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Cruising higher than the Himalayas on Silkair MI412, we sailed past Mount Everest -- breathtaking.
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The grandaddy of them all, 8,848 meters of splendor.
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The rest of the mountains in the Himalayan range aren't too shabby either.
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"I had a dream there were clouds in my coffee, clouds in my coffee..."
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After a quick traipse around Thamel, the tourist trap of Kathmandu, we met our trek leader and gurung guru Bob Bowness for dinner across the lane from our hotel, Kathmandu Guest House, at New Orleans Cafe.
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Dinner began with some tomato soup, which was really good.
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Steak with cheese and rum -- are we seriously in Kathmandu?
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December 30. The morning began with an unofficial stroll through the chaotic city.
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The crazyness begins -- this is actually quite normal.
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This security dude wanted a picture, so I obliged.
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Hidin' on the backstreets...
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This is an interesting concept.
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In Thamel, there are more solicitations than a telemarketing world convention.
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Nepal pride.
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Rugs for sale in the backstreets.
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Thamel crazyness -- we got pretty tired of directionless traffic and hazardous pedestrianism after a while.
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Artifacts and fabricated antiques for sale on the ground.
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Nepal's capital exports -- mounds of garbage.
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Hinduism is the main religion in Nepal, although Buddhism is a close second with the massive numbers of Tibetan refugees from across the border.
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Vegetable peddlers set up stall at every tole (intersection).
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Tibetan prayer wheels are as common at every street corner as cathedrals in Italy.
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Tibetan influences are significant in the air as prayer flags are strung across many skylines.
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We thought to make a beeline for Durbar Square, the historic heart of Kathmandu and World Heritage Site, as we had a prison appointment at 2.30pm(!).
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Something to chew on... dental care in Kathmandu is a booming business.
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Puppets that appear to scream, "Cast me in a horror movie!"
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The Kathesimbhu Stupa is the most popular Tibetan pilgrimage in town and a copy of the Swayambhunath complex (which you'll see that we visit the next day).
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It's surrounded by malla (prayer) beads stores and and chatiyas (small stupas).
