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Nepal thoughts
Jan. 25th, 2006 06:22 am[One LJ entry preferred over multiple comment replies - see previous journal entry for reference]
So. Nepal.
The advice from friends and acquaintances runs the gamut. From "You'll be fine, the road blocks may provide the excuse to dally in an interesting place" to "Don't go you'll get blowed up!"
In reality, there is little to do but wait and see. I've been following the news since New Years, and I feel I'm getting a good idea of the pulse of Nepal. I've also been asking everyone I run into who has been or plans on going. There's a lot of knowledge in the backpacker community here. I think by the time April rolls around both Tom and myself will be able to judge carefully and intelligently.
I tend to fall into the mostly-adventurous-but-also-wise camp. I will not go if there's full-on civil war or if the violence is clearly directed towards foreigners. But if the word on the ground is positive, especially if it continues to say "as a white person you have a great deal of immunity and as long as you're willing to pay a bribe you're fine", then I'm inclined to go. I will not bow out just due to fear generated by mass media.
Also, in my experience the general opinion is a bit more pessimistic and cautious than my own. The word on the street about Delhi, Varanasi, Agra, buses in India, train rides as a single woman, etc. is rather negative. Yet I've had no problems, and I don't think that's just luck.
And if all else fails and Nepal is out, there is always Yunnan in southern China.
Off to Mangalore!
So. Nepal.
The advice from friends and acquaintances runs the gamut. From "You'll be fine, the road blocks may provide the excuse to dally in an interesting place" to "Don't go you'll get blowed up!"
In reality, there is little to do but wait and see. I've been following the news since New Years, and I feel I'm getting a good idea of the pulse of Nepal. I've also been asking everyone I run into who has been or plans on going. There's a lot of knowledge in the backpacker community here. I think by the time April rolls around both Tom and myself will be able to judge carefully and intelligently.
I tend to fall into the mostly-adventurous-but-also-wise camp. I will not go if there's full-on civil war or if the violence is clearly directed towards foreigners. But if the word on the ground is positive, especially if it continues to say "as a white person you have a great deal of immunity and as long as you're willing to pay a bribe you're fine", then I'm inclined to go. I will not bow out just due to fear generated by mass media.
Also, in my experience the general opinion is a bit more pessimistic and cautious than my own. The word on the street about Delhi, Varanasi, Agra, buses in India, train rides as a single woman, etc. is rather negative. Yet I've had no problems, and I don't think that's just luck.
And if all else fails and Nepal is out, there is always Yunnan in southern China.
Off to Mangalore!
