Travel Notes from Kathmandu, Nepal 2025 Part 1

Global Warming is for real!!! After two visits in Nepal in the past, during the same month, i reckon i already know the max and minimum temperature of Kathmandu but boy i was wrong. Back in 2014 and 2015, temperatures in Kathmandu have been consistently chilly from day to night, and gets really really cold at dawn. That’s it. I’ve memorized it already. 10 years later, temperatures now are as high as 18 to 20 degrees Celsius at noon, and now as i type this in my suite here in Jyatha, it’s already 11 and will get lower at 8 degrees later. The gap is so wide, i was so confused what to bring - a puffer or fleece.

Thankfully, i brought with me an extra warm heat tech and a fleece and now warming up in my bed. P.S. Accuweather has failed me again. It says warmer than actual temperature. Wrong! Wrong! It’s becoming brutally cold at night. 

What a day it has been. What a blessed day  it has been, to see the Himalayas and Sagarmatha from the window seat of the plane. Because i got the best seat in the house at 3F, this American mom asked if i could airdrop a couple of photos so she could show it to her sons who’re all eager to see Everest. A lot of people say go to Nepal during autumn. I say, winter really is so underrated and there’s not a lot of tourists.

Suddenly, my fear of flying was non existent. I skipped watching my second movie on my iPad mini because i was already too busy looking at the window. My focus was on the great majestic mountain ranges. Zeroed in on that. I’m literally flying over the roof of the world. What an experience! In the two previous ocassions that i flew to Kathmandu, i don’t remember having this view. It’s a very rewarding and touching feeling — another core memory. 

Arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport, i noticed a lot of differences since i embarked 10 years ago. The security, for one, got well… stricter. I don’t remember having to submit to checking your cabin luggage before you pick up your checkin luggage. Does that make sense? Forgive me for it has been half a decade since i last made a blog entry. Anyway, this is after the immigration check. But for security or safety reasons, i have no objection. The Visa on Arrival payment line is so long considering almost all of foreigners will have to pay VOA.  So you can imagine the number of people falling in line. More payment counters, perhaps? 

The immigration is always long in any country (depending on the arrival time) so i have no comment on this one. 

The ATM, as expected, wasn’t working to get me some Nepalese Rupees. I’ll try to find a Nabil Bank (The Green One) ‘coz i used it the last time. Good thing i bought US Dollars with me. Because you always need to have a back up plan for everything — the cardinal rule of traveling. ATM’s aren’t always 100% functional. Fact. 

The hotel where i am staying at provided a free pick up service. I assume the driver has been waiting for more than an hour because it takes a really long time upon arrival until you finally leave the airport. 

The ride from the airport to the hotel was a breeze. I tried to open the windows halfway to get a sense and sight and the smell of the city i have missed the most. 15 minutes later, the driver asked me to close the window. Too much dust, he said. I agree. 

Oh, Kathmandu i have missed you so much. The ride took me to see new places before i got to Thamel — Hilton & Marriott, a new mall and a rave club. Sadly, the roads are still in very bad condition. Just like before. And you have to move constantly because there’s no lane for pedestrians. This means you walk where the car passes through. Even the road leading to my hotel, Swarga Heritage, was in an unbelievably horrible condition. I am still trying to figure out if indeed the hotel has a good location or not. Mind you, Swarga Heritage Hotel is #3 on TripAdvisor in the whole of Kathmandu. After re-familiarizing myself again around the Thamel area, i guess i can say it’s not so bad. Hotel’s location is actually in Jyatha - an up and coming district of Kathmandu where you are near Thamel but minus the hustle and bustle. I can’t wait to eat breakfast tomorrow so i can make a final review. Have a pot of masala tea and freshly cooked omelet. Oh and by the way, the hotel serves breakfast until 3PM — the only hotel to do so in the city.