Kathmandu, Nepal
I got to Kathmandu by midday on April 3, ready to explore the famous hippy town! Backpackers galore - it's an exciting vibe wit so many trekkers prepping for the biggest journey of their lives, and the streets are crammed with people getting on with their daily lives, with two-way roads are shared with cars, scooters, pedestrians and vendors alike, in the size of a small alleyway. To add to the feeling of chaos, the streets are not labeled and most locals I chatted to did not know the names. I meandered my way down to Durbar Square, making a point of remembering notable sights to find my way back.
The square itself was full of temples and tour guides, and once I had enough of being hassled to buy their knowledge, I went to a cafe overlooking the market and had a quiet afternoon relaxing and people watching.
In the evening our new group met for the first time, and went for dinner. I've been loving the Nepali Thali, a set meal with curries, dal (like a lentil soup), and other various dishes brought out in small brass bowls on a larger silver plate.
I started the next morning off right by catching a plane to fly over the Himalayas and pay Mount Everest a visit. It was a small, 16 seater plane, with the cockpit open at the front, and we took off in the foggy Kathmandu morning, and quickly rose above the earthly mist into the sunny mountain air. We were all invited one-by-one to go up front, where the pilots pointed out the first view of Everest. Returning to my seat, the tallest mountain in the world, nestled among many others on the top 20 list, came into full view in my tiny side window. The mountains continued for centuries in each direction, and the distinct snowline gave an indication of harsh conditions for the climbers down there.
Upon returning to Kathmandu and rejoining the group, we visited the holiest site to Hindus and Buddhists, so much so that others are not allowed in the main temple. There were cremations going on along the edge of the river, and we watched the lighting rituals.
Last stop of the day was the Bodnath Stupa, surrounded by a busy circle of shops, many occupied by painters displaying their detailed mandala works. At the base of the stupa are prayer wheels, and you rotate them clockwise as you walk by and make a wish.
The square itself was full of temples and tour guides, and once I had enough of being hassled to buy their knowledge, I went to a cafe overlooking the market and had a quiet afternoon relaxing and people watching.
In the evening our new group met for the first time, and went for dinner. I've been loving the Nepali Thali, a set meal with curries, dal (like a lentil soup), and other various dishes brought out in small brass bowls on a larger silver plate.
I started the next morning off right by catching a plane to fly over the Himalayas and pay Mount Everest a visit. It was a small, 16 seater plane, with the cockpit open at the front, and we took off in the foggy Kathmandu morning, and quickly rose above the earthly mist into the sunny mountain air. We were all invited one-by-one to go up front, where the pilots pointed out the first view of Everest. Returning to my seat, the tallest mountain in the world, nestled among many others on the top 20 list, came into full view in my tiny side window. The mountains continued for centuries in each direction, and the distinct snowline gave an indication of harsh conditions for the climbers down there.
Upon returning to Kathmandu and rejoining the group, we visited the holiest site to Hindus and Buddhists, so much so that others are not allowed in the main temple. There were cremations going on along the edge of the river, and we watched the lighting rituals.
Last stop of the day was the Bodnath Stupa, surrounded by a busy circle of shops, many occupied by painters displaying their detailed mandala works. At the base of the stupa are prayer wheels, and you rotate them clockwise as you walk by and make a wish.
Comments
Post a Comment