Cheever Fever: Stepping back in time, Kathmandu

Our adventures have taken us to Kathmandu. On our way from Bangkok to Kathmandu we stopped in Delhi, India. We were warned that nothing moves fast in India and that is true. With all international transfers, we needed to go through security again and that was a zoo. Not one security worker kept order as about 7 people from France rushed the line because they were afraid of missing their flight. In reality their flight was leaving the same time as ours and it probably left late like ours also because nothing moves fast in India. The security workers just starred idly as the commotion was happening.
When we arrived in Kathmandu, we stepped back in time. Nepal is definitely the poorest country we have been to yet. The day we arrived it was a holy day for them and there was thousands of people walking from the temple near the airport. Dust filled the air as the dirt covered streets were being stirred by the bustling people moving to different celebrations around town. There is only full power in each building for a select few hours a day. Spike thinks that the entire city operates on the minimum level of power all day long and a surge of power occurs in different districts around the city. We aways have WiFi and hot water though.
Our taxi driver and host took us to a travel agency on our way to the hotel. We felt like we were in the scene from Taken when Liam Neesom goes through the dark alleyway in Paris and finds the Turkish mobsters. We were met by the owner of Adventure Maypole Treks and we discussed possibilities of trekking and what to do in Nepal. We left his office poorer, but happy to have a game plan.
Friday morning we took a longer than promised bus ride to Chitwan National Park. In the park we rode an elephant and saw spotted deer, crocodiles, birds, monkeys, and peacocks. We missed out on seeing rhinos, tigers, and leopards. Our elephant's name was Lucky and the driver was very nice to us and the elephant. Our experience was fun, however if we never rode another elephant, we'd be ok. In the evening, we went to the town of Sauraha and watched a cultural dance show of some native dances from the Nepalese Tharu people. Two videos are posted below. Hopefully they work.
Saturday, we ventured back to Kathmandu and this one was a venture. 26 km away (roughly 16 miles) from our destination, traffic came to a halt. This time it didn't look like we were moving any time soon. It had been raining all day and we got word that a landslide had occurred between the town of Naubise and Kathmandu. After awhile we saw an old man walking towards the slide with his hoe over his shoulder. We ended up having Sprite, cookies, and chips for dinner as we waited. From the time we stopped to when we reached the slide site, 5 hours had passed. The slide occurred at a construction site which already had weak ground from the work and the rain all day made the slide happen. It was another two hours pass the site when we finally arrived in Kathmandu.
We were suppose to begin our trek through the Langtang Valley today, but because of what occurred we will start it tomorrow (Monday). Today, we will relax and enjoy Kathmandu. Our trek will take six days, so you won't hear from us for a few days.
Enjoy the pictures and videos below.