Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Kathmandu and the beauty that is Nepal

Looking back, I had too short of a time in Nepal.  I met people there who had been in the country for 5-6 weeks, or longer, climbing to Everest Base Camp, hiking the Annapurna Circuit, etc. and were still planning on staying for longer.  Sadly, I was there during the middle of the rainy season, so random bouts of hurricane-like downpours were common, was were landslides and leeches once one goes farther into the mountains.  No hiking or mountain climbing for me :(

My first impression of Kathmandu when I landed was that it was similar to India. There was the same noise, chaotic roads and traffic, similar colors, smells, and written language covering the billboards and storefronts. They even used 'rupees' even though they were different currencies.

In reality, it was very different from the places I'd visited in India. Although I can't speak for the Eastern Indian states that border Nepal, the main difference is the number of Tibetan prayer flags hanging from the tall trees, buildings, and monuments. There is more of a Buddhist influence, which explains the massive Stupas and Buddha's eyes looking at you from every direction.

My favorite landmark I saw in Kathmandu was the 'Monkey Temple' as all the hostelites called it, or the Swayambunath Stupa, on top of a massive hill overlooking the entire Kathmandu Valley.  Circling the stupa are Tibetan prayer wheels, which you spin while circling the monument clockwise.


This was the view from the top. It would have been unbelievable if it was a clear day!  There were monkeys all over the walls too, it was hard not to get them in a picture.


And of course, the wannabe stars of the show were these little tykes running around and digging through trash, happily eating any morsel of food that was thrown to them.  I found a family of them closer to the bottom of the (ridiculously steep, tiresome) staircase, which is pictured here.





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