Arrival

Just a quick note here to say that I successfully arrived in Kathmandu this afternoon - after a few hours of uncertainty in Delhi. I had to go into the city to get an onward flight booking and chose to head for the Ajanta Hotel where I stayed last year. This is a great little place with very helpful staff. I was prepared to stay there for a day or two for the right flight (and price) but we got it sorted quite quickly (and at less than half the price of alternative offers). It was good to see the hustle and bustle of Delhi again - somehow more acceptable second time around - and it really was quite impressive to see how much development is going on in preparation for the Commonwealth Games in 2010, e.g with the ongoing construction of the new metro express link out to the airport and the new terminal there. Glasgow take note!

Kathmandu remains quite a contrast even with Delhi. Nepal appears to remain stuck in a serious poverty rut, and the new government seems to have failed to live up to expectations in quite a big way. The big differences I've noticed in my few hours here so far are that the Royal Palace is now a museum, and that the daily power cuts have strecthed to about 16 hours!

So far I have just had a wander round Thamel, eaten at Pilgrim's book store (still a great place) and had my Nepal mobile reinstated and topped up. The number is 977-9803-882986, but I don't expect many international calls. I think, in fact, it won't accept them. Email will be a better way of reaching me if you need to.

Tomorrow I'll be in touch with Chuda and Lillian (from Canada) to set up an initial meeting about the WDT/NMV.

Sorry no pics to post today - except maybe this one Elaine has sent me waving goodbye to Arran last Summer!