Trevor's Travels

Trichandra College in central Kathmandu

There are many run down and dilapidated buildings in Kathmandu. Many would be condemned and considered unusable and unsafe here in Australia. Developing countries like Nepal have different building codes and standards; sometimes I thought that there were no codes or standards at all.

On the other hand, there are some truly magnificent buildings in the capital of Nepal. The Tri-Chandra College is one such building, and every time I walked or drove past it I was impressed by its beauty and dominance of the skyline in that part of the city. This college is one campus of the Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu.

One of the most obvious things you notice upon arriving in Kathmandu is the traffic. Cars and taxis and buses and trucks are in abundance everywhere. Then you notice all the motor cycles. It is not uncommon to see fifty or more motor cycles lined up waiting for the traffic lights to turn green. Down every laneway you take your life into your hands if you ignore the ubiquitous motor cycle.

Bicycle shop in Kathmandu

Just as common is the ordinary bicycle. They also seem to be everywhere. Naturally, where there are plenty of bicycles and motor bikes there have to be shops selling and repairing them. In fact, such establishments seemed to outnumber the car sales and repair garages thirty or forty to one. At least, this seemed the ratio in the central parts of the city.