Monday, January 31, 2005
Worm's Eye View of Nepal Tourism in light of current events
Yesterday, Jan 31
I've returned from dropping my passport for stamping and stickering at the Kingdom of Nepal's Mission to the UN. Dreary walk to across mid-town to the grim grayness of the UN area. The flags fluttering about the traffic lights don't cheer. Nepal's office is on the 17th floor of a mostly UN building - the front desk log a friendly jumble of little-guy missions: Liberia, Samoa and the Solomon Islands (8th floor), Federated States of Micronesia, Nicaragua...
Nepal's office does not represent the country proudly, or even that adequately - the posters are tired and the country map faded. There's no one behind the counter, only the sign:
"Bad planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on my part."
Compared to the snaking lines, deli numbers and chatty hubbub of the Indian Consulate's Visa Office - Nepal's office inspired neither confidence nor a will to tour. Nepal has wandered off itineraries and doesn't seem inclined to climb back on. I imagine in its pre-Maoist, pre 2001 heyday the Visa room would have been filled and the backpackers many deep.
C - pulling for a Hindu kingdom
I've returned from dropping my passport for stamping and stickering at the Kingdom of Nepal's Mission to the UN. Dreary walk to across mid-town to the grim grayness of the UN area. The flags fluttering about the traffic lights don't cheer. Nepal's office is on the 17th floor of a mostly UN building - the front desk log a friendly jumble of little-guy missions: Liberia, Samoa and the Solomon Islands (8th floor), Federated States of Micronesia, Nicaragua...
Nepal's office does not represent the country proudly, or even that adequately - the posters are tired and the country map faded. There's no one behind the counter, only the sign:
"Bad planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on my part."
Compared to the snaking lines, deli numbers and chatty hubbub of the Indian Consulate's Visa Office - Nepal's office inspired neither confidence nor a will to tour. Nepal has wandered off itineraries and doesn't seem inclined to climb back on. I imagine in its pre-Maoist, pre 2001 heyday the Visa room would have been filled and the backpackers many deep.
C - pulling for a Hindu kingdom
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