Nepal

  • Asia,  India,  Myanmar,  Nepal,  TDM

    Stray dogs in India, Nepal and Myanmar

    During our stays in India, Nepal and Burma, we are struck by the number of stray dogs we come across in the streets. This is a scene that we no longer see in other Asian countries like Thailand, Vietnam or China, where dogs are eaten and teams supplying the dogs to restaurants “clean” the streets by kidnapping all the dogs that have the misfortune of hanging around in the street, whether they belong to someone or not.Fortunately, the religious fervor observed in India, Nepal and Burma also has a consequence in saving the lives of many stray dogs. They don’t hurt them, but they don’t take care of them either.The…

  • Asia,  Country Guides,  Nepal,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    Nepal: Our itinerary, Country Travel Guide & Budget

    Here is our itinerary in Nepal for 21 days (July 2016, in full monsoon). As we are around the world and have a lot of time, we aren’t looking for the shortest way, nor the ideal duration of visit, but according to the weather and what makes us want at the moment t Kathmandu (2 nights at World Heritage Hotel & Apartments overlooking Durbar Square): we visited Durbar Square and its local market, Pashupali Temple, Buddha Temple Bhaktapur (2 nights at Namaste Bhaktapur Guest House overlooking the beautiful Nyatapola Temple). 1h cab ride from Kathmandu. We just visited Durbar Square, Pottery square, Nyatapola Temple. The city is as if frozen…

  • Asia,  Nepal,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    Pokhara (Nepal) – the city of excitement

    Part 1: Travel Diary Part 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Diary Day 1: Patan -> Pokhara Departure from the hotel at 6 am to take our “tourist bus” at 7 am near Thamel. It’s a tourist bus because everyone has a seat unlike the “local bus”. The bus is very comfortable, air-conditioned, free Wifi, electric plug, free bottle of water, … For 700 rupees per person, the bus brings us almost to the center of Pokhara Contrary to the Kathmandu – Birgunj route where we wondered at each bend if we were going to die, the road that leads from Kathmandu to Pokhara is much bigger, and more touristic…

  • Asia,  Nepal,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    Patan (Nepal) – an ancient Newar kingdom

    Due to the delay on the road from Birgunj to Kathmandu, we only arrive at Balkhu, bus station south of Kathmandu at 8:30 pm. Under a torrential rain, we try to bribe our Jeep driver to take us to the hotel but he calls us a cab, preferring to bring back another passenger living close to his house Balkhu is in the south of Kathmandu and as we did not go to Patan yet, not far from there, we took care to book a good and comfortable hotel in Patan However, the hotel does not have a restaurant and arrived at 21h, we have no choice but to wander around…

  • India,  Nepal,  TDM,  Tips

    India, Nepal: sickly spitting

    After almost a month of traveling in this area, we still can’t get over the continuous spitting of the Indians and Nepalese.In India, instead of smoking, Indians chew the paan (betel). I, who hates smoke, am happy about it.A betel leaf, a layer of slaked lime, pieces of arec nuts, spices, herbs, sometimes a little tobacco and they chew for hours. This mixture gives a red liquid, which the Indians like to spit in the street. The red of this mixture affects the teeth and colors them permanently. It isn’t uncommon to meet Indians with teeth all red in a vampire way.Betel was also very popular in Vietnam a century…

  • Asia,  Nepal,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    Birgunj (Nepal) – one week of volunteering in a Nepalese school

    Birgunj is a Nepalese city, on the border with India, where we will spend a week of volunteering in a Nepalese private school. The aim is to make the students discover other working methods and to arouse their curiosity. We heard about this project through Couchsurfing and we answered present Day 1: Nagarkot -> Birgunj The hotel in Nagarkot reserves us a car with driver, 8 seats from Nagarkot. Departure at 8 am to Balkhu (where the bus station is located). We regret bitterly our choice because the car makes us feel every imperfection of the road whereas the cabs, smaller, are more advantageous on this point. We note to…

  • Asia,  Nepal,  TDM,  Travel Journal

    Nagarkot (Nepal) – head in the clouds

    The trip from Bhaktapur to Nagarkot via muddy or half-broken roads again justifies our choice to take a cab instead of a scooter. After 1 hour drive, we arrive at the Mount Paradise hotel which bears its name well. The air is pure and the view promising, even if the mountains including Everest are hidden by clouds. The boss of the hotel tells us that the view was very clear this morning for 30 minutes so we should not lose hope.Sitting on the tree trunks sipping a good hot tea with honey and ginger is one of those unplanned joys that make the charm of the trip. I take advantage…