Kathmandu Uncovered

Returning to Kathmandu was a difficult journey; not getting there, which took about 45 minutes from Bhaktapur, but actually arriving. We have spent the past 7 days touring the country to get a feel for life in Nepal before entering the Refugee Camps, which we are sure to be very difficult conditions. Kathmandu is a mecca for tourism and the most heavily populated city in the country. There are far too many cars based on the current infrastructure and when it rains, especially in Monsoon season (now!) the streets turn into virtual sewers, until the rain subsides and the roads (mostly dirt with many potholes) dry. There is unbelievable history in Kathmandu but it is burried in what is now a heaven for Ex-Pats, trekkers before and after their treks, and Nepali men and women trying to capitalize on what seems to be the "best" place to make street money; as in selling their handicrafts. It is unfortunate on the one hand that so much lies beneath the capital of Nepal's culture, and at the same time has fallen victim to what the intense tourism has created. Good or bad, we leave you to decide.

We stayed in Thamel, the most crowded of places within Kathmandu. Hotel Northfield provided a fairly decent room with AC for about $14/night. That night we met our team--Sushant (coordinater and Wharton student, who worked with these Refugees in the past for roughly one year), Micelle and Michael (Wharton students) and Beverly (who works in re-settlement for Refugees back in Philly)---had a great Nepali dinner to help get us preparred for what was to come and what we should expect once in Damak. The next day we spent sight seeing, doing a bit of shopping; Nepali Style---and getting the final logistics accomplished for our mission to Damak. We left bright and early on the 11th, with Raj (the taxi driver we met randomly during our small time shopping in Kathmandu) taking us directly to the Domestic Terminal where we started our journey when we went to Pokhara. This time we would be heading to "Part Two" of our trip ---