Nepal 46, Waiting for Clare, Baby Bird

Who is Clare? Well she’s a friend I made just before COVID hit. We both belong to an informal walking group and that’s how we met. She probably kept me sane during COVID as we met once a week (when were allowed to) to walk miles and miles and miles!

We are complete contrasts, Clare absorbs things and experiences them, she is sensitive and artistic. I on the other hand tend to observe and remain relatively unaffected, I think! You, may have a different veiw of that!

Clare inside is a bit of a Hippy I think. I suspect her dream to visit Nepal or India has come from that ideal. It’s my pleasure to make the dream come true. Maybe not the hippy part, that’s definitely not in my DNA.

Why Baby Bird? Well that’s another story and the walking group know about that. It comes from a dream I had (maybe there’s a hippy in me after all!). Its my nickname for Clare despite the fact she six foot tall and towers over me!

I hope we get along, you can never tell how things will go! Unfortunately you will only get my side of things, Hahahaha!

Arriving back in Kathmandu, the taxi tried to rip me off, who’s he kidding 80% more than usual! I walked away and found another taxi at half the price and I have him a decent tip for being honest! I found a good hotel, well it has a few creature comforts, it’s warm (ish) and it’s fairly quiet. It has a rooftop restaurant, lots of plants everywhere and I like it.

I needed to find a laundry as my clothes were about to walk off by themselves. I was directed down an alley to a washer person. I’m slightly anxious about this as I left all my clothes bar the ones I’m standing in (they are pretty manky too) with the shop next door as it wasn’t open when I arrived (they did make calls for me). It was in a weird place with little tunnels to walk through, when I say ‘little’ I had to stoop! Then I came across this! A very old temple hidden away from the usual tourist areas and being repaired!

I felt like I’d found a hidden treasure a bit of old Kathmandhu that the tourists don’t see.

Well I’m all set to meet Clare tomorrow at the airport! Hopefully I will have clean clothes too!