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Once backpacker haunts, Nepal's internet cafes have fallen off a cliff

restofworld.org · 1,105 words · saved by 1 readers

Printing documents and helping to fill out government forms keeps some cafes busy.

By Abhaya Raj Joshi Photography by Sagar Chhetri 25 July 2023 W hen it opened in 1997, the K@mandu Cybermatha Tea House was a vision of modernity. Visitors were greeted with an air-conditioned breeze and a friendly smile from the receptionist, who directed customers to their stations. The cafe employed “cyberguides” who shared tips and tricks on how to surf the net. The main room was divided into small sections by varnished wooden partitions, creating a grid of cubicles. It was abuzz with activity as tourists and locals went in and out of the adjacent art gallery, bookshop, and restaurant. One

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