🇳🇵 From Kathmandu Airport to Thamel: Money & SIM Card Near-Disaster

1️⃣ Currency Exchange At Airport: Only change 200 CNY (rate: ~18.4 NPR) for taxi/SIM card. In Thamel: Head to Jiangnan Pharmacy (Chinese-run)—best rate in Nepal (19.5!). Pay via Alipay/WeChat. 🚨 Don’t carry too much cash! Nearby Chinese restaurants accept digital payments. 2️⃣ SIM Card Drama Planned to buy in Thamel, but arrived at 7 PM on Saturday—shops closed! Pro Tip: Buy early! Choose NTC (best signal everywhere). Ncell fails in remote areas. Almost became a missing person—family panicked when I went offline! (Thank god for hotel WiFi.) 3️⃣ Accommodation 🏨 50 RMB/night for a triple room (clean + mountain views!). Book online, then bargain offline. ⚠️ Safety check—I’ll share details after checkout. 4️⃣ Food 🍜 Edible but forgettable (see pics for spots). 5️⃣ Thamel Shopping First Look 👗 Overwhelming outdoor gear & dresses—likely fake. More research needed on backpacks! #TravelFails #NepalOnABudget #KathmanduTips #ThamelAdventures