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In our last update we actually wrote that we were heading to
Nepal for something a little cooler and less hectic and then
we arrived in Kathmandu. Kathmandu is possibly one of the
most hectic and polluted places you can visit but it just
has something special about it. Fantastic monuments and
architecture, great facilities for tourists and at this time
of year a nice crisp, fresh, sunny climate.
After a couple of days exploring we were ready for the fresh
mountain air but we didn’t realise that the annual ‘spring
water and colour throwing festival’ was about to break loose
and the city went into a state of chaos with tourists as the
number one target. So we hid in the hotel for an extra day
before heading out into the valley on our bikes.
Our little folding bikes actually did remarkably well
considering they only have six gears and we were trying to
conquer the Himalayas. We came across all types of road
surfaces from sand to rocks but we kept on going and arrived
high up in Dulikhel for some well earned peace and quiet and
stunning views. The next day the route got even more tricky
and impressive as we climbed up to around 2000m along the
valley rim.
However, all roads inevitably lead back to Kathmandu and
after another noisy night we loaded the bikes in a jeep for
one on the most scary and exhilarating rides of our lives
(Imagine Dakar Rally with 500m drops). The road, which is
not open to buses, snaked through the mountains for about
four hours before we arrived covered in dust in the tropical
southern plains of the Terai. |
