We decided to leave Kathmandu for a few days. We wanted to see a festival in Nepal and were excited to learn that the Buddha’s birthday was on May 14. We figured that Lumbini, which is Buddha’s birthplace, would be a great place to go. We took the public bus down to Lumbini because it was the cheapest way. Like most bus trips in developing countries, the bus ride to Lumbini was a hot all-day affair. The views of the mountains and valleys were spectacular. The scenery changed dramatically as we went further south, from mountains and agricultural terraces to dry forests and swamps. Nepal drivers are completely crazy. Many drivers elaborately decorate their buses and paint signs saying such things as “Road King” and “Please use horn” on the back. We saw many accidents and
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