When you arrive to KMD, the first thing you notice is how odd it looks to see so many people wearing respirator masks which cover the mouth and nose. The guide book says to bring a few from home so I picked some up at Home Depot for fumes; not really knowing what kind to get. What they wear here are the thin kind that nurses wear in hospitals. And there are colorful stylish versions, made out of a thin piece of cloth. You can wear a bandana over your nose too. So I packed that stuff but I never took it out of my suitcase. Just seemed too weird to wear one of those things .
About the third day here, I came down with a runny nose. Then we took a trip out of KMD to a hill town Yoga Ashram. We were there for a week and I developed a cold that felt like a cleansing cold, because we had No coffee there – or anywhere. I really got into using the netti pot because it opens up your nasal passages . I blew my nose constantly and every day we’d walk to a tiny hut type of store for more tissues. We did enjoy our time at the ashram but my congestion was Very annoying! Allynn was the shining star of the place. He Loves making conversation and there were plenty of people to talk to. And new folks were arriving from day to day.. He loved having an audience and the yogis there were mesmerized by him. They adored his balloons and all his great tales of our travels and adventures- the whole time he was holding court I was busy keeping track of my tissue and blowing my nose . It is tough sometimes, having to deal with the complications of having a physical body! The cool temps there didn’t help, especially the last night when I shivered the whole night thru.
Getting back to KMD I figured my problems were over . I finally had a warm bed to enjoy . But my cough persisted and after hearing others cough, those staying in the hotel like me, I figured that what I have is the Kathmandu Cough! So That is why they wear those masks ! I get it now!
I haven’t caved in to wear one yet- I feel pretty rotten 1/2 of the day and I am sure hoping to feel better soon.
Allynn had his own cough, before leaving home. After he got his shots for the trip he started coughing at nighttime, for the month before we left. He has a balloon man cough which seems to go with the territory. And his cough is gone now! Pretty much. Leaving for Pokhara, a little mountain town with a lake, I woke one day with a pain in my left rib cage. I thought – Great! I coughed so hard I have cracked a rib! More fun is coming my way! So each time I cough, I have an intense, sharp pain in my rib. Wondering if I did this in the yoga class the other day! It makes me double over when I cough- it hurts so much!!
So You can see I am feeling pretty miserable!
I am an expert on Bronchitis and what I have is similar but different. I am not coughing up green stuff and I figure there is not much I can do for it, other than drink hot tea and use my netti pot. We bought some Himalayan salt for that, some body oil and some eucalyptus balm. So I am resting in a gorgeous resort at the moment. We walked this town, high and low, checking out the hotel scene and it is so interesting what appeals to the weary traveller when you feel sick and all you want to do is rest.
Pokhara is made up of a tacky jumble of tourist buildings facing the lake. But the lake is not visible from the street because there was no thought to the design of this place.The shops and restaurants facing the lake try to stand up tall with 2nd floor cafes and restaurants. It does have a funky feel and Xmas lights are sparkling randomly everywhere as Dusk hits. Like K M D , you have to be careful where you walk. There are endless construction materials everywhere . They worship bricks here- the little red bricks – and they pop up like Leggos on the lawn – no foundation! They just lay ’em down on the dirt or grass and keep stacking! Bizarre- So it is not a restful vacation place- Every hotel is surrounded by a construction site so- after checking out the funky feel of a $ 6.00 a nite hotel –I (thought a tad Too funky for someone feeling crummy ).we started looking at the “resort” section of the guide book! We hired a cab wto take us from the hotel we had rented for one night- the sister hotel of our digs in KMD- with the great bed – The Family Guest House($30) a night. And we asked our driver to take us to a few places that we wanted to see. And the first one looked Great! Everything here, including hotel rooms is negotiable . And the price for our Riverview Resort came down from $150 a nite to $90.
So much for my Ashram tour- My desire for creature comforts took over and I am laying , propped up on TWO pillows in a great room with simple white and dark wood decor, looking out of huge windows that show the lake with mountains beyond and the field outside the window is where para gliders soar from mountain tops and land in front of my nose!! Exciting- and at the Same time, the locals are carrying mountains of straw on their heads, horses are running wild along with goats, cows and huge black male cows with horns coming out of their heads. The lake view is magnificent and now it is evening and it is peaceful . The Para- gliders are gone and I am looking forward to watching the excitement tomorrow. Hope to be Better Soon! Yours, the Little Match Girl . Want to show up? Surprise us! WWW.waterfrontresortnepal,com
What Culture Clash! Love to You All! Annie