Kathmandu - Deliciously busy

Quick! While the internet is working, make a post!

As expected, internet over here is not prevalent nor reliable. Which is honestly kind of nice, in that I don't feel the constant urge to check email and Facebook. On the other hand, I would love to be able to look up hostels and ticket prices, and post in this blog!

This is my fourth day in kathmandu and I am still reeling from jet lag. But waking up at 4am has been nice because I get to see the sun rise over the city while I read the Maharabata, a classic work of Indian literature, similar I'm cultural relevance to the West's Illiad and Odessey, though apparently much more important even in modernity. It is said that what is in this book is everywhere, and what is not in this book is nowhere. We'll see about that.

I'm staying at the edge of Thamel, a neighborhood that is known for being a bit touristy and chaotic. Though I've gotten used to it now, at first it was a bit overwhelming. As the tallest person in the city of kathmandu (only a very slight exaggeration) I stick out like a sore thumb. And therefore am the target of every taxi driver, store owner, beggar, and freelance guide. It was difficult at first to find a balance between typical american courtesy and traveler savvy. Now I've got it down.

No surprises, there's some cool shit here. For starters, how about a temple of monkeys, right outside the city? And these monkeys don't take your shit. Theyll scrap with you, with your mother, with stray dogs, and with rival monkey gangs (seriously, there are monkey gangs - word of advice, don't get in the middle when they're rumbling over turf). Walking down the main strip today, there were some just chillin on power lines, snacking and watching in amusement as we humans stomp around in the mud trying not to get eaten by those big metal beasts that run all over the place, seemingly without direction. Seriously, I would never drive here. Walking is crazy enough. Though I have yet to see a single accident...

So its monsoon season. Know what that means? Ever tried to dry your clothes in a sauna? Thats basically the feeling. I washed a few articles of clothing 3 days ago and they're still wet. You just have to get used to always being sweaty and a bit salty. For you surfers out there (looking at you, Ister) that may not be too abnormal. But even coming from southern Indiana and Seattle, this is a whole new ball game. One where everyone loses, particularly the people around me because fuck if I'm showering when Im just going to put on the same smelly clothes I took off before the shower! Its OK though, because everyone else is in the same boat.

In all seriousness though, its a cool experience and its kind of fun to be gross by US standards for a bit. But I will be happy when monsoon season is over in a few weeks.

One last thing, because there's so much to tell I could type on this annoyingly small tablet screen until...until about now, because texting essays is a pain in the ass.

Anyways, the food here. Holy. Shit. The. Food. I'm taking pictures to post later and make you all hate me because I'm living like a king on a grad student salary. Breakfast: Omelet chock full of veggies, cooked potatoes with red peppers, onions, other delicious things i dont recognize, a "pancake" (actually closer to a crepe), French toast, hot tea, and something called meseuli (sp?) Which is basically God's version of that lame morning bowl of oatmeal. Throw in yogurt, bananas, honey, milk, and god knows what else and you have a serious win. Oh yeah, and the kicker? Thats all $1.50. Every. Morning. Served on a thatched roof terrace overlooking the city. I'm too lazy to type out the lunches and dinners, but I promise you, they are equally amazimg and affordable. And i thought I would lose weight over here.