Blogs from Durbar Square, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Today we started out easy with a good breakfast (included in the price). We had fruits, eggs, coffee, potato and something else I can't remember and headed out around 11, with the guide from the previous day, Jay. Also present were Jarod (USA), who travels the world and teaches (mostly) English in S/SE Asia and Maynard from Minnesota, who chose to see the world after retiring, also hoping to escape the American bubble. So on we went to Bakhtapur, Durbar square, and the temples. In continuation of yesterdays education, I learned about some hindu gods and their transports. Each of the 33 million gods has their own unique transportation, which can be anything. I have some trouble reconciling the fact that there's only a couple of thousand words that can be used for that. I guess ... read more

Kathmandu, Nepal - 29 November 2015 Our flight from Varanasi was 2 hours late leaving for New Delhi so we arrived at 10.00pm. Our new driver was there to pick us up. He took us straight to our hotel where we were going to sleep overnight and then catch another plane in the morning to Kathmandu. Everything went to plan. On arriving in Kathmandu at 12.30pm we were picked up and taken to the beautiful Hotel Shanker, an old palace which has been heavily restored. We had to buy our visa ($40 AUD each) at the airport. After checking in we visited the Swyambhu Nath & Kathmandu Durbar. This was our opportunity to see some of the devastation left by the earthquake in April this year. There were many historic buildings completely destroyed. Our driver lost ... read more

Having said goodbye to India from Delhi’s surprisingly clean and modern airport, we were just a short hour and twenty minutes from our next destination, Nepal. Kathmandu was to be our first stop as it is for pretty much everyone who comes here, and we were looking forward to the challenge of a new country. Hearing that Kathmandu was a busy and hectic city, Donna and I were undeterred. After all, for the past 2 and a half months or so we had been living in a place where busy and hectic are personified. This therefore should be a breeze! As we left the airport with our pre-paid taxi, subtle differences were already starting to show between here and India. The air was cooler, the architecture was different, and the traditional Saris of India were replaced ... read more

Our first impression of Kathmandu, not nearly as brown or hot as India. At an altitude of 4500 ft, the air is noticeably cooler, thinner and less hazy than Delhi. Trash still litters the roads, but not nearly to the same extent as in India. Clothing styles are decidedly more western than in India as well, although there are still a considerable amount of women in the local garb. Kathmandu is a city of 4 million people, relatively small by India standards, with the vast majority recently settling here. Our guide in Kathmandu, Kasey(sp), was another master’s degree educated, anthropology trained local. He shared a wealth of knowledge about the culture, the politics and the history of Nepal. I wish I could remember more. Leo and I came here with just a bit more than a ... read more

It was a long journey to Thamel from Pharpin. At 11.00 am it was blazing hot despite the temperature to be 13 degrees centigrade. I was looking out from the taxi window, hoping to take photographs of the Hindus celebrating Holi festival. Kids and adults splashed water bags onto each other, rubbing color powders on faces as a symbol of being blessed. White shirts became colored, even the bald headed do get same results. Young and old and no matter who you are, you will be rubbed on faces with colors, being hug and sometimes cheek to cheek. Every time I see one on the streets, I could not get a good shot of pictures; my taxi driver just rammed his Maruti taxi like F1. My mind said “Oh it’s just a small group who plays ... read more