May 9, 1992

Back in Katmandu. I have been really sad and lonely on this trip; I should never have left Bangkok to go back to USA.

I am sitting in my room, 2 beds, table, shelves, bathroom (with western toilet) and shower for 80 Rupees (50 Rupees/US Dollar, so $1.60/night.)

May 17, 1992

I am about to eat my 2^nd to last meal in Nepal. I am going to Hong Kong in a few days, and from there I can go and work in Taiwan. 

The food here in Nepal is great and cheap. Tonight I am eating an Italian dish (lots of Italian food in Nepal for some reason) of large noodles with tomato sauce and mushrooms. It should be good.

May 5, 1992

I am now at the Hotel Pagoda at lakeside Pardi in Pokhara. I came here after the jungle safari. It is really nice here, but boring. I am moving to the other side of the lake where there are other people.

The weather is getting worse; it is shitty, grey and cloudy. It’s getting cold at night. One day it was really clear and the ice topped mountains are so close, big, and beautiful, but with the clouds they cannot be seen at all. When it was clear, it seemed as if the mountains are just towering overhead on every side. The gigantic Himalayan Mountains are just surrounding this little place and makes you feel real small. The nature here is just breathtaking, and I just wish that I had not come at this time of year and instead had made it here 5 months ago when it was clear, clean and sunny.

Later that day:

Moved to the New Tourist Guest House on the other side of the lake.

May 7, 1992

I was planning on climbing Annapurna from here (there are climbs for Everest or Annapurna mostly with Everest being the hardest.) Now that it has begun raining lots of climbers are coming down and it seems that it will not be possible to go onto the mountains now. Since I am not a great climber and some really good ones are coming down, saying that it cannot be done, I will take their advice seriously. So let’s see what I can do now for the rest of my stay in Nepal.

May 4, 1992

Everything that I have heard of is here: Katmandu, Himalayan Mountains, Mt. Everest.

However, it is a very poor country, like the ads on t.v. to feed starving children, Nepal looks like these places, but all of Nepal is poor like this.

The region is mostly Hindu, so cows are sacred and walk freely on the streets. Most of the people wear dots on their foreheads for good luck, even men. The people are very friendly and seem to like the Jewish religion. Everything about these people is primitive, the way they live, they way they wash, their houses, their shops, so called cities, and most amazingly they know English and very well. Even the children that work selling things of the road, from about the age of 5 or so know English. Since they have to pay to go to school and many cannot afford to go, so from a young age they are already working. About 50 percent of the population is under 18 years old.

Pricing for all rooms is based on who you are and how well you bargain. Make sure if you are going to Nepal that you do not go this time of year, since it is the end of the dry season and the start of the rainy one. The Himalayans can only been seen really early in the morning before the dust is in the air and then there is no visibility, soon all there will be is rain here and that will not be fun at all.

April 27, 1992

I made it to Chitwan National Park. Making it here was a real pain in the ass. Yesterday I was rafting all day on the Trisuli River. The day went well till we had to go back to get our bags. When we got back to our bags, at the old campground, me and another boater, Yoram, got on the local bus.

Last night I stayed in a town called Mugling and finally today made it to the park, where I will enjoy a safari.

April 28, 1992

Today so far has been really nice. They have a big day planned for us today. This morning we went on a jungle jeep ride for about 5 hours. I got to see lots of animals, rhinos, monkeys, water buffalo, deer (2 or 3 different types.) This afternoon we have a canoe ride for an hour or so and then a 3 hour walk in the jungle.

Last night it rained and that was nice; it took a lot of the dust out of the air. Today is really hot again.

April 29, 1992

The canoe ride and the jungle walk were really stupid and so was the bird watching this morning.

I am now at Pokara and the bus that was supposedly a tourist bus actually was a local bus and the ride from Chitawan National Park to get here took 7 hours.

The room here is really nice and clean though. The cost is 150 Rupees ($3) for my own room with 2 beds and a western toilet (with a seat.)