Kathmandu – World Tourism Day

Thamel Guesthouse 80 NRs

World Toursim Day? Never heard before. But today, on every single corner of Thamel, you can see brochures and banners to welcome “all distinctive guests” on the world tourism day. I read on the newspaper that today there would be special performances, like pop rock bands, japanese dances, …. hmmm….. :question:

So, the real festival started after dark. The road is full of people selling food (remember “pasar malam” (night market) of Indonesian small towns). It seems that almost every single shop in Thamel want to participate in this Tourism Day. Restaurants offer “open air tables” where guests can have dinner on the main street (reminded me to Kaoshan Road of Bangkok). And even hotels, supermarkets, and internet cafes turnt to be an instant restaurant. I wonder myself whether what supposed to be “world tourism day” is “thamel food day”.

At the evening, the rock band starts. Everybody came down to the main road of Thamel, everybody dance together. And Thamel Chowk has turned to be a huge open air discotheque! (plus the open air restaurants selling all kinds of Newari snack). It’s indeed a climax of all kind of entertainments in Thamel.

Suddenly I decided to go to Annapurna to do a 2 week trekking around the mountains. I have heard that there are some interesting villages around, and as Dasain festival is coming, I probably will keep staying in Nepal until the festival. The trekking will require high stamina and resistance toward high altitude and low temperatures. Oh yes, plus the Maoist rebels. Wish me luck.