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Published: October 26th 2012
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Swayambhunath Temple
View from 8 floors up in Thamel. While I have been working Michael has been exploring Kathmandu and re-tracing some of our steps from our last trip here in 2008-2009.
He took himself off to the Monkey Temple which is the nickname for the Buddist temple of Swayambhunath, which high on a hill to the west of the city. And we say hill...we mean hill....although the benefit is a great view overlooking the city of Kathmandu.
There is a steep stairway leading up to the top of the temple complex and along the way you will encounter monkeys and the usual stalls selling handicraft and souvieners to the tourists.
Monkey Temple is so called because of the large troop of monkeys that "guard" the hill and temple and amuse or scare the tourists with their antics - but I prefer to give way to them in all cases.
Geologists and theologians both believe that the Kathmandu Valley was a lake and the hill of Swayambhunath was an island. Gradually the lake dried up to leave the fertile valley floor that we see today.
The "Mokey Temple" is a religious place for Hindus and Buddhists.
Earlier in October we were able to view
the world's largest Thangka which has been exhibited in various countries including Japa, Mongolia, India and USA. It was on display in Kathmandu for 3 days only - something not to be missed.
The aim of the event is to attract the global attention to spread peace by this exhibition. The Thangka was made to depict the life of the Buddha. The dream of creating the largest ever Thangka was conceived in 1994, and with the effort of more than 10,000 volunteers from over 16 countries in the span of eight years -the Thangka was put together.
The Thangka is Lord Buddha's life story, which is traditionally summarised in the twelve deeds that he performed from his coming to the world to his passing away.T
The Thangka was completed by joining 81 different pieces with zippers. Each piece is 20 feet in length and 18 feet in breadth making a ready Mandala approximately 229.60 feet in length and 164 feet in breath. It weighs about 1900kgs.
To give this Mandala its full shape nearly 7000 square metres of cloth and 3200 metres of zipper has been used. The Thangka is stored and transported in 81 synthetic
Sakyamuni
a 6m figure Sakyamuni buddha - the historical buddha. packets of - 60cm wide; 105cm long; 30cm high.
Three parts of the Thangka were prepared in Nepal. Numerous multinational companies participated in creating the Thangka by sponsorship including materials, facilitation and other logistic support.
We visited the football stadium on the last afternoon of the exhibition and it was heavily guarded and no one was allowed onto the grounds except officals and press - so everyone was in the grand stands....great celebrations - peanut vendors; drinks, etc all for sale. For a lot of the young boy monks it was a great day out with a drink in one hand and chips in the other.
After about an hour - music started up and people were allowed to go out onto the running track around the ground and walk around the Thangka. Many of the Tibetan ladies walked around several times - clockwise of course - and I even saw one older lady get up a bit of pace and she was sticking to one particular running lane each time she came past me.
Michael went out and walked around once but I was comfortable on the gand stand taking it all in.
On
the way to the Dashrath Stadium - we decided to walk out there - thought a bit of exercise wouldn't go astray - we came upon the Queen's Pond (see photo) which was a nice reprive from the dusty, smelly and busy markets set up on the sidewalks....but all part of Kathmandu.
We came across a field/park where there was about 10 games of cricket taking place - the grass was about a foot high - not sure how they knew who was fielding for who - but there were spectators in the middle of everything as well.
Anyway, must go - nearly time to go to the airport - and I started this blog a fair while ago - but hopefully I can get some more out to you all soon.....have a 9 hour stop over in Mumbi airport....so will get writing.
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Dancing Dave
David Hooper
KATHMANDU
Wow...the Tangka looks amazing...needing to attend a football stadium to view it! Kathmandu looks lovely from the pics. Looking forward to hearing how your work in Kathmandu progressed. Regards to Mike & Ros from David & Denise.