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Published: February 27th 2011
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Patan Durbar Square, decoration
all photos are from Patan Durbar Square November 15, 2010
My initial idea was to have one single entry about Kathmandu, but now, looking through the photos, I see that Patan may be devoted a separate entry; this will make it easier and faster for me to complete the narrative about Nepal. I will also write several other separate entries to make perception of the whole story easier.
The trip to Patan would not have occurred if weather in Lukla were fine on the morning of November 15. But, sadly, the weather was bad and the flights were cancelled and our trek to Everest Base Camp was to be changed for the Annapurna Base Camp. I think it was a very good substitute, though.
After several hours of useless waiting and vain hopes at the Kathmandu domestic terminal, we went back to the hotel and I immediately decided to go to Patan. Patan is an area of Kathmandu, as I have understood, in the map it is does not look like a separate city. My perception of the reality was blurred, heart sunk deep into sorrow, and nothing would really raise my spirits at that moment; the time was not to be wasted,
so I went to Patan by a taxi. The driver tried to persuade me to go there and back with him, and I did not argue. He would wait for about an hour.
The road from Kathmandu to Patan takes about 20 minutes, if I remember it right. I was too sad because of the cancelled Everest trek. Actually, I went to Nepal for one purpose only – to go to the Everest, it was the primary driver of my desires.
Patan’s main attraction, and the only one I saw, is Durbar Square, the name is the same as Durbar Square in Kathmandu, and the two do have something in common, though Patan’s square is smaller in size and has fewer buildings. Foreign tourists have to pay entry price, it’s six times higher than the price for Nepalis and citizens of SAARC countries. At the entry I was attacked by two active guides offering their services, the one of whom did it somehow vaguely, only hinting at what his real intention was; but I, guessing the true nature of his talks, told at once that I had no money to pay for guides, and actually I
did not have the money. So I walked slowly and sadly alone, thinking, or perhaps not thinking about anything. I felt like I was in a dream.
One hour is fairly enough to explore the Patan Square. The architectural merits of the buildings and religious constructions are hard to dispute. The square has a harmonic, old atmosphere and, if there were not so many people, it might be a nice place for meditations and talks to God. I have many a time noted that almost anything of human construction, built in the honour of God, is full of might and beauty.
When I went back to the taxi, some people offered me to buy some souvenirs. Tradesmen in Nepali cities and towns always spot tourists and offer them their goods or services. While driving back, I made a video of the road traffic, holding my camera out of the car window. I hope to buy a video camera soon and then will try to make quality ... not films, certainly, but some enjoyable videos, perhaps with my own voice, though I hate to hear my recorded voice - it sounds ugly.
The next morning
would not bring any joy or good news whatsoever – it had been written in the Book of Fate that Everest was not to be visited this time.
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phil
non-member comment
your blog
thank you for posting the blog. I have to fly through Kathmandu to Bhutan. I am having a hard time convincing myself to visit Kathmandu because of the noice, pollution, poverty, touts, homeless kids, and above all the smell. That's why I have never been to India. Is this as bad as I make it sound? Phil