Bishopstothemountains: Scenes from the City

We had one day of sightseeing in Kathmandu which is too good to pass up. There is NOT a photo of Marita folding herself into the Susuki taxi, a number of times! We did not try these Rickshaw-type buggies, either.

Taxi's waiting for business to arrive.....

Swayambhunath Stupa

Kathmandu has a 2,000 year history in a country that has been ruled by several dynasties, but is presently The Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.

They have always remained independent, never colonized. The largest city of Nepal has a population of one million, but the valley has five million.

Hinduism accounts for 80+% of the population, while Buddhism has 11%. Muslim comes in at 4.20%, Christians at .45%. There are also small percentages of Krats, Jains, and Sikhs.

Our destination this day was the SWAYAMBHUNATH , A FAMOUS STUPA PERCHED ON A HILL 2 KM. WEST OF THAMEL. Tantic Buddhists consider it a chief power point of the Valley. We had the taxi driver deposit us at the top of the hill, so we wouldn't have to climb the 400 steps! This man was playing the native instrument, the Sarangi.....a 4-stringed instrument played with a bow. The young woman was singing a chant.

Stationary PRAYER WHEELS circled the base of the stupa. They have mantras written in Sanskrit on the outside of the wheels, along with other meaningful symbols. Spinning the wheels has the same meritorious effect as orally reciting prayers and are used to accumulate wisdom and merit (good karma) and purify the bad karma. There are hand held prayer wheels, as well as those turned by water, fire and wind. The modern adaptations are electric, digital, internet-operated and prayer wheel apps!

This was Saturday, the day or worship for the

Nepalese. Worshippers were bringing plates of food to offer to the gods and were lighting butter lamps, which could be purchased there. The flame of the lamp sympbolizes the hope of reincarnation....as the lamp burns, it changes, as does the flame....neither is the same. I was very aware of how we tourists were interfering with their practices....especially taking pictures! They must be used to it, as they ignored us.

This woman is receiving the 'tika' after her offering. It is a mark worn on the forehead that symbolized the 'Third Eye' (mind's eye) with the idea of meditation and spiritual enlightenment. It is most commonly made of a red powder or paste mixed with yoghurt or water.....or sandalwood paste, ashes, clay, etc.

Other things were going on, also. This young Tibeton student was hungry! Watermelon is a fine treat here in Nepal.

The women below were working....carrying bricks on their backs for some construction project. Notice the prayer wheels on the walls.

Near the top

Many prayer flags were flying around the stupa. Printed on cloth, from woodcuts, are ancient Buddhist prayers, mantras, and symbols. It is believed that, coupled with the natural energy of the wind, they quietly harmonize the environemnt, impartially increasing happiness and good fortune among all beings." We commonly associate them with climbers of the Nepal Mts. whose Sherpas carry them to appease the local gods and spirits of nature.

It was now time to descend the 365 advertised steps. I counted them....400. Who is off? It kept me going. Fortunately, there was a rail most of the way. I took a rest now and then, which usually attracted more of the 'hawkers' who desperately wanted us to buy their wares. They don't give up, either! And if you talk to them at all, they follow you a long way. Jon thought he'd bought a singing bowl for 5 rupees, then discovered it was 5 euros the man was counting on. We'll get a bowl somewhere else.

These women were dressed alike for some good reason, I'm sure.....would it be like the 'purple' or 'red hat' groups of the US. After hailing another taxi, we ended up in Thamel, the more western shopping area of Kathmandu. My first concern was a western toilet and iced coffee....which we found at The Himalayan Coffee Bar.....I'm grasping Jon's chocolate Ice-Cream shake, also. A milkshake is just that....milk.

Once we recovered our body temperature and pulse, we set out across the street to the GARDEN OF DREAMS. Our housemates had told us we must see this little piece of peace in the city.

The neo-classical historical garden was created in the early 1920's by Marshal Kaiser Shumsher Rana. It was considered one of the most sophisticated private gardens of that time.

After the demise of Kaiser Shumsher, it was handed over to the government of Nepal, but neglected until recently when the Austrian government took on this project of Eco-Himal. It is about half the size of the original garden. The size of the garden is 6895 sq. meters, including three pavilions, amphitheatre, ponds, pergolas, urns and combinations of gardens. We saw it was THE gathering place for amorous couples, mostly young ones. A restaurant, tea salon and bar were doing a lot of business on a hot day. This little boy was eager to feed the fish something.

I think this is a Banyon tree gone amok. It's roots seem to have wandered a fair bit. I was watching fair-haired children from some Scandanavian country chase each other around a nearby fountain.

Now, for a saunter thru the shopping district.....THAMEL. This is where everything and anything Nepali, and then some, can be found.
When it comes to buying an item, you ask the price (which means you are interested, and almost obligated to follow through with buying it) then divide it in half and start the bargaining from there. Of course, the merchant is aghast and only comes down a smidgen. Depending on how badly you want it, you keep at it, hopefully creeping closer to each other's desired price. It doesn't hurt to begin walking away as many times as you need to to get the price, also.

This may, or may not be Yak Wool. There is no guarantee on anything. Again, I was handicapped with a anti-shopping husband and limited space for taking things back home. These paper lanterns seem harmless enough, so, I hope at some future date to get some.