Blogs from Boudhanath, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Kathmandu and around One week, three trips and $140 is what it took to get my Indian visa. If I was Ozzy it would have cost me $40. Arriving back in Thamel from such beautiful scenery was a real shock to the system. You sort of forget what it’s all about. The beeping and hocking had gotten worse, and without a dust mask it was hard to breathe. But on a Sunday evening, after a five hours bus trip turned to eight we only had one goal. Falafel! I don’t know if it is because we are away from home, but anytime you catch a sniff of good western food I could swear it is the best ever tasted. At the end of Mandala street (quiet little walking street in Thamel lanes) and opposite Pumperninckal bakery, ... read more

The 14th century old Great Stupa of Boudhanath, Kathmandu, Nepal never ceased to fail me because of its gigantic three level Mandala dome, a height of thirty six meters, with sixteen walls of one hundred and eight small turning wheels, adorned with colored prayer flags that waved gracefully against the sky. Four pairs of Buddha’s eyes facing four directions marking my steps, my thoughts and my speech. A circumambulate (kora) of one hundred and fifty meters which only took twenty minutes to walk round the Stupa. Well, I usually take more than this, maybe close to two hours, twice or thrice a day for my photography session of the Stupa, the people and the surrounding. These devotees’ starts very early in the morning, around 5.00am and ends at 8.00pm. Herbal Incense filled the air, offerings of ... read more

15th Oct ’12 Pashupatinath and Bodhnath So our final full day in Kathmandu and today we jumped in another taxi and headed to Pashupatinath. Although it wasn’t far it took ages to get there once again due to the traffic, our driver took loads of turns up tiny alleys which no one at home would have considered trying to get down, but he squeezed his way through, missing people and stalls by millimetres. We rattled and jottled along down rough broken up streets with potholes and half bricks everywhere, inched our way out the wrong way across main roads with nose to tail traffic and no one wanting to give an inch but some how we made it and pulled up near one of the entrances to Pashupatinath. The temple here is the most important Hindu ... read more

I wasn’t quite sure what to do with myself when I first found out that I wouldn’t be able to return to India until I had completed the two-month suspension period. My only thought was to do another Vipassana course, but the next one didn’t start for another two weeks. What to do? I decided to give CS another try, although my experience in Nepal had thus far been a letdown. I wanted someone to talk to. The first person I got in contact with had no references, but there was once a point when I was in the same position and someone still gave me a chance. It was time to pay the kindness forward. I met him downtown and we walked to his apartment. It was early morning, the time of the daily slaughter. ... read more

Today was our day to acclimatize to Kathmandu, another huge city with loads of people.Our first purchase when we arrived in kathmandu were 4 umbrellas which were put to good use on this day of touring We hired a driver who drove us to some touristy sites. We visited a shop that had the most beautiful jewellery , gems, wooden carvings and marble products. I purchased some wooden "lucky" elephants for friends who have moved into new homes. We visited Durbar Square which is a complex of temples,and shrines both Hindu and Buddhist. ; Lou and I went to the Patan museum and looked at numerous Buddha's!The children ate lunch! We visited lots of Temples which were quite touristy and surrounded by markets and touters of course. I made the mistake of buying a necklace off ... read more