Back in 1997, the tourist buses did not go beyond Prithvichowk (though they could pick up passengers from Lakeside on the return journey) supposedly as the taxi drivers’ cartel prevented them from doing so citing “pesenjar napaera.” Back then, the bus had stopped in an isolated chaur just before Prithvichowk and we were attacked like vultures by the hotel agents. I asked the conductor how far the bus was going. “Rastra Bank Chowk,” was his reply. That was slightly better news to me since it was much closer to the Lakeside and Damside but still I wanted to avoid the agents. I was thinking of getting off at Mustang Chowk and take either a short walk or a local bus to Pardi instead. I told M and J about my plan but both of them strongly objected saying "No we are going to the last stop. We are seasoned travelers. We know how to deal with them.” I reluctantly agreed. Our bus journey ended somewhere near the Rastra Bank Chowk, once again in a chaur off the road where we were surrounded by agents. I told them that we were on a very low budget and could not afford to pay more than Rs 150 or so. One of them represented the Jharana Hotel, also recommended by my father, and agreed to the price I was offering. It was also agreed that we would get a free ride regardless of whether we chose to stay there or not. In an ancient Toyota Corolla, we reached our hotel at the Damside.