud, colorful, confusing, dirty, run-down, polluted, and dusty, dusty, dusty. Combine the noise and activity with the poverty and deprivation one sees everywhere, and Kathmandu is quite overwhelming.
But I had made it. I had made it to Kathmandu! I had overcome all my self-imposed obstacles and had flown to Nepal. And once here, everything changed for me. Everything became exotic, exciting, and a great adventure.
Our flight arrived late last night and, making my way through the warren-like structure into the airport, I entered a dark room with no signs that gave any instructions. I observed what other travelers did, and filled out the forms that were lying, helter-skelter around the room; then got in line to get my passport checked and to get my visa. Then to the circus that was entailed in getting my luggage and from there, on out into the main entry of the airport where I saw the faces hundreds of people looking at me from behind a glass enclosure. And stepping out of the airport, there were still more people everywhere and I thought, "My God, what do I do now?"
Fortunately, as I stood outside the airport, Bhim, my hired guide, saw me and approached. He greeted me with a lei of marigolds and I bent down so he could put them around my neck. Then he took me to the taxi he had waiting and I climbed into the car and into the full force of the driver's eau de B.O. and we went speeding through the dark, back alleys of Kathmandu, full of derelict buildings, piles of bricks and rubble, holes in the streets, and mangy stray dogs everywhere.
Later, after I had settled into my hotel - Mustang Holiday Inn (no, not part of the chain - nothing like it), Bhim came to meet me. As we began walking, there was a power outage and we were suddenly in utter, complete darkness. And standing there on that pitch-black night in Kathmandu, a world away from home, I realized to my surprise that I felt so very, very happy!
I had made it to Nepal.
