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Attractions / Royal Palaces / Royal Travel / Tourist Sites / → All Tags

Nepal Kicks Royals Out; Invites Tourists In

One of the world's last old-school monarchies, the royal family of Nepal, is being eased out of their luxuries as the country gets keen on democracy. And as the royal family is on the way out, Parliament has asked them to kindly vacate their royal residence.

But their loss is inquisitive travelers' gain: the government is transforming Narayanhity Royal Palace in Kathmandu into a tourist attraction, throwing its gates open to the public today.

Much of the immense palace, some of which is as old as 200 years, has only been seen by a few non-Royal eyes before. The first phase of the palace's new existence as a museum opens 19 imposing royal bedrooms, salons and banquet halls, and also includes a memorial at the notorious site where 10 royal family members will killed in a shocking shooting eight years ago.

· Nepal ready with guided tour of royal palace [Thaindian News]
· Nepal travel coverage [Jaunted] [

Photo: wikimedia]

Mythic Travel / Yeti / Adventure Travel / → All Tags

Mythic Travel: Search For Giant Hairy Beast Continues

Feeling less threatened lately? That's probably because the Bigfoot body which was "discovered" last week in California turned out to be yet another hoax. But Japanese scientists, undeterred, are leading a trek into the Himalayas to collect definitive evidence of the existence of the yeti, Bigfoot's Eastern cousin.

Yeti Project Japan left Kathmandu Thursday seeking traces of the half-man half-ape which they believe lives on the Dhaulagiri IV peak. If they find nothing, maybe they can have a big party up there since the expedition is co-sponsored by the brand "Lost in Translation" made famous, Suntory liquor.

Related Stories:
· Bigfoot Hoaxers Resurface, Blame California Promoter [FOX News]
· Japanese Team on Yeti Quest in Nepal [AP]
· WTF Hotel News:: "Bigfoot" DNA Analysis at The Cabana Hotel [HC]
· Nepal Travel coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo of the Abominable Snowman from "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer": Buttercup Punch]

Nepal Airlines / Airport Hell / → All Tags

Nepal Airlines Sacrifices Two Goats For The Sky Gods

Officials at Nepal Airlines, the country's state run airline, have sacrificed two goats to appease Akash Bhairab, the Hindu sky god, following technical problems with one of its Boeing 757s, the airline announced today. Seriously.

The goats were sacrificed in front of the balky aircraft on Sunday at Nepal's Kathmandu airport--following Hindu traditions. So to quickly recap, if you land at Nepal's LUA airport you have to deal with a freaky take off and landing, and if you land in Kathmandu you may witness a goat sacrifice in action.

A senior airport official said:

The snag in the plane has now been fixed and the aircraft has resumed its flights.

Hmmm. Somehow we doubt PETA members will be flying this airline anytime soon. We don't know what is more disturbing, the actual sacrificing or the fact that the aircraft was declared "fixed" post sacrifice. You decide.

Related Stories:
· Nepal Airlines [Official Site]
· World's Most Dangerous Airports [Jaunted]
· Kathmandu Hotels [HotelChatter]

[Photo: normanack]