My Nepal Airlines flight (2-May-2026) to Kathmandu was delayed several times, and I finally landed around midnight. I was visiting Nepal primarily for a Himalayan trek—the Manaslu Circuit Trek. I had booked the trek through a local operator called Magical Nepal, which offered airport pickup and drop-off services. My driver was waiting for me outside the airport. After quickly purchasing an NTC SIM card, I headed into the city. The drive from the airport to the hotel was fairly short, taking less than 30 minutes at that hour. My first impression of Kathmandu was that it felt remarkably clean. During the ride, my young driver and I chatted in Hindi about the Gen Z movement, the current political situation, and other topics. He seemed hopeful about the future. Along the way he showed me the Hilton hotel. During the September 2025 youth-led protests in Nepal, the Hotel was severely damaged and set on fire by demonstrators. The luxury hotel was targeted as a symbol of wealth and privilege ...