Keeping on with our list of things to see, we wanted to visit Le Sherpa Markets and spend some time in the Thamel district which is the tourist hub of Kathmandu.
Before Thamel however, Le Sherpa Markets are held every Saturday so we put that first on the list before Thamel.
Le Sherpa Markets
We caught a taxi to the Saturday morning Farmers Markets. Since leaving New Zealand, Farmers Markets have almost been a non-existent outing. We jumped at the chance to visit some in Kathmandu to see how they compare to home.
We were not disappointed as they seemed quite similar to the Farmers Markets in New Zealand. They are very much targeting the tourist and ex-pats and there were organic veggies, hummus, traditional food, cheeses and yoghurts.
Another treat for us was to actually sit at a cafe and order a couple of Cafe Lattes. It was obviously a meeting place for the ex-pats. We were soon surrounded by different nationalities all enjoying their coffee and tea fix for the day.
Had to get a slice of Yak Cheese, joined the crowds at the stalls and enjoyed our lattes
We brought some Yak Tomme (cheese), french sticks, coriander hummus and yogurt. We also tried the famous Bhaktapur yogurt Juju Dhau. This is a sweetened custard-like yogurt is made from buffalo milk and always made in clay pots. The pots are porous so soak up any excess liquid.
Juju – the king of curd
Thamel District
Everyone who visits Kathmandu needs to take a stroll around the vibrant streets of Thamel district.
This is aimed at the tourists who visit the city but we were delightfully surprised at how much we enjoyed ducking and diving down the laneways coming across various types of restaurants and shops.
Ducking and diving down alleyways, dodging traffic and doing some serious window shopping
Looking around we found all things imaginable. There were souvenirs, knockoffs, groceries, fancy restaurants, cheap tattoo parlours, trekking and tour companies. Numerous hidden treasures and I could have done quite a bit of damage had I had room in my backpack.
There are also a few quiet courtyards and we found a small oasis down an alleyway. We enjoyed a feed of curry, momo’s, cold honey mead and beer in the peace and quiet.
There is no shortage of hidden outdoor cafes, beer gardens or great viewing spots to choose from. It would have been rude not to try a couple of them out.
Garden of Dreams
Located a stone’s throw away from Thamel is The Garden of Dreams.
Although it sustained some earthquake damage the grounds and buildings are pristine. The garden is set in a formal style and occupies about half a hectare. It has beautiful lush lawns, sunken flower gardens, large central pond, fountains, gazebos and pavilions.
An oasis with road chaos just over the wall
The gardens were built in the 1920’s to compliment the nearby palace. It went through a period of disrepair but it was brought back to life with funds from an Austrian-finance team. It was interesting to see the ‘Before and After’ photos in the gallery.
Beautifully restored buildings and the not so pretty earthquake scars
I certainly enjoyed that latte, plenty of splashes of colour and enjoying the wildlife around us
It originally consisted of 6 pavilions and 1.6 hectares. Today only 4 of the pavilions remain.
Within the grounds is the Kaiser Cafe. It is probably the most western style cafe we have been to. It has been a long time between Latte’s and I knew that it was on the top of the list of priorities.
Videos are not permitted but we took lots of photos. We sat and sipped our lattes while enjoying a cheese platter on the verandah of the Kaiser Cafe. It seemed a world away from the chaos of the roads just outside the walls.
Click on the link below for a video of our highlights.