KATHMANDU, July 5 -- First time taking a microbus in Kathmandu? Brace yourself for a ride of a lifetime.

Start with a deep breath

If you're riding a microbus in Kathmandu for the first time, take a deep breath and steel your nerves. You'll need courage-not just to board the vehicle, but to survive the chaos that comes with it. You might ask, "What sort of courage?" Let's begin with tolerance-for all kinds of smells, crammed spaces, rude behavior, and the sheer unpredictability of the journey.

These aren't just the usual woes of public transport in Nepal; in Kathmandu's microbuses, they become essential survival skills. Riding a micro here isn't just about getting from one place to another-it's a daily test of patience and resilience, a...