Sydney to Katmandu

First stop Sydney.

          On Monday morning January 14^th Jayne and I drove down from Robertson.

The Consulate of Nepal is in North Sydney. Arriving at their address on the Visa application I discovered that they had changed address. Not too far to walk. North Sydney is something else to me. I was wondering what all these people do. How many people does it take to run the city businesses and other jobs? They seemed to know what they were on about striding along in blue/black pants or smartly dressed women. It was lunchtime so eating was in full swing. Smoking was also a priority item so clusters gathered in allotted place where they could throw their buts on the ground. If there are a lot of people here how about Nepal, India, and Thailand? Travel eh?

It’s not the new places I will need it's the new eyes.

         The woman at the Nepal consulate desk could not have been more pleasant and efficient. Parking cost almost half the price of the Nepal visa. We are a prosperous country, which some can afford and others will be excluded.

Tuesday 14^th.

         Travel to Sydney Airport took less time through morning traffic than I imagined. Easy check in with Cathay Airline where the check in clerk told me I could have gone Sydney Hong Kong Kathmandu instead of going via Bangkok and Delhi. Great time to find this out. Thence to the “outdoor area” mostly peopled by smokers. I still find it hard to believe that I am going away on an aeroplane.   

“Think of the riches and joys of Cathay” as the song says.

         First time flying with Cathay did have its riches of a witty chap from Kilkdare (Irl) and joys of endless a.v. entertainment opportunities  Hong Kong airport has changed a bit since 1974. Dizzy and glitzy as modern airports are they do provide space for walking exercise and visual diversity.

It never ceases to amaze me as to how so many people can line up at a boarding gate and disappear into a plane. It seems the reverse of the remark by the father in Roddy Doyle’s novel surveying is back-yard saying, “I don’t know how so much shit could come out of one dog”. Then to listen to the announcement “In the event of a forced landing…” Oh yes all these good folks will abandon their treasures, form orderly lines and follow the directions of the crew to exits which they have not noticed or are poorly lit. Forget it; just sit there.

There was some concern about what Bangkok might be like with demonstrations against the corruption of the government, the puppet administration of Thaksin Shinawatra managed by his sister Yingluck. But all was normal and efficient at Subaniphormi Airport.

After some toing and froing my “Transfer” was arranged to the Miracle Subaniphormi Hotel.

As usual the online photos were more flattering than accurate. Nor did the publicity capture the ambient fragrances of clouds of air freshener and ineffectively ventilated plumbing. My impression was that this building was one of those many R&R hotels built for American soldiers during the Viet Nam War. From the state of the fabric, tired, stained carpets, chipped paint and linen which is a lighter shade of pale along with the gaudy blinking shrine near the lobby I concluded that the ownership is now Chinese like a lot of property in Thailand.