Blogs from Bhaktapur, Nepal, Asia - page 4

Per concludere il nostro scorazzare per katmandu e dintorni ci spingiamo a bhaktapur .con un pulman , che viene bloccato prima di partire dalla polizia , il conducente senza peremesso di guida , alla fine cambiamo bus ... Arriviamo e altro salasso d'ingresso ( per gli europei / americani) ma non per i cinesi... Alla fine vaghiamo tutto il giorno tra piazze e piazzette e come una piccola cittadina , molto tranquilla , ci sono in giro i turisti ma non tantissimi . c'e la piazza dove fanno e cucinano i vasi in terracotta ( pottery square ) ,dopo pranzo ci perdiamo per cercare altri luoghi insoliti e finiamo per scarpinare per un templio esterno . dove nessuno ha osato spingersi . alla fine niente di che ( anche se la guida ne decantava grande maestosita ... read more

For our last weeks in Nepal, to avoid any more high risks, we decided to put our bags in more or less safe places. First on our route was Lumbini. There are a few dangers that await travelers on the road. First is the bus that brings you from point A to point B. Without a vehicle, you are rather helpless here, you need wheels to move. Busses are old and creaky, and do not look like they will last long. It is quite normal that in a 6 hour journey, the driver will stop a couple of times by a road repair shop to pump a tire or tighten some screws. It seems that there is no technical control nor normes to follow for this type of transport. A lot of buses are private, as ... read more

As we promised last time, we will tell you more about Tihar, the festival that took place from 4th to 7th of november. On fifth, there was Laxmi-puja. Everybody burns lots of oil-candles (and nowadays also more and more colorful electric lights, like we use in Christmas-time) around the house. This happens when sun is going down so it creates a very nice atmosphere in the city. In the same time, girls are dressed up and go dancing and singing in front of shops, so they will receive some money and sweets. We also made a nice colorful flower in front of the house, and a line going inside the house. This because Laxmi (the goddess) can find the way to our moneybag (people believe that she will come either to take money, or to bring ... read more

The 3th day of our wedding, there was a big party (for about 700 people) in the evening. But in the morning, we were also busy: there was another program at Gyanendra's, to introduce Zoe to his family. First there was a small program (Lakha Mata) with the priest. The priest was blessing us for a healthy and succesfull long term relationship. Besides that, 125000 candle-threats were blessed. Those were made by Gyanendra's mother, to burn in this special day. After this, all Gyanendra's family members came for another nut ceremony (like there was in the 2nd day for Zoe's family). One by one they greated us, gave some money and received the nuts. When everybody had done this, we could start another parade to the temple. The candle-threats were carried, a music band was joining ... read more

Because there is so much to tell and to show about our wedding and because every day was so different, we will write and show pictures day by day. So we will start by the first day, the Swaymber-day, the day that we celebrated at the temple. After getting dressed at the temple, together with Eline and many other family-members, it started by Zoe who had to make three rounds around the place of the celebration, where were sitting Gyanendra's parents and the priest. This happened by carrying the garlands for Gyanendra, follewed by putting the garlands around his neck. Gyanendra soon did the same (except making the rounds), and also had to put a golden hanger. This was followed by exchanging the wedding-rings. After that, Gyanendra had to put coloured powder in Zoe's hair. In ... read more