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Katmandu, for all its poverty and dilapidated buildings, is a relatively safe city.

NEPAL, Katmandu

Dave
2004-02-22 13:43:19

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Katmandu, for all its poverty and dilapidated buildings, is a relatively safe city. In all my walks and travels through the neighborhoods I never once felt unsafe. In comparison, many times I felt unsafe walking through Bangkok, Thailand or even cities in California. The people in Katmandu were very friendly and easy going.

This was the first city that I have ever seen that appeared to be crumbling to the ground. There were no paved streets, some streets had water running through the center of the street. There were dogs everywhere, some dead, some alive. Most of the buildings were made out of brick, and most if not all appeared to be only half completed. Some of the brick buildings were surrounded by bamboo scaffolding. Others looked like a bomb had exploded inside scattering brick and debris everywhere. Oftentimes you would find recently killed animals lying in the streets, with their blood draining into a bowl. We saw goats and chickens lying in the streets. These animals unlike the dead dogs, were going to be eaten by the locals.

The poverty was overwhelming. We saw children lying in the gutters sleeping, with their small heads piled on each other. We saw people cooking their meals over a fire on the sides of the street. If there is a "good" neighborhood" in Nepal we never found it.

The pollution is the worst that I have ever seen. It makes certain cities in the US look mild in comparison. In parts of the city garbage is piled up on the sides of the streets. You will see wild dogs and other animals picking their way through the scraps. You will see homeless picking out cans and bottles from the piles.

Katmandu's water situation is pathetic. They dump cremation ashes, solid waste, sewage, and animal carcasses in the Bagmati, their main river. The water flowing from the city pipes is fairly clear but this is deceiving. Do not drink the water. Some of the hotels will ...