There, I was simply asked whether I had a video or movie camera, and when I said no, they marked my bags with chalk. They have a fee for video cameras. The departure area was full of people promoting their hotels, and taxi drivers trying to solicit passengers. A child tried to get some money to carry my suitcase, but I ignored him, and we drove to the hotel. The Nepalese drive on the left, but most roads in Kathmandu barely have one lane, and are really chaotic, full of pedestrians and animals such as dogs and cows.
People drive like crazy and blow their horns a lot to clear the way.
The big multi-lane roads are just as chaotic, but without pedestrians and at higher speed. We drove by the Royal Palace and stopped at the northern end of Thamel, the tourist district. The hotel was set back in a courtyard and looked impressive. There was an intricate Newari wood carving in the center of the elaborately decorated wood and brass lobby. As we took the elevator to the top floor to see the room, the hotel representative told me he was a Buddhist.