We will remember their apples ... there were fields of them on the Annapurna and through the Upper Mustang.
Old Kathmandu ... we loved it here. It is crazy busy. There are some very cool old buildings, like the one in the photo. Kathmandu was one of three separate Kingdoms, Bhaktapur, Patten and Kathmandu. They each had their own Kings ... Kathmandu became dominant and eventually amalgamated the three kingdoms under one King. Each of these Kingdoms had a square with beautiful buildings, statues, monasteries and a palace for the King. The squares are called Durbar Square which was known as the King's Square. They still exist today and are wonderful to visit and walk around. They all have entrance fees and some of them quite pricey.
One of the streets in Old Kathmandu ... some of the buildings are incredibly old and historic but are still used as shops and living spaces.
We would often buy freshly squeezed fruit juice from these juice bars. They are very tasty. They set them out so colourfully. The bananas look awful but they taste yummy.
Pete standing beside a statue of nailed coins ... people that touch the coins have their teeth protected by the tooth god?? I wish!
We never got sick of seeing these beautiful old Monasteries and Hindu Temples. They put so much work and detail into them, they really are works of art. This one is now used as a fabric stand in the shadow of a modern city.
Another old building in Old Kathmandu ... used as a shop. Originally the Nepalese used wood instead of glass in their windows because of the cost of glass.
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I think I have mentioned how much I love the way colour is used in Nepal. This doorway is stunning, the design, the detail and the colour. Just one of many that we have seen.
Their wares ...
Motorbikes are everywhere ... with more than 2 people on them ... often one of these is a child. Here is a family of 4 ... 2 children and 2 adults on their way home. Those of you who have been to places in Asia will be familiar with this sight. I tried and tried to get a photo of a family on a motorbike and this was the best I could do.
We went to the Monkey Temple ... there are monkeys all over the Temple/Monastery grounds. We saw this monkey sliding down the handrail and I was quick enough to get a photo. Some of the them look really mangey and unwell. They can be vicious. We heard of a tourist being bitten in the arm by one ... probably finished their holiday ... there was blood everywhere. Monkeys can carry rabies so I imagine that it would have been quite scary for the person that was bitten.
I went on a yoga/meditation retreat for three days at a Buddhist Monastery in the hills ... the monks didn't mind people taking photos so I went completely overboard.
This was our yoga room ... I love these pieces of furniture ... the colours and the detail. They look better close up.
Another photo inside the Monastery ... upstairs. The detail is amazing. The fabrics they use are so colourful.
The main doors ... I love the shade of blue they use! All these walls are hand painted.
So many people ... this was early evening ... people on their way home ... space has a whole different meaning in Asia.
There was a big EQ in Nepal in the 1930s, killing thousands of people ... this building still stands, waiting to drop by the look of it. I wouldn't live in it or even work from it.
I couldn't not have a photo of Pete and a motorised vehicle ...
We hired a taxi for the day to get to some of the sites we wanted to see before we left ... this is our driver and his taxi. All taxis that we have seen are Suzuki Alto 800s. Our driver was very proud of his taxi and how clean it was. You would be amazed at how much they cram into these small cars.
Over the last week there has been a SAARC Summit here in Kathmandu. A lot of the roads have been resealed and lots of painting has been going on. Dressing up of some of Kathmandu's sites of interest. Quite a few pedestrian crossings have been painted and road markings ... the thing is that they don't know how to use pedestrian crossings or road markings. The cars just drive on through the the pedestrian crossings as usual. All roads are one way until another car comes in the other direction.There have been no power cuts for the whole week and we had really hot water every day. Cars with even numbers as their last two numbers on their registration were allowed to drive on even days and cars with odd numbers drove on the odd days and if you drove on the wrong day with the wrong numbers your vehicle was impounded by the police. The Government had gone to a lot of trouble to impress the officials that were visiting.
I will always think of Nepal when I see the colour Marigold. I am pretty sure that it is all through India as well. I love this colour ... and it is everywhere ... their fabrics, their flowers. This shade of yellow became my signature colour after the CTV collapse. Not long after the Feb 2011 EQ I had a dream and the dominant colour in my dream was this shade of yellow. Yellow is meant to mean sunshine and happiness, that is how I would describe the Nepalese people that we have met while here.
We had one last visit with our guide GS and his family. His wife is the best cook ... her family say she has magic hands. We had a wonderful rice pudding that she made. We have really enjoyed meeting GS and his family. They are such nice people and we are looking forward to coming back and doing more trekking with him.
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