Journey Woman - Travel 101 - Gal Friendly City Sites -- Her Favorite Restaurants

Joyce Tapper lives in Van Nuys California. She is a yoga student, retired PR business owner, and frequent Nepal visitor and trekking planner. When it comes to eating out in this part of the world, Joyce knows her stuff. She writes...

Each year I return to Kathmandu in Nepal and as I saunter through the Thamel district's busy streets, I spot new restaurants and old favorites. Merchants near the Norbu Linka Hotel ( a small comfortable family place where I always stay), greet me with a knowing, friendly, "Namaste, you're back!" I feel right at home in an environment so unlike my other home in California.

Over the years I've collected a list of Thamel's female-friendly restaurants that I particularly enjoy and which I'd like to share with other members of the Journeywomen Network. I'm also including several tips for dining out in this part of the world.

First the dining out advice...

Trying to find a particular restaurant? Kathmandu does not feature addresses and street names in a conventional "western world" way. In general, there are few street names and no visible numbers. Places are found according to their proximity to other places. Your hotel will explain how to find your restaurant or they will send a young staff member with you. This often makes getting there half the fun.
Collect cards at each restaurant; they usually have a little map on the back to help you get back a second time. Paste them into your travel diary so you can advise other women travellers about your favorites.
Dress wisely when heading out to dinner. Always take a sweater or light jacket. No matter how warm it is in the afternoon, it cools off in the evening.
Especially if you are travelling solo, table-to-table conversations are fun to encourage everywhere. Don't worry. Just do it. You'll find everyone else generally does.
Streets are busy and feel safe for walking (even when you're alone) until about 9:00 p.m. I've found that when the crowds thin out, the dope peddlers approach more brazenly. Try to be back to your hotel by then. If it's later, take a cab at the stands located at the hub of all the alley-like streets.
Check ahead with your hotel about how much to pay for a ride in a cab or a rickshaw (bicycle-propelled) and don't pay more than this amount. If the quote is too high just walk on to the next driver. Be aware that rickshaws are not for the faint of heart and the drivers tend to cheat the uninformed.
Finally, to avoid Delhi Belly, eat only freshly cooked hot food, never consume anything raw. And dry any damp silver, glassware, or plates.

For a list of women-friendly restaurants, click here