http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Asia , Nepal , Bhaktapur en-us Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:37:31 BST Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:37:31 BST Hello everybody and happy Fourth of July I don't have much to say because life in the village hasn't been all that exciting but I wanted to update so no one got worried by my silence. I'm spending a few days in Kathmandu helping another volunteer finish up her project before she heads home. We're visiting three orphanages in the city to assess the needs of the orphanage and the needs of the chi http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-295230.html I found myself spending over one week in Bhaktapur Nepal. As a result of my friend Stephen in Malaysia I connected with Rajan in Bhaktapur and his family graciously offered to give me a home for the duration of my stay there. My experiences there were incredible and some of the most stimulating and satisfying times of my journey thus far.Bhaktapur is a UNESCO world heritage site. The architectur http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-293574.html We arrived into Kathmandu after a crazy flight through Abu Dhabi where Garfield was always trying to mail Nermal which was a bit of a crazy airport with a mosque inside the restrooms but it did have free internet terminals available The last leg of the journey was problem free except for the slightly offputting guy sitting next to Shane holding a mask up to his face the entire flight http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-289252.html I think the pictures speak for themselves. It was an interesting week and I survived. My family were very welcoming but I was glad to get back to Kathmandu after the 8 days. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-275373.html After almost one month I finally found a fast connection http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-264355.html I booked a flight to Los Angeles leaving March 27th. I could not leave Nepal without one day to explore. I cowboyed up as they say and hired a driver for the day. I had made a list of all the sites I wanted to see and even had time to shop. I saw the palace and the temples. He drove me to Bhaktapur. Its a beautiful little town. He also drove me through the Himilayas. They are absolutely amazing. I http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-262196.html After KTM we cruised along the Kathmandu Valley for two days. The valley is famous for it's religous temples and sites. First we went to Patan which has a lovely city center and really nice temples to look at. The next day we moved on to Bhaktapur were we sneeked into the city without paying the entrance fee. Another lovely city with beautiful temples. The last day we went to Bodnath where we gla http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-251871.html Just outside of Kathmandu there is an ancient city called Bhaktapur with beautiful erotic wood carvings and exquisite art. This was our first stop in Kathmandu Valley. The wood carvings on the facades of the buildings were amazing. Not only because of their detail but because they have withstood the test of time. The city was founded in the 12th Century by King Dev Malla. From time immemor http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-243297.html We had arranged to stop off at a place called Bhaktapur on our way back to Kathmandu airport so we left Nargakot at 8.30am. We had been offered a tour of here in Kathmandu but hadn't gone so it was good we had the opportunity to fit it in as we were literally passing it anyway.It is an old town just outside Kathmandu. The architecture dates back 100's of years and it really is a town within a to http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-227752.html Sujata the headmaster's 20 year old daughter and I made the trip down to Bhaktapur today. It is an hour walk down from the village and then a 20 minute bus ride. I am going to be in good shape when this leg of the trip is overYalamber my friend who works in Kathmandu went with me to the the village on Fri Sat I am losing track of the days. He agreed to go even though he said is was e http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-195615.html An hour after the mountain flight Kate and I were off to brilliant Bhaktapur...I once saw a picture of a temple here and have wanted to come ever since... very calm very paceful no traffic just kids on their way to school and old people pottering around through the squares. Absolutely stressfree http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-189234.html Namaste So erst einmal wollen wir uns ganz herzlich fuer all die lieben Emails bedanken die wir von Euch bekommen haben Wir freuen uns ueber alle die wir von Euch bekommen Wir hoffen Ihr versteht dass wir nicht alle beantworten koennen Aber vielleicht kann unser Blog das wieder ein bisschen gut machen Bakthapur liegt ca. 10 km suedoestlich von Kathmandu und ist Weltkulturerb http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-155325.html On Easter Sunday we drove to visit the ancient city of Bhaktapur about 6 or 7 miles from our hotel in Kathmandu. Bhaktapur where Hindus and Buddhists have coexisted there since the 12th century or so was definitely a place worth visiting with intricately carved ancient temples monasteries and palaces. The city has banned heavy vehicles and the absence of cars reminded me a bit of Venice. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-147585.html So I guess my pictures are too high resolution for Nepali Cyber cafes...I'll try again in Pokhara but don't get your hopes up. ..Today I went to the one and only fitness club in Bhaktapur to do Yoga with the sunrise. I went with Sanghamitra's primary teacher who runs the hotel I am at. First she had to stop at a couple of temples they are all over the streets to put flowers and incense down be http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-147030.html I'm in BhaktapurThanks to all the Hindu Gods... Aunt Lori will be able to name all of them soon.I had breakfast this morning said pancakes and tea on a rooftop balcony over looking the five story temple. sigh I could melt this place is so relaxing. I'm staying in a hotel that is run by Prajwal's neighbor the family home is little crowded this week 19 family members to be exact because of http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-146613.html Some pictures from the hills of the Kathmandu valley and the royal cities Bakthapur and Patan. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-108844.html After a bit of a lie in we had a short mini bus ride to Bhaktapur about 1hr was nice and short after the previous epic bus based adventures. A lot more traditional quiet and religous than Kathmandu lots of narrow streets temples and squares. Spent a few hours wandering around the streets with our guide.Visited a small mill which ground up the locally produced rice and a small studio where http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-94009.html Today I take a taxi and head for Bhaktapur.It is 16 kms from Kathmandu and supposed to be the most beautiful city of the valley of Kathmandu.As we arrive there I am met with the unpleasant and unfortunately recurrent feeling tourist ripoff.In Kathmandu and other cities the kind tourists must pay a tax to have the privilege of entering the old city and the Durbar square. In Kathmandu it was 2 http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-31555.html After a so so nights sleep on the hardest mattresses yet but with incredible views over the lake in Pokhara we took a mini van 6 hours all the way through a 45 minute traffic jam in Kathmandu to the ancient medieval city of Bhaktapur. A 900 year old city on the UN's World Heritage Site listand well worth itthis is a must see. Checked into a quaint guesthouse unbeknowst to us which http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-30951.html The second day trip which we undertook from Kathmandu brought us to Bhaktapur the smallest of Kathmandu Valley's three cities lying some 10km east of Nepal's capital. The city retains a simplicity far removed from the trappings of 21st century life and gives the impression that little has changed there for centuries that little is set to change and happily that it is a city at ease with itsel http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Nepal/Bhaktapur/blog-11814.html