September 15, 2009 – Day 264 – Kathmandu, Nepal

It is amazing how many families come to Kathmandu on vacation, they are everywhere! Anyway, you will be happy to know that we did something today! We went to Durbar Square, one of the few tourist sights in Kathmandu, and a painfully expensive one too.

What are you lookin' at cow

We were scalped out of NPR 300 (approx US$4) to visit this “UNESCO World Heritage Sight.” Ha! They are touting this status and are not using the ridiculous entrance fees to maintain, restore, or to keep this old square even minimally clean. Very frustrating to see abuse of the status and such blatant disregard for one’s own country, culture, and people.

Durbar Square

Sadhus in the square

Still we spent a few hours sitting in the shade and people watching. It’s another world here and life is hard for those born into it. Men and women alike toil beneath heavy loads on their backs using a thick fabric strap across their foreheads.

Tough job is an understatement

Bicycles rigged up with wooden carts sell produce to passersby in the midday sun. Cows and goats troll the streets, stopping unexpectedly to stare at something unseen by the humans rushing all around them. Sadhus in bright orange fabric stroll the square hoping to catch a tourist’s eye for paid photo op. Men in brown uniforms loiter in the shade, occasionally yelling at beggars and random locals.

Good place to take a rest

This is Nepal in its various forms: desperately poor, dirty, corrupt, dusty, animal ridden, shit covered, old, new, muted, colorful, authentic, scam after scam, ungodly noisy, chaotic, constant traffic and the blaring horns that seem to stand as Nepal’s motto.