Dust storm and Durbar Square

It has been completely foggy (read smoggy) here in Kathmandu. However after a day of trekking around the city visiting Swayambhunath (the Monkey Temple), Durbar Square (in Patan - one of the three cities that makes up Kathmandu) and making momos (dumplings) at a local NGO, the storm finally hit us when we were at Boudhanath Stupa, which is the largest stupa in Nepal and the spiritual home of the Tibetan exiles in Nepal.

Now the air has cleared and for the first time here I can see the mountains from my window. After the noise and hubbub if Kathmandu I am itching to get into the mountains. But I suspect after multiple days of trekking I will be wishing I has easy access to a shower and a non-squat toilet.

Tomorrow we leave for Pokhara, which is an eight hour drive to travel 250km give the poor state of the roads and the infamous Nepalese traffic. Then the following day we start trekking.