No hot shower in Kathmandu??? Why!!!!

Kathmandu….the city of millions of people, cars, tuk tuks, regular every evening power cuts and a very very polluted air…

After the whole day of travel, Blondie touched down in Kathmandu late in the afternoon in lashing rain. Never talk to hotel touts at the airport!!! They will lure you to an expensive hotel, where they work on a commission… Just get your prepaid taxi and go!!! That’s what all travel guides say travel forums…However; Blondie was so tired and discouraged by the rain, that after a short resistance, she gave up. The trout was offering her a very good hotel I Thamel, heart of tourist Kathmandu for only $8/nite, with private bathroom, hot shower, AC and all the commodities…So she went. The hotel was indeed quite OK as for the local standards. She checked everything thoroughly and took it. The receptionist, of course tried to change the price for $10, but this time she was tough and resisted the attack! Happy Blondie settled in her room and quickly headed for the shower, where she discovered that unfortunately, at this time, the hot one was not possible….but quickly enough the hot water bucket arrived. As at that time, there was a power cut in Kathmandu, Blondie ended up taking a bucket-shower at candle light…well, the vision of a nice proper shower in the morning was comforting enough…

Like that...

And so, the first nite in Kathmandu was nice and peaceful…

In the morning Blondie discovered with surprise that her shower still wasn’t hot. Furious enough, she made a polite call to the reception (only God knows how difficult it was for her to stay calm and polite…) and 3 minutes later a bucket of hot water arrived…..and the explanation, that if Madame wants to take a hot shower, it is available between 5 -7 a.m…..Aaaaaaaaaaaaaa, no comment! Taking another bucket-shower she decided to dress up and set for hot-shower-hotel-hunting! But first, she had to get a visa… Cause, my dear friends, Blondie entered Nepal illegally – without a visa…Due to the mad rush and misinformation at the border, she didn’t manage to get it there... ahahahah....

Few hours later in the Immigration Office…

Blondie filled in the paperwork and waited and waited while the two officers were shifting papers from one desk to another…Finally, she was informed that she would have to pay $40 for the visa and $20 penalty for entering the country illegally….that was all to be paid and she accepted that. But then!!! The officers told her that she had to pay in NR (Nepali rupees) and $60 was NR6,000 and she went breathless!!!! $60 is NR4,500!!! But the little extra was explained as a “little charge”. Obviously, in this situation Blondie could not remain calm and polite and demanded to see the supervisor! Immediately!!! The two officers told her to wait and disappeared for further 20 minutes. Upon their return they informed poor, steaming with fury Blondie that she actually misunderstood them and if she wanted and was happy with the service they provided, only then she could pay the a “little charge”. “Misunderstood my arse, you Bribers!!!” – thought Blondie. She went to pay the visa fee to the Accounts Dept herself – the two officers wanted to do that for her, of course…, returned, handed in the slip and demanded her passport! Luckily for her, at that time, a few other tourists arrived and gathered around the Bribers’ desk…So, when she demanded her passport, one of the Bribers hesitated for a while, gave her the look saying:"hey, you know damn well what I am waiting for..." and in a lowered voice asked her about the “charge”. To which she replied, not lowering her voice at all “no, thank you, I did not like your service that much”…then she just grabbed her passport and left.
Can you believe that People???
It took her a good while before she got over this adventure….
Later on she found a very nice, little guest house with hot shower for $3!!!
She stayed there for a week!