I’ve Moved!

Sorry but If you’re receiving notification of this post but didn’t get notification from my new domain (travellingbag.com.au) I’m going to need you to pop over there and enter your email address for me to ensure that you get the notifications. I’m not sure how this works but I think those that only follow through WordPress Reader may not get my new domain posts.

http://www.travellingbag.com.au

Yes, you’ve been moved, and you didn’t feel a thing did you?

While you were sleeping the Happiness Engineers at WordPress kindly picked you all up, bundled you into a container and moved you all over here.

I’ve just moved from wordpress.com to a self hosted site (travellingbag.com.au) and I thought it only fair that you all come along with me. You’ve all been such good friends and I didn’t want to leave you all wandering around without a home, knocking on strange blog doors to find a new travel site.

The technology required to make this move has caused a good degree of drama on my part and a few sleepless nights as I grappled with domain names, exporting, importing, Jetpacks and widgets but I think we’re about ready to open the doors.

There are still a few things to be done as I add and alter a few pages etc. and although the focus will still be predominantly travel I’m going to be adding a few new areas of discussion. Please stay with me as I continue to play around with the layout/format etc and any suggestions will always be greatly appreciated.

I hope you like your new address and please get some friends to pop along as well – the place is big enough for all of you.

 

 

 

Storm clouds, decisions and rats.

I went back to the coast yesterday, back to my coastal walk that has helped me to think clearly so many times in the past.

I went in an attempt to de clutter my mind and find some space. Decisions need room to move around and settle, to try out the fit.

I’m thinking the storm clouds brewing might just say it all.

And the huge rat (I’m talking the size of a small cat) that ran across the path in front of me, what was that all about? I know about black cats but rats?

The Garden Of Dreams

An oasis of calm amongst the chaos of Kathmandu

Space is at a premium in the busy streets of Kathmandu but I managed to find a haven of calm amidst the chaos.

I would never have known it was there if someone hadn’t recommended it to me as we were chatting over breakfast at the hotel.

It was a hot, dusty day and I’d spent a couple of hours wandering around Thamel, I’d walked there from the hotel and decided to walk back and, remembering the advice I was given, I checked my map for the Garden of Dreams. I’d walked past it on my way into Thamel but hadn’t noticed it, if I hadn’t particularly looked for it I would have missed it on my way back as well.

The Garden of Dreams is hidden behind a high wall only metres from a very busy intersection and what an oasis it is. You pay a couple of dollars entrance fee but it’s well worth it. It’s a neo classical garden created as a private garden by Field Marshall Kaiser Sumsher Rana in the early 1920s which was restored and opened to the public in 2007.

The ivy clad walls of adjoining buildings create a cooling atmosphere while the meandering footpaths, the green lawns and the lily pond provide a tranquil spot for locals on their lunch break and tourists wanting a bit of a breather. The Kaiser café provides light lunches and I certainly took advantage, the cold Heineken went down well too.

So, if after surviving an exhausting morning in the chaotic streets of Thamel you’re in need of reviving make sure you find that door in the wall that will take you into this amazing Garden of Dreams.