{"id":5366,"date":"2014-03-27T05:20:17","date_gmt":"2014-03-27T12:20:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/?p=5366"},"modified":"2014-03-27T06:28:53","modified_gmt":"2014-03-27T13:28:53","slug":"they-pull-me-back-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/2014\/03\/27\/they-pull-me-back-in\/","title":{"rendered":"&ldquo;&hellip;They Pull Me Back In.&rdquo;"},"content":{"rendered":"<p align=\"justify\">Namaste, goddammit.<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">On first impression, Kathmandu feels like a mashup of other Asian cities I&#8217;ve visited.<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">The impossibility of matching maps with street signs is reminiscent of Bangkok\u2019s Chinatown. Not even sure I\u2019ve <em>seen<\/em> a street sign here, to be honest.<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">The hyperreal sensation, felt by the pedestrian, of being in a real-live Frogger situation is reminiscent of Chiang Mai. Only here, the motorists and motorcyclists are not only hellbent, but are also in a permanent state of overbeep.\u00a0 Have a look and listen\u2026<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"justify\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Kathmandu Traffic\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/tFrxn66zP9M?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">\u2026Tell ya what: whoever has the horn-repair concession around here is one lucky son of a bitch!<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">The livestock lazing freely in the roadway is reminiscent of Laos. (Though the Buddha hisself was born here in Nepal, the country is predominantly Hindu.)<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">The constant badgering from Rickshaw drivers is reminiscent of Siem Reap \u2013 there it was Tuk-Tuk drivers, of course.<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">The music pumping out of the shops is Reminiscent of George Town.<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">The dust and construction everywhere are Reminiscent of Phonsavanh and Vang Vieng.<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">The, uh, dubious state of the sidewalks (to use the term loosely) is reminiscent of George Town and Chiang Mai.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/sidewalk.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border: 0px none;\" title=\"sidewalk\" alt=\"sidewalk\" src=\"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/sidewalk_thumb.jpg\" width=\"514\" height=\"772\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">The street vendors selling veggies and slabs of meat are reminiscent of Luang Prabang.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/meat.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border: 0px none;\" title=\"meat\" alt=\"meat\" src=\"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/meat_thumb.jpg\" width=\"644\" height=\"429\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">You\u2019ll note the absence of makeshift fans employed in Luang Prabang to keep the flies off the meat. Truthfully, though, there isn\u2019t much meat for sale \u2013 mostly veggies. The fruit scene\u2019s not so bad, either: the grapes and oranges are delish, the mangoes not so much. Have yet to sample, but apples, watermelons, and papayas also abound. There\u2019re even a few coconuts and small jakfruits here and about.<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">The humorous signage is reminiscent of, well, <em>everywhere<\/em> else in Asia.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/sign1.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border: 0px none;\" title=\"sign1\" alt=\"sign1\" src=\"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/sign1_thumb.jpg\" width=\"514\" height=\"772\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/sign2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border: 0px none;\" title=\"sign2\" alt=\"sign2\" src=\"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/sign2_thumb.jpg\" width=\"644\" height=\"429\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/sign3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border: 0px none;\" title=\"sign3\" alt=\"sign3\" src=\"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/sign3_thumb.jpg\" width=\"644\" height=\"429\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">Begging your pardon, but allow me to also throw in a great sign from the Taipei airport:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/relaxing.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border: 0px none;\" title=\"relaxing\" alt=\"relaxing\" src=\"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/relaxing_thumb.jpg\" width=\"644\" height=\"482\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">Also like everywhere else, all kinds of weird\/cool shit for sale\u2026<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/mannequins.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border: 0px none;\" title=\"mannequins\" alt=\"mannequins\" src=\"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/mannequins_thumb.jpg\" width=\"514\" height=\"772\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/masks.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border: 0px none;\" title=\"masks\" alt=\"masks\" src=\"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/masks_thumb.jpg\" width=\"644\" height=\"429\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">\u2026as well as great people-watching.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/eggs.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border: 0px none;\" title=\"eggs\" alt=\"eggs\" src=\"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/eggs_thumb.jpg\" width=\"644\" height=\"429\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">Though it reminds of other locales \u2013 \u201cSame same,\u201d to use the parlance of their times \u2013 Kathmandu feels even <em>more<\/em> manic and even <em>more<\/em> chaotic than the others. Amped up to eleven, like. Of course, it may simply be the culture-shock inherent in touching down after a long time away. Either way, colour me entertained! Am thoroughly reminded of first days in Bangkok, two years ago, with whole days just spent wandering the streets, deliciously, deliriously agog at the sights and sounds playing out around me.<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">The weather here is kind of perfect: low-80s during the days, with plenty of sun. Though it cools off, after 6:00, a little too rapidly for my taste, the upside is that there aren\u2019t any mosquitoes. Pretty decent trade-off! Also, the Dawn Chorus is incredibly loud &#8212; as though every bird in the wilderness were here to participate the fun good times.<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">And what of the mountains, the almighty Himalayas towering majestically over the consciousness of the Nepali nation? Yeah, well, if one squints one\u2019s eyes just so, the foothills can kinda sorta be made out through the valley\u2019s (in)famous sheen of smoggy pollution. There are <em>depictions<\/em> to be found, however.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/mountains.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border: 0px none;\" title=\"mountains\" alt=\"mountains\" src=\"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/mountains_thumb.jpg\" width=\"644\" height=\"364\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">It\u2019s not as though the polluting activities are contributing to electrification. Not for lack of trying\u2026<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\" align=\"justify\"><a href=\"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/electrics.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" style=\"background-image: none; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border: 0px none;\" title=\"electrics\" alt=\"electrics\" src=\"http:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/electrics_thumb.jpg\" width=\"644\" height=\"429\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">\u2026but city-wide load-shedding has the reception desk here at my hostel lit by candles at night (though the rooftop bar\/hangout feels the love of the generator\u2019s outputs). Signs in the airport boast of Nepal\u2019s having been blessed with the World\u2019s second-most-bountiful water resources, after Brasil\u2019s; and the guidebook hints that the country\u2019s rivers await exploitation. So that may be the future: killing the rivers off with dams so that us spoilt Westerners can keep all of our devices charged up.<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">But for the present: electrical\/telephonic resources being limited as they are, expect fewer updates from yours truly than were in evidence the last time around.<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">A few notes from the twenty-hour layover in KL. Firstly, the city is a fucking oven right now.\u00a0 Mid-90s during the day, cooling off to 77 degrees overnight. Secondly, the teevee show is, as one could surely expect, completely and utterly obsessed with the whereabouts of the missing Malaysian airliner.<\/p>\n<p align=\"justify\">In other news, the new packing system is working pretty well so far: three flights completed, no bags checked. Despite Air Asia\u2019s ominous warning that carry-on limits would be strictly enforced \u2013 and the signs all over KL\u2019s so-called Low Cost Terminal indicating that \u201cSize Matters\u201d \u2013 there wasn\u2019t even a hint of crackdown. KL security did, alas, confiscate my travel-scissors, which had survived both Sea-Tac\u2019s and TPE\u2019s Security Departments. Oh, well.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=S-IkWpm7TS0\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=S-IkWpm7TS0<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Namaste, goddammit. On first impression, Kathmandu feels like a mashup of other Asian cities I&#8217;ve visited. The impossibility of matching maps with street signs is reminiscent of Bangkok\u2019s Chinatown. Not even sure I\u2019ve seen a street sign here, to be &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/2014\/03\/27\/they-pull-me-back-in\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5366","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-culture"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5366","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5366"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5366\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5366"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5366"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/durianapocalypse.net\/travel\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5366"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}