Kathmandu – Missing Indonesia?

Thamel Guesthouse 90 NRs

Yesterday the sadhu of Nyatapola told me that today there would be a festival (Kak Jatra) in the Durbar Square of Kathmandu. So I rushed my morning visit to the Changu Narayan Temple (4 km north of Bhaktapur, the oldest temple in the whole country), and came back to Kathmandu as early as possible. When I arrived in the Durbar I saw that there was not any even a single celebration, just a horde of western tourists. So I didnt bother to sneak in (not intended to pay the steep 250 NRs entrance fee either).

In Changu Narayan meet a Nepali who is going to work in Malaysia. I learnt that it was terribly difficult for Nepalis to get the visa, for working visa he paid around 2000 US$ for the agency, and even for tourist visa it is around 500 US$. He said it was his karma to be born as a Nepali.

And for Indonesians, when you are in Nepal and missing Indonesia (as there is almost no Indonesians here to chat about the latest gossip of Artika Sari Devi), at least there is something to cure:
– You will be approached by some people asking to change back their Indonesian Rupiah. Apparently some Indonesians coming and give the Indo Rupiah to the people (usually shop keepers, hotel owners, or touts) as a souvenir. But the people need something useable, not merely a souvenir. I even was offered an Indonesian bill 500 Rupiah that was used in 1980’s (!).
– Sunsilk and Emeron users…, be happy. Coz here you can shampoo your hair with the most genuine Indonesian shampoo.
– Even there is no Indonesian restaurant here in Kathmandu, but the curry, chopsey, and chowmein does taste like those in Indonesia.
– They also use Rupiah here (also in India and Pakistan). Note: Rupee in Hindi/Urdu/Nepali is pronounced as Rupia, the plural form is Rupiye
– Want to watch something from Indo? The tsunami DVD from Aceh is also imported to Nepal. Even the subtitle is in Indonesian.

BTW, the Miss Nepal 2005 has been elected. And guess what, the winner of the “Miss Best Smile” was awarded cash of 5000 NRs (around 80 US$ only). Watching the show made me really long for my idol, Artika Sari Devi (Miss Indonesia)…