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Kathmandu is a very lively and multicolored
capital. You should definitely visit the two famous stupas
(Buddhist temples): Sveyabonath
and Boddanath.
The first one is claimed to be the oldest Buddhist temple
all over the world and the legend says that Buddha's relics
are buried here (but I suspect that this is something like
Homer or Alexander the Great - claimed to have been born
in over a dozen cities all over Greece...). Boddanath is
the biggest temple in Kathmandu and it's really huge.
 Needless
to say that you have to also visit Bakhatapur and Patan,
the two other cities-suburbs of the Kathmandu valley, protected
as world heritages, colors that goes beyond the eye straight
to mind, complicated pictures and statues of gods - really
works of art - red tika powder everywhere but most of all,
something that you can't really describe with words: there's
a strange, relaxing and mystical at the same time atmosphere
in Nepal. Coming straight from USA or Europe you will believe
that some particular places of Kathmandu (like Bakhatapur)
resemble heaven... There's nothing better than drinking
a coffee or a tea in these quiet cafes in Bakhtapur late
in the afternoon, watching the dark red roofs of the temples
in the this large square and listening to local lounge-meditation
music. But if you feel too relaxed, you have to take a walk
from Thamel. Let yourself get lost in the crowd of travelers
from all corners of the world, visit all these strange little
shops with mysterious tea qualities, noble stones, wonderful
silk textiles, clothes and carpets from wool, Tibetan ceremonial
items, bookshops, restaurants, everything you can imagine!!
The whole atmosphere really makes you think that any moment
you may see around next corner Janis Joplin's roadies left
forgotten here from 60's. Very laid back hippy atmosphere
- perfect!! Staying in guesthouses in Thamel isn't bad idea
- except if you can't stand some noise. Anyway Kathmandu
has many places to stay, from 5 stars hotels to really cheap
guesthouses with limited facilities yet exquisite by third
world standards...in fact, one can find almost everything
depending of your budget.
Food is excellent in Kathmandu in thousands
and thousands of restaurants that to be found all over the
city. If, however, you seek for wild nightlife things are
not as some might expect. You can find only a few bars and
clubs but they don't stay up until very late. Many years
ago government took this decision in order to control criminality
in relation with alcohol, drugs and clubs. Anyway Kathmandu
is not for "party animals", but if you are one
and find yourself to Kathmandu, it's great opportunity to
take some days off partying. It's sure that you have nothing
to loose.
The last place you have definitely to
visit in Kathmandu is Pashupatinath. Pashupatinath is a
special and sacred area in Bagmati river where is taking
place the cremation of the dead. There's also a big Shiva
temple with a huge bull-statue (Shiva's symbolic animal)
but only Hindus are allowed to visit the temple. I have
to admit that the first time I've been there (late afternoon,
almost dark) I had one of the strongest experiences in my
life because the whole place has a strongly metaphysic aura:
out-of-this-world Shadus hanging around in small stupas
like shadows, the narrow river with caves in its both sides,
monkeys jumping all over the trees and - above all - the
smell of the human bodies that has been cremated.
 Although
Nepali people have a different way to consider death, so
they allow tourists to enter Pashupatinath, every foreign
visitor there has to show respect. You can't miss Pashupatinath
if you are in Kathmandu.
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No
question about it!! I'm not going to say many things, just
imagine being in the heart of a tropical jungle and at the
same time have the opportunity to see in the horizon the
Himalayas. You will stay in wooden lodges, you will listen
to strange noises in the night, you will take a ride in
the back of elephants, you will fear of not get pissed the
rhino, you will feel extremely uncomfortable realizing that
this track in the ground is made from a "really-really
big kitten" (call me tiger...), you will roam the boat
in the river watching something like wood in the surface
and on a second thought you will realize that it's a crocodile
and finally you will drink a whisky in the little balcony
of your lodge in the nighttime without electric light feeling
like Indiana Jones listening again these strange mysterious
animal noises. Not bad at all...
The
things that you have to do in Pokhara is to hire a boat
for a trip round to lake, to hire a bike for mountain bike,
to go for short trekking trips around, to wake up really
early and hire a taxi to drive you up on the mountains to
see the sun come up and floodlights the Annapurna Range
and take a night walk on the main street where are all the
restaurants and bars. Listen in some stories from trekkers
around you in the bar and you will find that everyone saw
the Yeti...
Sure
is far safer than New York or London!! Nepal is one of the
safest countries in the world with really law criminality
indicators. You have nothing to fear about. Nepali people
are extremely friendly and hospitable not only in Kathmandu
but also everywhere in the country. 
Nepal
is a traditional "Himalayan Kingdom", always trying
to balance in its history between the two super powers of
the region: India and China. The royal establishment passed
a major crisis last summer when - according to official
version -Crown Prince Birendra under amok from alcohol and
drugs, mixture killed 10 members of the Royal family including
his King father, his Queen mother and many others of his
relatives. Officially again, the reason for this was a disagreement
with his parents about his future bride. It's true that
many people in Nepal aren't still convinced about the truth
of this version of the story, believing in some conspiracy
theory with major factors included India, China and many
Secret Agent Services - USA's of course included too. I
really don't have personal opinion about this sad incident
in Nepal and I don't know (like many others) where truth
lies, but I'm sure that many people in Nepal start thinking
about the necessity of changing political model in the far
future. I must note that there's Maoist movement acting
in western part of the country, but no tourists or any other
foreigner is involved as victim in their activity. Till
recently things were quite between the two parties (government
and Maoists) but a few days ago I was informed that some
new encounters were taking place in country. Anyway I hope
that this outbreak of violence isn't serious and soon peace
will come again in these remote provinces that the encounters
took place. I don't think that visitors have something to
fear in major Nepali cities.
Usually
September to January is the best period for Nepal. Atmosphere
is very clear and view to mountains really magnificent and
temperature quiet good everywhere. Not so good season is
June to August because of the monsoons. February to May
it's generally a dry season too, but atmosphere isn't so
clear as the nature waits to "wash up" by the
monsoons. 
