NepalMapSeptember 22–24, 2013 Welcome to Nepal!  The only country in the world whose flag isn’t rectangular—it consists of two triangles.  A religious holiday just took place here, so everyone has multi-colored ribbons tied to the mirrors and other protruding parts of their cars and motorcycles.  KathmanduMapAll the utility poles have a separate V-shaped stub for the ground wire.  All the barrier cones have sponsor logos on them.  Traffic signs are attached to the bottom of advertisements on handmade hinges. If someone stops paying for their ad, it gets cut out.  A bus stop.  Wires.  The city is filled with study abroad ads offering educational opportunities everywhere from Japan to Australia.  Some intersections have rows of tall posts along the road. I wasn’t able to get a definitive answer regarding their purpose. Most likely, they’re used to hang advertising banners.  A traffic light.  Special water guards protect access hatches on utility poles.  There are stupas with Buddha eyes everywhere.  Nepal has one of the prettiest and most voluminous post boxes in the world.  The fixed-run taxis are all overflowing with passengers.  The trucks are all custom-painted.  A brick.  The city.  An avenue.  A side street.  A rickshaw horn made from a plastic bottle.  A traffic policeman.  Car and motorcycle license plates.  Fruit vendors have special bike baskets from which they sell their wares.  A dialogue.  Tons of people come to Nepal every year to climb Mount Everest. Many of them remain lying on the slopes of the world’s tallest mountain forever. Luckily, a cleanup expedition was organized a few years ago to remove all the bodies of unsuccessful mountaineers from the slopes. Now newbies can make the ascent without added emotional stress. |
