10-27-2017 – We arrived in Kathmandu late in the evening on Friday and picked up the necessary documents we needed to fill out, then got in line to apply for our visa. The line was moving very slowly but we finally made it to the front of the line. The visa man at the desk was neither friendly nor grumpy, but it was a funny experience because Wayne paid him with a $100 US dollar bill (which we were told is okay) and the visa man refused it. He kept saying he needed a “new one”. Wayne didn’t understand why he wouldn’t take our money and the visa man finally pointed out to Wayne that the bill was from 2004. Wayne informed him that it was fine and it was the same and still good, but he still refused to take it. Wayne was getting flabbergasted and he told the visa man. IT’S OK IF IT IS OLD, I KNOW, I LIVE THERE!! We both just were kind of shocked and humored by the situation and I finally told Wayne to look for a new crisp bill. Wayne pulled one out of his wallet and the visa man gladly took our money and processed our visas. So funny.
The tour operator, Chhewang, from Responsible Treks was there to meet us. Chhewang came highly recommended to me by my friend Laila, who has done some work in Nepal and trekking with him. It was good to finally meet him after months planning and emailing back and forth. We were brought to our bed and breakfast, which was an amazing place in Patan, (a section of Kathmandu). It was called Yamba Traditional Home and our host Pradeep was very friendly and welcoming. We were a bit hungry so he went out of his way at 9 pm to get us some noodles from a nearby shop. The bed and breakfast is great. His extended family lives there and he, his wife and his parents all help out and were very friendly. Our room was on the third floor and I have attached pics.
