The hotel
Tuesday 16th April
We were met at the airport after no less than 6 security checks, passport out, boarding pass out, hand luggage then suitcases through scanners, frisking again and this was to get into the country, very thorough but like a route march.  Our courier loaded us and our luggage into a people carrier and off we went for the 30 minute drive into Kathmandu.  It was a bit like a ride in a theme park, narrow, pot holed streets, cars, lorries and motor bikes honking their horns non stop, some chickens in the street and even one big monkey.  Ajayai told us that there was a lot of rebuilding going on to widen the roads, which works like this - the government tells you that your road is being widened so please move your house.  Many people choose to rebuild their houses on the same road but several yards further back and they may or may not get some compensation, but certainly not enough to cover the rebuilding costs. There is no consultation, no tribunal, no objecting.  That said, everyone has a smile on their face and the local people do seem genuinely happy on the whole.

We checked into our hotel and were given a garland of fresh flowers and a welcome drink.  We were also given the best rooms in the hotel.  It has beautiful rose gardens which have existed since the time there was a palace on the site, a swimming pool and restaurant and my room is very spacious and comfortable.  The whole hotel reminds me a bit of the Best Eastern Marigold Hotel, only a bit more modern.

It's comfortably warm today because of the haze, as Kathmandu is very dusty,  I expect that's due to all the knocking down of people's houses!  Tonight we are being taken out for an authentic Nepali meal of dal, curried meat and vegetables, rice and momos (dumplings).  
Below, me on an elephant (not real obviously) in the rose garden.