Visa for Nepal

And now I have my Nepal visa. The timing for my trip may be the worst possible in the beleaguered country's 10 years of not ideal travel times.

Since 2001 there's been unrest, and Nepal's tourism has spiraled, but today it hit a new low with NPR reporting: "Nepal's King Gyanendra sacked the government, declared a state of emergency and assumed power on Tuesday, saying the leadership had failed to hold polls or restore peace amid an escalating civil war with Maoist rebels."

India is worried and sending a “strongly worded” document to the King that his drastic move would further antagonism between royalty, the political parties on one side -- Maoists on the other. In London, the Nepalese Ambassador was summoned so Brits could “convey their concern.” International flights into Kathmandu are being rerouted.

The friendly front desk security at 820 Second Ave was worried when he saw my sign in. No one else had signed-in for “Nepal, Floor 17” on the the page. Plenty of Liberias, a smattering for Peru but the threadbare office of Nepal's Mission to the UN was empty. A younger version of yesterday's man behind the counter acknowledged that things were not at their best in his homeland and with sad head wiggles murmured that "politics is silly business." He would commit neither pro or anti my upcoming visit.

I have a Nepal Immigration Tourist Entry Visa (6 months), dated Feb 01 2005.

And I have no idea if it's either wise, or even feasible, to go there.

C - kathmandu-weighing