Kathmandu Chaos

I’ve read that tourism has become the third religion in Nepal, with hundreds of thousands of tourists making this Himalayan country a must-see destination – especially those interested in trekking the famed mountains. The Thamel District in Kathmandu embodies this better than any other part of this country. Tourists can get anything here – backpacks, parkas, tour guides, Internet cafes, CDs – anything. And every salesperson speaks fluent English. The restaurants even serve steak – a no-no in a predominantly Hindu country. I snapped this shot just outside of my hotel room where the Thamel District was suffering from a recession spurred on by the on-going civil war and the large amount of US tours canceling their trips because of the 9-11 bombings. The nearly quiet streets was a stark contrast to the claustrophobic signage.