[caption id=“attachment_4119” align=“aligncenter” width=“550”] The old man and the rubble[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_4123” align=“aligncenter” width=“550”] Ratna Park bus station[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_4131” align=“aligncenter” width=“550”] Camera, sun hat, dust mask and Long Black[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_4132” align=“aligncenter” width=“550”] If I ever need a doctor, I’m on the next plane to BKK or SIN[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_4133” align=“aligncenter” width=“300”] Public transport[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_4134” align=“aligncenter” width=“550”] Beans and stuff[/caption] [caption id=“attachment_4136” align=“aligncenter” width=“550”] Dusty dusty[/caption]

$5 + 3%, that’s what my bank charged me every time I withdrew money from an ATM overseas. I had long come to grudgingly accept the loss, simply for lack of alternatives. When travelling in Myanmar, another traveller told me about number26, a Germany based online bank. They don’t charge for overseas withdrawals and payments, making them a great tool for nomads and travellers. They are not the first to do that, other banks like ComDirect have similar offers, although with a couple more catches.

This morning I joined local volunteer group “Green Soldiers” on their mission to clear the monkey temple from plastic rubbish. It’s a fair walk up there. The temple itself is, from what I’ve gathered, one of the more important ones in the country. And as the name tells, it’s full of monkeys. The way up from Thamel leads through a neighbourhood that isn’t exactly the city’s richest. In other news: Saw a moon halo for the first time in my life.

Ason Market, just south of Thamel. As chaotic as it is entertaining.

Really local and really yummy - doesn’t get much better for me. I’m at a point where I feel uncomfortable if a restaurant has table clothes…

Nepal isn’t exactly the most expensive country on the planet when it comes to everyday expenses. A basic room (no hot shower) goes for about NPR 500, the equivalent of less than five dollars US. The 20l water jug I got to avoid buying loads of bottles set me back 55. A small meal with a tea goes for 200 or less, and that’s right next to the touristy area of the capital.

Called the camera shop all morning but didn’t get anybody on the phone. Finally decided to just do the 20 minute walk down there and see what was up with my lens. [caption id=“attachment_4084” align=“aligncenter” width=“550”] Deposit slip, note the two dates![/caption] The guy behind the counter recognised me and signalled thumbs up, the lens is repaired! Asking how much it cost, he told me 5800 - the top end of the range he had quoted the previous day.

“A rolling blackout, also referred to as rotational load shedding or feeder rotation, is an intentionally engineered electrical power shutdown where electricity delivery is stopped for non-overlapping periods of time over different parts of the distribution region.” That’s what wikipedia says and what it effectively means is that all of Kathmandu has power for less than half a day only. The blackout times vary and a handy little app helps keeping track of when the power will be back on.

Yesterday at noon I made my way to the Ratna Park bus station, 15 minutes walking from where I’m staying at the moment. I was to take a bus down to Patan, to meet up with local couchsurfer Bibhu. The bus station is in a busy market area (actually most of Kathmandu seems to be) and all kinds of services are offered “while you wait”. The bus was a bit on the dated side but fortunately not too crowded.

Err 01, that’s what my 550D with the 17-55 reported when I tried to shoot anything over 20mm with the aperture stepped down. I had had the same issue with a Tokina 11-16 a while back and knew that it was most likely related to the aperture mechanism in the lens. A quick google search confirmed my suspicion and I headed to the Canon website to find a local service centre.