Kathmandu (Nepal) casinos

news was dated 4 Feb 2011. Does anyone know whether the 8 casinos have been relocated outside the city & to where?

You might want to ask Bob Seeger - I hear he's going there!

Charles Sobraj will have the answer no doubt.

I've always want to go to Katmandu, mainly because I just like to say "Katmandu." Dang, now I can't use checking out the casino scene as an excuse.

Quote: Wizard

I've always want to go to Katmandu, mainly because I just like to say "Katmandu." Dang, now I can't use checking out the casino scene as an excuse.

Katmandu is one of the last places to go on earth where tourism is confined to people who are willing to pay a lot of money to see one of the least touristed places on earth. Rather than promote mass tourism, they keep it confined to a small group who must travel with state sanctioned tour groups that pay large taxes.

I have only ever met two people that have been there. One is a wealthy intellectual writer (also a drunk) who is the target demographic for their tours. The other was an Indian who is not encumbered by the restrictions to use the sanctioned tour groups.

For me, Muscat felt like the most exotic place I have ever visited for work. It looks like a city built on the Moon.



The land of the P'urhépecha in the Sierra Madres is probably the most exotic place I have ever visited for fun. The Uruapan airport has exactly one flight per day to anywhere (Volaris goes to Tijuana). The federal troops physically search every single passenger. The mountains are a very long drive from the airport.

Quote: Volcán de Parícutin

The volcano began as a fissure in a cornfield owned by a P'urhépecha farmer, Dionisio Pulido, on February 20, 1943. Pulido, his wife, and their son all witnessed the initial eruption of ash and stones first-hand as they plowed the field. The volcano grew quickly, reaching five stories tall in just a week, and it could be seen from afar in a month. Much of the volcano's growth occurred during its first year, while it was still in the explosive pyroclastic phase. The nearby villages Paricutín (after which the volcano was named) and San Juan Parangaricutiro were both buried in lava and ash; the residents relocated to vacant land nearby.
At the end of this phase, after roughly one year, the volcano had grown 336 meters (1,100 ft) tall.

For the next eight years the volcano would continue erupting, although this was dominated by relatively quiet eruptions of lava that would scorch the surrounding 25 km² (9.7 mi²) of land. The volcano's activity would slowly decline during this period until the last six months of the eruption, during which violent and explosive activity was frequent. In 1952 the eruption ended and Parícutin went quiet, attaining a final height of 424 meters (1,390 ft) from the cornfield where it began. The volcano has been quiet since. Like most cinder cones, Parícutin is believed to be a monogenetic volcano, which means that once it has finished erupting, it will never erupt again. Any new eruptions in a monogenetic volcanic field erupt in a new location

There are a great many exotic places. I too like the sound of Katmandu and also feel that I'd like to be able to say I've been to Timbuktu in case the expression "from here to Timbuktu" ever returns to American usage. Unfortunately, I would lack the courage as well as the money to visit either of these two places. Nepal is politically sensitive now and I would avoid it. All of Africa is sensitive right now and I would avoid it.

Quote: FleaStiff

t I'd like to be able to say I've been to Timbuktu in case the expression "from here to Timbuktu" ever returns to American usage. Unfortunately, I would lack the courage as well as the money to visit either of these two places. Nepal is politically sensitive now and I would avoid it. All of Africa is sensitive right now and I would avoid it.

Timbuktu was known to Europeans over 600 years ago, appearing on map before Prince Henry the Navigator was even born. So the city was legendary a century before the discovery of America. There is nothing of interest today.

Quote: pacomartin

Katmandu is one of the last places to go on earth where tourism is confined to people who are willing to pay a lot of money to see one of the least touristed places on earth. Rather than promote mass tourism, they keep it confined to a small group who must travel with state sanctioned tour groups that pay large taxes.

I have only ever met two people that have been there. One is a wealthy intellectual writer (also a drunk) who is the target demographic for their tours. The other was an Indian who is not encumbered by the restrictions to use the sanctioned tour groups.

Reminds me of North Korea. Only one airline serves flights from Beijing to North Korea and their expensive sanctioned tours are supervised any time you are outside your hotel room. Surprisingly enough, the socialist dictatorship has several Chinese-owned casinos employing many Chinese migrants that are hotspots for dirty money from mainland China. Since North Korean exports are banned in most of the world this is one of their only sources of income.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/loolooimage/2887471932/

Quote: pacomartin

Katmandu is one of the last places to go on earth where tourism is confined to people who are willing to pay a lot of money to see one of the least touristed places on earth. Rather than promote mass tourism, they keep it confined to a small group who must travel with state sanctioned tour groups that pay large taxes.

Are you sure you're not confusing Bhutan with Katmandu? There are several airlines that have service to Katmandu on a frequent basis. Even my mother has been there.

Quote: pacomartin

Timbuktu was known to Europeans over 600 years ago, there is nothing of interest today.

True. At around the time of the Second Millenium hysteria the Wall Street Journal did a study of the first Millenium at which time Timbuktu was the center of world trade and commerce. Now its just part of an obsolete phrase.