Temples and Everest

  Kathmandu, Nepal
Saturday, November 17, 2007

Well its Saturday afternoon and I'm just up from a great 4 hour sleep and heading for dinner with some of the new group in a bit.  Its been a brilliant few days already, this city is really beautiful.

On Thursday I wandered down to Darbur Square, along the way being offered pretty much everything from tiger balm to tour guides to drugs (I said No to all of them!!!).  The square was really cool despite being approached every 5 mins by potential tour guides.

Darbur Sq, Kathmandu

  I saw a real live living Hindu deity called Kamuri who lives in this tiny little gaff and shes only 8 and is only allowed out once a month.  To prove that shes is the reincarnation of this God when she was 4 they slaughtered 150 buffalo and goat infront of her and she has to watch it all and not be scared. Then she has to walk amongst all the blood and not be scared. Then they lock her in a temple for the ngiht with all the dead animals heads and she cant get freaked out. Then a doctor has to examine her and give the thumbs up that she is a perfect specimen of beauty.  If she passes all these tests then its definately her (imagine the scarring for life if she wasnt!!!!!)  So anyway she comes out onto her little balcony at 4 to say hello. I have to say she looked well cheesed off with a courtyard full of gringos, but then again I can imagine if youre an 8 yr old cooped up away from your family and only allowed out to bless people, youd probly be fairly flowery too.  (I dnot have any pics of her cos youre not allowed take any).

Local Produce

In the evening I met Lee and Gwenda who were on my Central American trip so that was fab.  

Darbur Sq, Bhaktapur

On  Thursday morning the 3 of us took a cab to Bhaktapur which has another Darbur Sq but way nicer and alot less people.

Bhaktapur

There really were some of the most amazing temples I've ever seen in my life there.  It was a good decision to go there.

Bhaktapur Back Street (Ankh Morpork?!)

Last night was a bit of a disaster as the hotel I was staying in pretty much looks over a bar next door that has REALLY loud live music every night.   Now I'm not being an old codger but seriously it was like they were playing IN my room and after they finished at 11pm then the disco started which last ngiht went on until 20 to 4 in the morning.  As I was up at 4am this morning I didnt actually get any sleep so was pretty cranky!!!

Got up at 4 anyway and picked up Lee in a taxi (after getting seriously lost down some very windy back streets of Kathmandu in the dark, not pleasant!!!) and we headed to the airport where we caught our Yeti Airlines (!) flight 304 up to see Everest.

Sunrise over Kathmandu

What an experience that was, absolutely amazing. Everyone gets a window seat and they basically fly straight up and back so each side gets a perfect view. Everyones allowed in the cockpit briefly aswell to take some pics.  Its so mad seeing something like Mt Everest that youve know about since you were little as being this amazing faraway place and then suddenly there you are in plane taking pictures of it.

Everest!

If you ever come to Nepal I DEFO recommend you splash out on an Everest flight, its so worth it. 

Himalayan Skyline

Back to the hotel then for our pre-departure meeting.  The group seems really nice (though only half were there as the other half started a few weeks ago.) It seems alot older than in South America and a real mix of characters.  But I know from before that its WAYYY to early to be making my mind up about people I've only just met!!!! But I do think its goingto be great.  The driver/guides are both kind of newbies which should be interesting and I gather that the truck isnt nearly as big as Fran?! So that should be interesting too.

Tonight we're going for a couple of drinks and then leaving at 8am in the morning tomorrow for Chitwan National Park and then on to the Nepalese/Indian border.....

Hope you are all well and not bored of my ramblings already!!!
Miss you all lots
Namaste
Nic xx