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2003-09-11 - Kathmandu (Day 149)

This morning I buy one of the typical Nepali souvenirs, the Kukri knife worn by the Gurkas, and all Nepali police and soldiers. It is a vicious looking curved knife with an interesting history. I wanted to mention it here as I found an interesting essay on the Kukri knife and it's history by John Powell, which might interest readers of this site.

Next on the agenda is to go to the airport and pick up Peggy who is visiting from Taiwan. As we walk out of the airport, we start walking out to the road since taxis are bared from waiting on fear they might have Maoist bombs. I hear yelling in the background but as people asking if you need a hotel or bus or whatever is so common leaving airports I just ignore it until something in the tone says I should pay attention. I turn and look back and there are several soldiers 20 meters back yelling and pointing and waving to come back. I look in front and about 10 meters in front of me is a black back lying by the side of the road. Oh, shit! I realize what the bag is pretty quick and Peggy and I start backtracking away from the bomb double-time. I shouldn't be surprised since I have been poisoned and run off the road on this trip, why shouldn't I be blown up too! I found out the next day that the bomb had just been thrown out of a car when I was there it was live but defused by the Nepali army later that afternoon. Whew, another close one.

The rest of the day is a tour around Durbar Square since there are still many festivities going on as part of the Indra Jetra festival but not the crowds from two days ago.

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