Day 24: Wednesday October 30th

Kathmandu

8.47 and having breakfast at restaurant on the roof top. The roof tops in Kathmandu present another side of the city. There are gardens, solar panels for hot water, Tv antennas, people praying. A life above the noise dirt and pollution of the city. It is cloudy but warm with lots of pollution in the city as compared to the mountains. Went to Durbar Square and shopped, walking back passed Holy Lodge, where Peter from the Rose and Crown in Kingston stays when he comes to Nepal on silver buying trips, and the wholesale district. Took films in to be developed. They have good developing equipment here.

Met Keith on the street and he told us that Ramsey had to have surgery in Patan after being evacuated by helicopter from Manang. He was doing fine and had left Kathmandu for London the day before we arrived.

Sent e-mail home. There are many shops to send e-mail and make phone calls. In the afternoon confirmed our flight to Bangkok. I booked Everest flight for next morning. $99.00 Am. Hotel to wake me at 5.30. I must be at the airport at 7.00. The man at the desk at the hotel will call a cab for me. I picked up the pictures at 1600 hrs. Read over notes trying to decide where they were taken. Managed to identify some of them.

Had dinner at the Kathmandu Guest house. Not great, highly overrated.

Had trouble sleeping, back hurting. Kathmandu is noisy at night. It is noted for the dogs barking and fighting at night.