Blogs from Durbar Square, Bhaktapur, Nepal, Asia - page 2

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Asia » Nepal » Bhaktapur » Durbar Square October 28th 2010

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
Parade to the temple
Parade to the temple 2
Puja at the temple

Asia » Nepal » Bhaktapur » Durbar Square October 26th 2010

The second day of our wedding was a very busy and exciting day. In Nepali culture, man and wife don’t live together before they get married. After the marriage, the wife will be living in the family of the man. So during the wedding celebration, the man comes to the house of the woman to get her and bring her to his own house. This was what happened on october 18th. In the morning all family and friends gathered at Gyanendra’s house, while Zoe was in the house of Gyanendra’s sister (for a few hours ‘Zoe’s house’), waiting for Gyanendra. They came in a parade, Gyanendra in a nice car and the others walking, joined by a music band. Zoe heard them from far away, but wasn’t allowed to look through the window, so curiosity was ... read more
Gyanendra in the car
Start of the parade
Parade

Asia » Nepal » Bhaktapur » Durbar Square October 24th 2010

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
Zoe making 3 rounds
Zoe putting the garland
Gyanendra putting the garland

Asia » Nepal » Bhaktapur » Durbar Square September 4th 2009

Bhaktapur is the city to go to Nepal if you want to see stunning temples. We loved our 48 hours there! It was made even better by the fact that the main areas are traffic free though the odd motorbike still managed to find its way through. Our hotel room had a window seat which overlooked the main sqaure and in the evening (when the day trippers left) it was a wonderful place to sit. To get to Bhaktapur was not much fun - it is now virtually a suburb of Kathmamndu, separated only by a few rice paddies. The road is polluted and overcrowded and it is not doing much to increase the amount of tourists who visit Bhaktapur. The local shopkeepers said that they have seen tourist numbers drop as the road has become ... read more
Temple steps in Bkaktapur
Local basketware shop
Temple bell

Asia » Nepal » Bhaktapur » Durbar Square May 16th 2009

Asia » Nepal » Bhaktapur » Durbar Square April 14th 2009

Gelukkig Nieuwjaar! Jawel, vandaag is het Nepalese jaar 2066 begonnen. Het bisket jatra is een van de meest opwindende jaarlijkse evenementen in de Kathmandu-vallei. De festiviteiten zijn vooral verbonden aan de gebeurtenissen in de voormalige Koningsstad Bhaktapur. Daar zijn we de afgelopen twee dagen dan ook geweest. De heenreis was wederom een sensatie. Met de Safaa (de elektrische Dragstra-karretjes) zijn we richting Langakhel gereden, het busstation van Patan. Ik gniffelde nog even bij de herinnering aan de Lonely Planet-gids, die aangeeft dat daar zes personen in passen. Nou, twaalf lukt ook prima, hier. Het ding zat al overvol toen hij bij ons in de straat langskwam, dus zijn wij beiden aan de achterkant hangend meegegaan. Ik vond het best stoer. Op een gegeven moment stapten er mensen uit en konden wij ook gewoon binnen zitten. Zo’n ... read more
Niels-Ingvar voor de Siddhi Lakshmi Mandir
De Nyatapola pagode op Taumadhi Tole
De mega-tampeloerus en de strijdwagen

Asia » Nepal » Bhaktapur » Durbar Square April 4th 2009

I again had a trip to Nepal and went to see Bhatapur and Patan close to Khatmando...... read more
On my way to Bhatapur
Crazy taxi ride
Bhaktapur Durbar Square

Asia » Nepal » Bhaktapur » Durbar Square March 31st 2009

Well the day didn't start so well. Still really jet lagged and didn't get to sleep until about 3/4 am. Not helpful with a 6.30am start to go and SIGHTSEE. (Some of you will know my feelings on SIGHTSEEING) Felt tired and grumpy and irrationally annoyed with the world. And the last thing in the world that was going to cheer me up was the prospect of traipsing round temples and monuments with the verbose and largely unintelligible Samir. 'Please all come with me and listen to what I say and I make you very good holidays with the detailed histories of Bakhtapur'. 'Hmmm....well I wouldn't count on it sunshine' I thought wearily as we set off in the bus. It was an hour's s potholed drive from Kathmandu, halfway there something totally unexpected happened, the ... read more

Asia » Nepal » Bhaktapur » Durbar Square March 24th 2009

Today I visited Bhaktapur which lies around 40 mins away to the East of Kathmandu. Bhaktapur is an ancient Newar town in the east corner of the Kathmandu Valley. It is the third largest city in Kathmandu valley and was once the capital of Nepal during the great Malla Kingdom until the second half of the 15th century. Bhaktapur is known for its fabulous culture and indigeneous lifestyle. It is listed as a World Heritage by UNESCO for its abundant rich culture, temples, artworks in wood, metal and stone. Again I got the bus from near the park, it was difficult to find the bus though I had to ask about 4 people before someone eventually pointed me in the right direction. Bhaktapur was really nice to walk around as there was limited traffic allowed around ... read more
The little rascals
Temples, Temples
Not for those with bad backs

Asia » Nepal » Bhaktapur » Durbar Square December 2nd 2008

Day 50 - November 29, 2008 Closer glimpse of Mt. Everest Woke up early and drove for an hour and a half to the airport. The airport was freezing. It was very modern and yet no heating whatsoever. We left Lhasa at 10:30 AM and reached Kathmandu at 10:30 AM! Tibet follows Beijing time, that’s why. On the plane, we got a closer glimpse of Mt. Everest, which was awesome. Ammar met us again at the airport. We went back to Moonlight Hotel and then went hiking to the Swayambhunath Temple (640 AD). Also called “Monkey Temple” by the locals because of its many resident monkeys, it sits on top of a hill west of Kathmandu. We climbed a long stairway to the top of the hill until we reached the stupa. We didn’t mind neither ... read more
mt. everest
monkeys on our way to monkey temple
view of kathmandu




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