Kathmandu Packing List

While preparing to go to Kathmandu, I actually had some trouble finding information about what to bring. Nearly all the advice was geared towards people trekking through the mountains rather than staying in the city and would include things like sleeping bags.

Here's what I brought:

1. Bubble wrap - I'd wanted to bring back a Nepalese beer for my husband and didn't want it (or any other souvenirs I bought) to break. Didn't end up needing it though.
2. Extra Batteries (for cameras and flashlight)
3. Backup Camera - just in case my main one broke or was stolen
4. Air Filtering Face Mask - we went at the end of the dry season when it can be really dusty, not to mention the constant pollution from a lot of old vehicles. I didn't ever use it though, and you can buy them at pharmacies there if it gets really bad.
5. Hot water bottle - It can get quite cold in Kathmandu at night, 40F/4.5 C, and heating quite rare.
6. Water Bottle - you 100% need a water bottle.
7. Spare ear buds - I break these a lot! thankfully I didn't need them
8. Flashlight - By the end of the dry season there often isn't enough water to produce electricity so the power can be shut off for long periods of time, and if this happens at night out go the streetlights! Cars drive quite quickly around corners and it was nice to be able to carry a light to make sure they saw us.
9. Mouthwash - If you can't drink the tap water you can't brush with it either. I brought this along to make sure my teeth stayed clean since brushing with bottled water can be awkward.
10. Mug - for tea, instant soup, etc
11. Hand Sanitizer - the kind that doesn't require water. I had a little purse sized one, and this larger one to refill it from. - I'm very glad I brought this!
12. Medicine - Iberogast and Imodium, just in case my stomach decided to expel it's contents post haste.
13. Two pairs of cheap sunglasses. 
14. Tokidoki expandable bag - for souvenirs! I didn't end up needing this.
15. (Not pictured) a roll of toilet paper. Sanitation standards vary dramatically, I'm glad I brought this.

Here's what I wish I had also brought:

1. Sunblock! I heard so much about the smog and pollution that I thought there's no way the sun will get through all that. Boy, was I wrong! I burnt like a crisp (as in, peeling in March) and ended up with a weird half circle tan on the back of my neck. I managed to by some 40 SPF here for 180 Rupees (2.11 USD, 1,82 Euro). Then again, I'm so pale even the Germans tell me "but you're so white!"
2. Warm clothes. It get's quite cool here when the sun goes down, and my hotel is very enthusiastic about air conditioning. I was actually quite cold there most nights.
3. Ethernet cable. The wireless was awful, especially when it came to uploading/sending information. I got kicked off a lot, and most of my communication with my husband consisted of "hello? are you there?" back and forth for an hour.
4. More changes of clothes. Laundry at the hotel was expensive, and the DIY places were far from our hotel and I wouldn't have felt all right leaving my clothes there, so I would have had to spend 3 hours keeping an eye on it and would have missed dinner.