I was finally able to locate the ellusive "high speed internet cafe" here in the rusticly dial up
laden capital city of Nepal, and thus, was able to put some better quality pics on my Picassa site, so browse away, peoples!
http://picasaweb.google.com/JeffreyHDow/Nepal
India visa has been arranged (after many hours of lines, repeated inquiries, and a near scare of being denied), various ailments under the control of dodgy Indian antibiotics,
and the urge to get out of Kathmandu growing daily as a result of the now week-long garbage strike, which has left huge stinking rotting piles of refuse on all corners. Does add a bit of character, but this city is not lacking in character to begin with. Back to the Indian visa topic.
Just a quick thought on this-the common western mentality seems to be that we are entitled to visas to "3rd world" countries, (possibly a vestige of the colonial mindset to enter as we please). People show up in line wearing their trashy traveling gear, speaking to the embassy employees like they are low class, and expect to get their visa, no worries. It was actually gratifying in some senses to see many of these startled travelers denied for their entry visas, walking away in shock. COME ON PEOPLE! Wear shoes to your visa interview! Maybe in 50 years, when the economic balances have been completely reversed, will people of the west come to their senses and treat people of developing countries with the respect and dignity that they deserve. To the reverse situation, seeing the preperation and care given by citizens of a country like Nepal in the slim hope of obtaining a visa to go to a country like America is amazing. I have spent a few days at the American embassy here in Kathmandu doing school research at the American Center, and the emotions that you can see attached, the hopes, despair, elations, everything was on plain display, and was quite moving. The consuler officers at the Embassy have a very difficult job, one that I do not envy.
I will be heading down to the birthplace of Sakyumani Buddha, Lumbini, on the southern border of Nepal, tomorrow for a few days of wandering and relfection, gathering my thoughts and sensibility before plunging headlong into the maddness of India. Varanasi will be my first destination upon crossing the border in a few day, which from all accounts is one of the most intensly overwhelming places in the world. Heres the Wiki link if you feel the urge to read up on the holiest city in Hinduism:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varanasi
Should be plenty of pictures to come in the near future.
Namaste.
