Downtown Kathmandu

So, are there still hippies in Kathmandu?Yes, probably, either in the hippie form, or in a reformed version.
There are many foreigners living in Katmandu (although none on this picture, I believe). They are the kind of people that feel an affinity for the Himalayas or Buddhism. Lately there’s been hundreds of young Russians coming to study Buddhism or the Tibetan language. Nepal is quite welcoming to foreigners but it restricts stays to 6 months unless one has an official job working for an NGO or a local firm, in which case work permits can be obtained. The six-month stay requirement is a bit of a nuisance, as visas are renewed outside the country.
Having spent some time in both Tibet and India, I don’t see the appeal of living in Kathmandu. It is a crowded, dirty city with lots of traffic problems. It’s not well stocked with consumer goods, and medicine is so appalling that all Nepalese who have a steady income, starting from about the level of teachers and up, go to India for medical treatments or even check-ups.
I shall make no comments here about the state of Nepalese politics and its government.
In summary, Nepal is a mess, but a happy mess.