- personal travel notes (which works as an online backup as well as an e-postcard to friends and relatives)

Today, I went to video-interview professor Chaitanya Mishra from the Department of Sociology and Anthropology. He was good, and had some clever points about the differences in Asian and Western ways of thinking. I'll also be interviewing editor-in-chief Kanak Dixit next week, and possibly a few more. Kathmandu is in its dusty and misty period, making it impossible to really see the Himalayan mountain peaks supposed to be out there somewhere in the horizon. So, I've decided to tear six days out of the calendar to go for an "offline hike" in the Annapurna area. Rucksack and walking boots... climbing up to 6.000 meters above sea level with my beloved videocamera. Leaving by car tomorrow at 6 AM. An online-addict like me, six times 24 hours offline? How will that turn out?! I wonder too. Well, if you log on Monday next week you might find the answer... posted by Mik Aidt at 00:25

 

 

Among other things, I attended a wedding ceremony from the early morning, strolled around in the old part of the city, and had a one hour ayurveda massage. posted by Mik Aidt at 01:02

 

 

Started out in the morning attending a demonstration for freedom of press: 200 journalists walking through the streets of Kathmandu with banners and sign posts. Then some inevitable tourist sight-seeing as a first-timer in Kathmandu: Visited a hindu temple in the early midday. And visited a famous buddhist temple on top a hill, in the late afternoon. Pradeep and Marianne showed me around and told me long stories about the places, the history, the religions, and the customs. This is indeed a very spiritual country. And a fascinating mixture of Tibet and India. posted by Mik Aidt on Sunday, May 4, 2003, at 23:23

 

 

Woke up this morning to a magnificent view over the sunlit Himalayan hills and mountain peaks - in something which could best be described as a luxurious villa in the outskirt of Kathmandu. Which is where I'm presently strolling on the marble floors in a green pair of nepaleese 'sutsko' from filt. Marianne who invited me here, picked me up with a yellow flower neckless in the airport, and everything has been pushing forward in an incredibly smooth, easy-going, fun and inspiring way. She is introducing my to Nepali (or is it Nepaleese?) musicians and journalists, and coming up with all sorts of interesting ideas about what I should do and see and try and taste and buy and... The weather here is really pleasant, temperatures are like the Danish summer when it is at its best. The photo: sunset over Kathmandu Friday evening. When I arrived last night, it was raining. This night we went to see a modern Nepaleese theatre play. posted by Mik Aidt on Sunday, May 4, 2003, at 23:23