Having a ball in Nepal.

How many timezones does the world have?

On being asked that question many will come up with the perfectly logical answer of 24. After all, that’s the number of hours in a day. But they’d be wrong! Yep, in all there are quite a few more than 24… There are actually 39 time zones! In a handful of countries the local time differs from the respective ‘geographical time zone’ (of which there are 24) – by half an hour (like in India, Iran and a few others) or even by 45 minutes – like, for example, in Nepal. Here the time difference from London is +4 hours and 45 minutes! These offsets are the reason for there being 39, not 24 time zones.

Last week, I was here in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal!

I’d long dreamed of getting to the country of the Buddha, the Himalayas and Everest! We saw plenty of Buddhas, but sadly got nowhere near the Himalayas during our two-day visit. We had to make do with the city’s wonderful pagodas, stupas, and protected districts.

Nepalian pagodas, stupas and protected districts in old Kathmandu by @e_kasperskyTweet

Their names I don’t remember, but I don’t want to remember them. The atmosphere here makes things like place names appear crude and superfluous. Even turning to Wikipedia doesn’t seem right.

One thing I do recall is that it gets real hot here in July. So you sweat and your shirt gets covered in damp blotches. But that doesn’t matter – as weightier, more spiritual matters are filling the soul. It’s a place where you just want to sit down and start meditating, or just stroll and stroll and stroll unhurriedly and soak up the surrounding spiritual ambiance (not dwelling too long on some of the more pungent smells that can waft your way:), or start chanting a mantra (om-mani-padme-hum…), or become weightless… or a mixture of all of that. It’s just the stifling heat that makes getting all spiritual not the easiest. Still, I’m sure a bit of discomfort is advised on the way to Buddahood.

The folks milling about all seem to exude a certain calm and sereneness – both the locals and the tourists. The otherworldliness here is infectious.

The fauna that darts about at all the holy sites summons many an ‘awww’ and other such mushiness – but you can’t let your guard down: the same fauna is adept at pinching wallets, watches, cell phones, jewelry, and anything else that glitters!

You’ve got to pick a pocket or two…

“Don’t believe anyone” – an ancient truth. I want to add to that: “Don’t believe anyone – EVER!”

I was promised two full touristy days of trips, temples, mantras, and all that. Yeah right! Then out of the blue a KL partner conference comes and steamrolls those plans (yes, we have partners in Nepal too – 200+ of whom were present:). So the much anticipated lying low after the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong… kyboshed.

Miss Nepal-2010 promotes @kaspersky antivirusTweet

That’s Miss Nepal-2010! Still got it :)

Here are a few more pix of Kathmandu – a city of contrasts:

The ‘Hello’ Internet café! (Namaste = hello). We didn’t get chance to check out the flora and fauna inside the comps inside

One of the symbols of Shiva-Shakti is often mistaken for the Star of David. All the same, a peaceful coexistence of a hexagram and swastika for westerners unaware of eastern occult symbolism… it sure looks surprising and unusual:

… And what is that apostrophe doing there?

China is everywhere

“Eh, don’t disturb my mantra, man”…

…”Ok!”

I wonder what they did to upset him?

The term minibus takes on a whole new meaning

I hope it’s plain to see already that Nepal really is a must see. I lightly placed a tick with a pencil against place No. 61 in my top 100 must-see places in the world. Why with a pencil? And why only lightly? Because there’s so much still to see here – after having missed most of it this time!…

Nepal and the other 99 top must-see places in the world – according to @e_kasperskyTweet

All the photos are here.