Kathmandu

How cruel is the Golden rule,

When the lives we lived are only golden plated...

So, do you know the way to Kathmandu?!

Apparently, only I know that its in Nepal, so I thought it needed explaining. =] It also gives me reason to procrastinate on my Geography Coursework. Albeit, surely learning about one of Earth's nations is geography. Silly school.

Kathmandu, Nepal then.

Being the capital of such a small country doesn't give Kathmandu much fame or recognition.

It is a great centre of Hinduism and Buddhism, with many pretty palaces in the 'old city'.

Some facts you may or may not have known about Nepal

• Nepal is the world's youngest republic, formed on May 28, 2008

• Nepal's first international fast food restaurants (KFC and Pizza Hut) were opened barely two weeks ago.

• More commonly known, eight out of the world's 10 tallest mountains above sea level are located in northern Nepal, thus giving its tourist industry a great amount of adventurous mountaineers. Time for some lovely pictures of mountains =]

These are meant to be pictures of Mount Everest. You can't really grasp the bigness of the mountain from pictures I guess. I don't think I'd enjoy the whole mountaineering up a vertical mountain and whatnot. However, I have hiked up Pen y Fan =]

I'd be happy with climbing Snowdon to be honest.

So back to Nepal, they have prettier bank notes than ours:

You may have heard on Have I Got News For You about the Maldivian government hosting a meeting underwater to make a point about climate change and the rising sea levels.

Nepal's minsters have followed suit by hosting a high altitude meeting to highlight how climate change has affected the Himalayas.

'Scientists say the Himalayan glaciers are melting at an alarming rate, threatening mountain communities downstream.' (Australia Network News)

Nepali Music

Music in Nepal isn't very well-known, surprisingly enough.

The traditional music is deep and cultural to each society in the country. Indian music has also become widely popular with more Westernised music arriving recently. Most musicians in Nepal do well in Kathmandu, while the rest of Nepal keep to their traditional music.

One of the most prominent bands in Nepal is the rock band, Cobweb.

So I hope I've done Nepal justice - everything you need to know is right here =]

Moi