:: zone3 ::

My airport taxi must have been one of the most beat up in the city (even by the local standards, which aren't high), as we drove through a couple of blocks of foot deep water, it got a little stuck a few times, but made it's way through the hectic traffic to the hotel.

Traffic in Kathmandu is hectic and crazy, bikes, people, motorbikes and small cars are all crammed into narrow streets, the road rules are in theory drive on the left, but as the streets are barely wide enough for two of the tiny cars, in practice it is the bigger vertical has right of way.

Walking around the city, there are an endless supply of shops selling hiking gear. All the latest (fake) namebrands are there. Along the way are a good number of touts trying to sell things tours along with the more dodgy items that they typically try to push. At least they are reasonably friendly and not too pushy.

My second day in in Kathmandu is the local New Years Day. Compared to when I arrived the streets are empty. Made for a good day to have a walk around the city and visit Durbar Square. The heart of of the old city of Kathmandu with some of the pagodas' carvings going back to the 12 century, although a lot of was destroyed in a 1934 earthquake.