Blogs from Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia - page 145

So we have spent the last week just relaxing in Kathmandu, getting over a slight bout of the travel-too-longs (tired, sore throat, dodgy tummy etc) and sorting out the logistics for the next stage of our journey. It's been a mostly low key week, sleeping in, eating and wandering the old town, checking out temples and shrines and the crazy markets that are everywhere. Durbar Square was probably a highlight - a big square in the centre of the old town, filled with temples and larger than life statues, overcrowded with pilgrims and sellers of all sorts day and night. There is even a living goddess (the Kumari Devi) in residence but whilst admiring her balcony she did not decide to grace us with her presence. We spent one day out at Pashupatinath, a golden topped ... read more

Nepalis definitely practice “the way of the stick” when it comes to maintaining discipline and order. Nepalis are kept in line by the stick from an early age. Policemen wander through the streets shooing people along and cracking skulls of unruly protesters during demonstrations (thankfully, I did not see this). However, I have seen school teachers maintain an iron fist in the classroom with their sticks and two-year olds waving sticks and chasing after dogs or their younger siblings. While we were having lunch at a café by Boudha Nath Stupa, we met Anne Marie, a nurse practitioner from Syracuse, NY. Anne Marie was teaching hygiene classes to some Nepali nurses and volunteering at a nearby orphanage. When she found out that my Aussie friends are a pediatrician and an ICU pediatric nurse, she invited us ... read more

As I previously mentioned, Kathmandu is a city of thousands of temples and shrines. This is a deeply religious, but not dogmatic society, where people openly pursue spiritual peace in their own way. Though more than 80% of Nepalis are Hindu, there seems to be a mutual respect and acceptance among the Hindus and the Buddhists. This tolerance is definitely something that we westerners could learn from the Nepalis. One of the holiest Hindu shrines is Pasupatinath Temple, which is the most sacred temple of Shiva in the world. This is one of the largest Hindu temple complexes in South Asia. It contains hundreds of Shiva lingams, as well as many shrines of the various Hindu god and goddess. Now for a quick lesson in Hinduism: Shiva is the supreme God in Shaivism, one of the ... read more

You are probably wondering where we are, so a quick update is in order. Stevan is currently in Belgrade because his father is ill and I have been in Nepal for the past few days. Though I have long wanted to visited Nepal, I was not expecting to travel in Nepal for this trip. However, an Aussie friend from Saigon invited me to go trekking in the Everest region with him and another Aussie girl, so here I am. So far, my impressions of Nepal are very positive. The people are very sweet, though they are really poor. Kathmandu is a magical city with mazes of alleyways and temples hidden around every corner. It truly is a beautiful place and I can see why most people who travel here fall in love with Nepal. The city ... read more

If you're reading this first by accident, please click 'previous blog' to read the first 5 days. Day 6: Acclimatisation Day My boots are covered in ice, so it was an utter delight putting my feet inside them this morning I can tell you, and I can't see out of my window for all the ice on the inside, but I don't care (much), as all around the sky is blue and the storm has gone. Woo! I plan a strenuous day walk to Chukhung 3.5hours away to see Island Peak (a relatively accessible 6000m peak), making the most of the good weather and views that are now dust and haze free. But it seems I can't win, as today's weather brings new struggles - the main one being evily high snow reflectance. I overheard a ... read more