Having some chilling days in Kathmandu. Visiting temples and the city and going by bus and riksha to some other interesting places. Kathmandu is interesting. It has got a big number of bars, clubs, restaurants, shops, internet-cafes… There are a lot of asia-live-bands playing in the clubs on the roof bars at night (until 10 or 11 PM) music from bob marley, guns’n'roses, u2, lenny kravitz with their old hits. A lot of other travellers and local youths.

Kathmandu differs a lot from India - even the people seem to have a different mindset. It is cleaner, and the younger people are more “western” dressed (sneakers, t-shirt- trouser, sunglasses)… But still not forget the poorness of the people here. There is again a big big gap between modern live-music-shisha-clubs and the street, which is separated by security-guards…

Tea, tea, tea, tea, tea, tea, tea, tea, tea, tea.

After seeing the sunset this morning, I went to the tea-fields in Darjeeling. Interesting, as I have never seen tea-fields in real life before. The plants are very low and look like “Schwarzbeerstauden” (Blueberry plants). A nice green. Went to a tea-factory…

After having a short sleep I was woken up by a thunderstorm with heavy rainshowers. When I am sleeping I am sleeping. Normally I am not waking up by loud noise or sth like that. But this time I was woken up by the water, which came down on me from the ceiling :)

5 o’clock tea

Then I went for another tour through Darjeeling and after a while I stopped at a coffee-shop to have 5 o’clock tea and a blackforrest pastry… Good good! I think, my stomach will do it.

The temperature in Darjeeling is OK, although I am wearing a fleece-pullover. In the night I need two blankets as it gets colder… It”s OK, compared to 44 Cels. in the other regions :)

Tomorrow: Kathmandu

Tomorrow morning I am leaving to Kathmandu/Nepal. Going by jeep down to the Shiliguri, then by jeep to the border - crossing it - then with another jeep to the airport or by bus to Kathmandu.

Soo much to see……..

More images?

Check here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sugarmeloncom/sets/72157604536603810/

Yesterday evening I had a dinner at the Mocambo-Restaurant. I think, it was one of the better restaurants due to the prizes and the audience. I had a Kingfisher-Beer (640 ml), Chicken Oriental and a Brownie with Vanilla Ice. Everything was OK and very good. I payed 450 Rs (these are 8 EUR - most expensive dinner here in India ever, it is up to the prize of a room/night).

It was very interested, that the guests in this restaurant - although they are all from India - spoke only english. Very strange and quite a broken english. I verified this, as I talked with the man next to me. He is a doctor, living in Kolkata…

OK… This day I visited the BBD Bagh Part of the city - “Dalhousie Square“. Went there by taxi and walked around… Very interesting, very british. Many british buildings - you could mean, you are somewhere in the UK.

The gap is very high… The differences… between poor and rich. Best restaurants, top mobile-phones and computers and during watching new cars on the street you have to take care, that you do not hurt people crawling or sleeping on the pavement, street or floor.

Children and woman are begging. “Giving money to beggars is a crime”, I am often hearing from locals.

The hotel, I am staying… Sunflower Guest House… The building is very old and there is an elevator in it. Very very old one and operated manually day and night by a person. Does not look very secure… :)

@Albert: You are right… They are selling teaching books on the street… All kinds… TOEFL-test, German, all computer languages…

So, just booked a room in New Delhi for the first night(s) at Hotel Raki International in the area of Paharganj, where most of backpackers are staying. The idea is here getting in contact with other guys and checking posssibilities and latest travelling-news.

Lonely Planet is saying, that rooms are having windows - important, at least for the first night(s). Rooms is 300 Rs/Night, which is around 5 to 6 EUR.

I am arriving late at night - at 00.20 with Austrian Airlines, so a taxi will catch me up at the airport with a shield with my name on it.  Funny…

Ok, I am focusing on a more defined route. I will focus on the northern part of India and will join parts of Nepal:

Delhi - (Agra) - (Jaipur) - Rishikesh - Bareilly - Kanpur - Varanassi - Patna - (Darjeeling) - Kathmandu - Delhi

The idea is starting from Delhi. I am not sure, wether it’s a good idea visiting Taj Mahal and the palace in Jaipur. I will make my decisions in Delhi. My plan is going north - where the Ganges has its source. Going to Rishikesh and going further into east by following the Ganges: Bareilly, Kanpur, Varanasi, Patna.

Depending on transport, time and my personal condition, I will decide in the area of Varanasi/Patna wether I will travel to Darjeeling or directly to Kathmandu in Nepal. If I am visiting Darjeeling, then I will travel to Kathmandu via Darjelling by jeep and bus. Should be an adventure. Crossing the borders…

Yesterday I succeeded in the second part of my rabbies vaccination. Same symptons as last time: A little bit cold, a little bit hectic and a “hot” night, which means, that I felt, that my body was struggeling with some side-effects of the vaccinations. Interesting, as it was the same last week after the first rabbies-vaccination.