My communication with COCAP about plans for my arrival hadn’t been great, though I had sent my flight info and been given a phone number to call upon arrival. Unfortunately, in the whirlwind of my departure, I had forgotten to write it down. Thus, as I landed, made my way through immigration, and picked up both of my bags (yay!!), the one thing on my mind was finding an internet connection.

I had been pleasantly surprised to find wireless in all the major airports I’ve spent time in during the last couple weeks – even if some of them required a bit of detective work. I assumed Kathmandu would be the same, particularly because so many people have described it as a very western and developed city. Unfortunately, my internet search in Kathmandu airport led to a dead-end, and I was informed that the only internet was in the tourist center, Thamel.

After scanning the small throng of men outside the gates and not seeing a sign w/ my name on it, I decided to make my way to Thamel. I hooked up w/ a Canadian couple heading in the same direction to share a cab. As we collectively took a deep breath and stepped into the barrage of taxi drivers I happened to notice a man holding a sign reading “COCAP.” Anil, using rapid-fire broken English (which as hard to understand as it was, far exceeded my Nepali) got us into a cab and began my induction to COCAP and Kathmandu.