Wednesday, Feb 21
We packed up and flew out at 9:30 am. When we got above the clouds the mountains were spectacular! The pilot flew in a big circle down to the terai so everyone on both sides of the plane got a good view of the mountains. A pretty stewardess served cookies, candy and coffee.
We arrived at the Summit Hotel and settled in. What a wonderful haven, the Summit is! We had lunch of momos and then walked to Patan Dokha and walked around Patan. A guide (who we didn’t hire) told David Elliott about the Kumari and how she was a young virgin without blemish, etc. David told the guy he would make sure his daughter had a blemish rather than have her chosen as the Kumari. He made the guides laugh. Our friends were pretty overcome with Patan and the temples and walking through the streets. They are all good sports, though, and not freaked out like some might be.
We have afternoon tea at the Himalaya Hotel by the pool. It is a bit more run down than when we were there. They must cater to a more Indian clientele, judging from the menu, than before. We went to the Mahaguti and other similar shops below the Himalaya. Mary Jane found some nice things for their new house in Florida. I was looking for the girls but didn’t find much again. Now, looking back, I wish I had bought more stuff for them. I always have a hard time making choices for other people. Then again, we only had 20 kg of luggage. My bag was 19 kg in Bangkok!
We ate an Indian buffet at the Summit – delicious – and sat outside at the fire bowl for awhile. We met two Dutch men who were doing a TV story on a Dutch man who came to Nepal to start a home for Nepali boys. It turned out that he was a pedophile and was abusing the boys. Two 18 year old Dutch volunteer girls turned him in. They were being interviewed. The Dutch men said that 80% of children’s homes started in Nepal since the revolution are run by pedophiles or are engaged in child trafficking. They said it was a huge issue and many connected with pedophile rings in various parts of the world. They said the reason the Dutch man was arrested is because he was engaged in homosexual activity and that is still taboo in Nepal. Usually, they said, things are covered up by government officials who are bribed or in it, too. Pretty sobering stuff.
Almost all of the people staying at the Summit are older tourists like us or UN people. There was a group with big metal trunks that said Swiss Army that, we found out later, were part of the UN faction that was monitoring the Maoist hand over of weapons. There were also some other UN people from some Slavic speaking country. The Summit is partly owned by the Dutch Consulate and there are apartments there for aid people. Elliotts talked to a guy who was there for some UN thing but was pretty closed mouthed about what. The Summit also has a youth hostel that is cheaper than the hotel.
We slept well in comfortable, soft beds with light duvets and hot water bottles in the bed and a little electric heater in the room. In fact, we got too hot in the night and kicked out the hot water bottles.
Next Day - Thursday
Patan Darbar is much the same as before. We enjoyed walking around the old palace, the Golden Temple and finding our way to Patan Dhoka through the narrow streets.
Poolside terrace at the Himalaya Hotel after our urban trek!
