Kathmandu NEPAL

[klr650 0]

It never changes. horrendous crowds, traffic jams with every horn blaring for no reason, legless lepers begging along the sidewalks, filthy ophan boys getting high on something sucked out of paper bags, and Smokin Hot Nepali girls everywhere you turn! My 16th visit to this poor but gorgeous contry, and 5th since we filed for her K-1, 16 months ago. At least this years lingering monsoon has kept KTM's pollution at bay somewhat.

Bindu was waiting at our $7/ nite hotel when my taxi arrived at 11pm after thge last leg of my flite in from Hong Kong. After 126 nites apart we slept like Ramen noodles, tho the next day i was dead from jet-lag. The next we began again this long K-1 journey. First, the embassy had forgotten to give her all of "packet 3" so we had to go get it from our new zillion dollar bomb-proof embassy. Then for her police report. 3 days later it was ready but the line to pick it up stretched around the block, so i just swelled up with importance and went to the head of the line, rite into the office and asked for it with importance. Witin seconds it was in my hands. Then to the usa approved rip-off (for here) medical clinic exam, $140! On friday we went back to the embassy exactly at 1pm as told to submit all out stuff and pay the now doubled $350 non-refundable filing fee. But, the guard said, sorry! all full today, come back monday! I was livid! wait 4 more days in this cesspool? so i demanded to go in, and after they searched evey sheet of paper and almost my butt, i was allowed into the inner-sanctum of USAdom. Soon a nice Nepali lady, the visa stuff organizer, took all our pile of evidence and forms to add to the pile they already have from NVC, and my money. Our file is over 6 inches high! then to my surprise she said Bindu's interview is tuesday! COOL! So we waitied the 4 boring days anyway.

Tuesday we were there at 1pm exactly, but they'd only let Bindu go in, so i sat 2 hours outside and worried. When she finally came out she had niether a smile or tears. The officer had given her a paper saying no visa cuz box #1 is checked, then "administrative processing" typed in below. He said they'd call her in 1-4 weeks! (so why did the idiots schedule her an interview if they weren't already prepared?) Again i was livid! I went in and politely asked to speak to a consular officer, tho he wasn't the same who had asked her the 3-4 interview q's. I asked if he could give us a better timeline and said how long we've already waited. He said i didnt need to be here at all, but i replied shes scared doing all this stuff alone. His eyebrows raised in an "Ahh-Haa, i caught cha" look as he asked me, "whys she scared?" like we're lying or hiding somehting. I explained how coming from small lovely peaceful Pokhara to huge awful KTM is scarey, as is the medical and police report, and embassy stuff. Inside i was fuming, but i was polite reluctantly. He said better we go back "home" to Pokhara and they'll call in 1-2 weeks, for us to return for more interview. So the next day we sadly got a bus the 8 hour 120 mile ziggy trip over to here, nesled below the towering himalayas with the absolute best view in the world. Its now been 11 days. I called then yesterday and they still said our stuff is under review. Jesus! oh well at least here ive got my grueling mountain trail run i can train on that climbs stairs 3000 feet in less than 3 miles to the top of Sarankot view lookout. I even got out my rusty old mountain bike so i can ride some on what passes as hi-ways here. and still we wait. Tom&Bindu

[RightClicK 17]

OHHHH MY GOD......14 months until NOA2 ......Thats kinda UMMMMM LONGGGG...

Sam