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Kathmandu, and Team Anna was reunited at last!!
What a contrast to the hills and jungles I've come to associate with Nepal! Lively, busy streets that required more than a cursory glance before you dared cross the road, cycles, rickshaws and motorbikes come flying around every corner. Shops galore selling all manner of touristy trinkets and trekking gear.
This is a town of contrasts... beautiful Buddhist Temples and sculptures, intermingled with daily life, such as butchers, markets, and construction!!
Team Anna bravely set aside our trekking boots and went off to explore....
First stop Durbar Square, set right in the heart of the town. A walk through crowded colourful alleys found us in a spacious, serene "square' For centuries this has been the site set aside for the rulers of the day to show off either their massive wealth by building extraordinary palaces, or to parade their religious devotion in the form of temples, sacred statues, and yet more beautiful architecture. The Brits even had a bash, and left a rather staid looking colonial 'box' behind.
We explored the square inside and out, meeting Sadhus, watching devotees giving their offerings, and trying to avoid the flapping pigeons, (
I was not so lucky and was blessed on the head by one!)
We managed to get inside one of the palaces, to have a nose around , sadly no cameras were allowed, but we experienced the thrill of climbing higher and higher up to the ninth floor where we were met with unhindered views across the square and beyond.
The palace was ornately decorated with wooden carvings, on almost every beam, and corner, statues grew out of the wood, and the simple splendour was magical. Unfortunately, barely any of the furnishings remained inside, so we had to use our imagination to guess how it may have looked in its heyday.
From the heart of the city, we decided to go up, and try to get a good overall view... so off to the "Monkey Temple" we went.
Greeted by, you guessed it, monkeys, we climbed an enourmous, steep flight of steps (luckily we'd all had practice with steps recently), and only slightly out of breath reached our goal.
A magnificent domed temple atop a small hill, surrounded by statues and hundreds of Stupas. Just a few days before our arrival, renovation work had been completed and
the spire gleamed in the sunshine with its new covering of 20kgs of gold!!
The many Stupas had been oiled to reveal a shiny blackness, and all in preparation, not for us but for Buddha's Birthday in a few days time. We spent several hours chatting to locals who were able to offer us in-depth explanations about the significance of each Mandala and statue, and really brought the temple to life.
There was a small monastery that had been kindly donated to some Tibetan Monks after the Government made it 'awkward' for them to freely practice their unique form of Buddhism in Tibet.We watched the red clad monks as they went about their rituals, lighting candles, turning the metal prayer wheels, and blessing the devotees.
After posing for several Monkey Photos (the locals were rather amused), we watched the eagles circling as the light faded and headed back down those steps, to town for the first of many birthday nights out for Guy.............This one was particularly slaughtersome and left us all dead the next day, unable to move. The only exception to this was Liff who managed to make her way to the airport to fly back to
London. (Well done me)
The following Day (Buddhas Birthday) saw the crew move from the monkey temple in the morning to Boudanath Stupa in the afternoon. The celebrations were amazing with 1000's of pilgrims, devotees and worshipers congregating on this special day. Prayer flags, candles, incense and monks lined the streets, amazing!!......A great Pizza evening celebrated the imminent departure of Ling, Annie, Rosie and Clare..........were very sad to see you all go, travel safely!
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Jillian
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Lif's I have never seen you look more beautiful .......