Kolkata-Kathmandu not a walk in the park

Kolkata - Kathmandu

Not a walk in the park, but I guess you know by now I have a hard time getting accustomed to this Indian and Nepalese traffic. So, no more moaning about that. The last three stages were the most interesting and brutal so far. From hotel Sita to Hetauda started out as a normal 'Humdrum' stage, until the road made a turn to the right and started into this slow pace ascent. Towards the end it steeped up seriously and the road surface worsened equally. Due to the heavy traffic that uses this road extensively, it had deepened tracks which I had to stay away from to avoid being tipped over. So I claimed my space on the road, like a car does. This led to a confrontation with an annoyed bus driver, who wanted to honk me of the road. I stopped and gestured he should use his steer to go around me, not his horn. He firmly believed that his horn was the tool to pass me, and some passengers came out of the bus and started shouting at me. So much for respect. After I had recaptured my breath, I decided to continue. If he had taken the trouble of getting out to make an argument, he sure would have gotten one from me. And well, If he had touched me, let's just say I would have touched him back...

Hetauda

Stayed in a good motel, 'Avocado'. Really cheap room, but with all the trimmings and the cheapest so far. I enjoyed my stay there. The kitchen served excellent food, and it served everything that was on the menu! In contrast to hotel Sita, where I will elaborate on in a Dutch article. On Strava I called it mistakenly 'A really nice hotel', I must have been dog dead tired...

Hetauda - Phakhel

I took the scenic route to Kathmandu, despite I was told by Gaurab to just follow the trucks and buses that take the highway. The idea of being subjected to 220 kilometres of more monotony and harassment motivated me to take the gamble, and go for the 'short cut', which was only a mere 86 kilometres. How hard could it be? Sure there was going to be some climbing to do, but this is the Himalayas, so better get used to it, or not...

It went that well at first, that after two hours I thought of making it in one go to Kathmandu. Six more hours of this and I'm in KTM... Well that sure was optimistic.

After a checkpoint, the road steeped up progressively and in such a way that I couldn't push the peddles any more. So I walked. And walking with this Parcycle up a mountain sure can get you in philosophical mood, to say the least. Hours went by. At 02:00 pm I decided to walk for one more hour. If the summit wasn't reached by then, or in sight, I would return. Luckily around three o'clock I was at the top and went into a small restaurant to eat and drink something. In all the countries that I've been in so far, with this Parcycle, I get respect and most people really want to know what this contraption is all about. In Nepal, for al lot of people the unknown is subject to ridicule and lame jokes. Has to do with illiteracy, a school teacher told that night in Pahkhel. Apparently ignorance is not only bliss, it can also be rude as well... Well, my responses to these 'jokes' get a little bit more cynical every time I do respond. Sometimes in Dutch, sometimes in English, but the tone of voice can't be mistaken for 'nice'. 

A short and sharp descent followed. Then a climb up a dam. Really great scenery, but the importance of finding a room started to weigh in. The road got real bad as well. Unsurfaced, sharp stoned and sometimes muddy. The area wasn't densely populated, a few houses, farms and some locals who looked at me as if I was from Mars. So, in the middle of nowhere with rapidly diminishing daylight, things started to look a bit bleak. A couple of times I asked for the next town that had a hotel, motel or Guest House. I got some answers, but as I found out, the Nepalese people really want to help, but they are not that good in estimating distances. Eight kilometres became 12 or 15, and 1 turned out to be 3. But I got into Phakhel before darkness, got a room, a bed, a cold shower (what else), a few beers and some home made French fries. And I got to meet the nicest people! The young guys really spoke their English well, and this is also the place where I talked to the school teacher. He enlightened me on the nature the Nepalese people, which explained a lot, I tell yah.

Phakhel - Kathmandu

Early start made for an early arrival into KTM. Twenty or more kilometres of bad roads, some climbing, but mostly descending into this enormous city. It took me over an hour to get into the neighbourhood of the airport area where the DHL Servicepoint is located. I've never seen so much motorbikes and mopeds in my life!

And after having contact with Upsana from DHL, I was picked up by Bahgwani. He came walking. I was only a mere 300 metres from the Servicepoint... They checked me in at the Airport hotel. So, luxury was rein stored..

Kathmandu DHL

What a great reception I got the next morning! A camera crew was present to shoot the whole event. Speeches were given, I said a few words myself and got to meet this great team of enthusiastic workers. I even met my Nepalese 'twin brother', Crista I believe was his name, anyway he has the same age as me and is the most senior courier. Did some deliveries with Santosh, who was employee of the year 2015, and learned some Nepalese words 'Tea ganesh', which means tea drinking is good, if I remember correctly. Then I was taken to the old town of Patan, a historic site and we did some promotional filming there as well. A great lunch with Santosh topped it all off.

Meeting these DHL teams are inspirational and always something to look forward to. So far they all aired the same work ethos and professionalism. These women and men seem to share that same DHL DNA which they have all over the world. Really impressive stuff when you realise that all these people have different cultures and backgrounds.