Kathmandu Valley
Buddhist ShrineSunday, 8 November 2009
Weekend Sightseeing
This weekend has been pretty busy. I was down at the refuge for the baby's first birthday party which was great. It was a gorgeous day and the usual festivities - singing, dancing, good food - were complemented by a huge birthday cake. Two of my colleagues and I gave a rousing rendition of Stand By Me to much applause. Well, some applause.
In the afternoon a few of us met at Patan Durbar Square for an art exhibition, entitled (some may say predictably) Separating Myth From Reality: The Status of Women. Patan Durbar Square is beautiful and we had mint tea on a rooftop terrace. In the evening I went with a couple of friends to a new cocktail bar/restaurant and finally tried some buffalo (which pretty much tasted of beef to me).
Today I have been on a trip up to Monkey Temple and then on up to Iyanga Narayar (another temple). These were great walks and I was so glad to be out and about even if we didn't leave the valley. We were walking in the hills which surround the valley and looking down on Kathmandu itself - the photo's probably don't do it justice again but it was a wonderful view. Monkey temple is a pain to get to though because there are about a million steps and it seems never-ending when you are on them. But there were frequent breaks to photograph the monkeys, there were some adorable monkey babies but I don't think I got good shots of them. At the top there are various temples, shrines and monastries -it's surprisingly busy - along with lots of traders.
After a break for lunch we continued with part two and discovered a huge Buddhist shrine not far away - there are three enourmous figures in gold (Buddha is in the middle) on the side of the hill. Our final destination (a Hindu shrine) was a bit disappointing in comparison but the walk was lovely. I'll post some photos now.
In the afternoon a few of us met at Patan Durbar Square for an art exhibition, entitled (some may say predictably) Separating Myth From Reality: The Status of Women. Patan Durbar Square is beautiful and we had mint tea on a rooftop terrace. In the evening I went with a couple of friends to a new cocktail bar/restaurant and finally tried some buffalo (which pretty much tasted of beef to me).
Today I have been on a trip up to Monkey Temple and then on up to Iyanga Narayar (another temple). These were great walks and I was so glad to be out and about even if we didn't leave the valley. We were walking in the hills which surround the valley and looking down on Kathmandu itself - the photo's probably don't do it justice again but it was a wonderful view. Monkey temple is a pain to get to though because there are about a million steps and it seems never-ending when you are on them. But there were frequent breaks to photograph the monkeys, there were some adorable monkey babies but I don't think I got good shots of them. At the top there are various temples, shrines and monastries -it's surprisingly busy - along with lots of traders.
After a break for lunch we continued with part two and discovered a huge Buddhist shrine not far away - there are three enourmous figures in gold (Buddha is in the middle) on the side of the hill. Our final destination (a Hindu shrine) was a bit disappointing in comparison but the walk was lovely. I'll post some photos now.
Monday, 2 November 2009
Historic Occasion Happening Soon
So later this month I will turn 30, obviously a pretty cool milestone (despite the fact that I still have no discernible career and am on less than minimum wage). My self-imposed exile prohibits me from bullying people into coming to a party and the postal service is not great (in either country) so for anyone who may possibly have been tempted into celebrating with me, or even giving me a small gift I would like to suggest an alternative. I have set up a fundraising page for the Esther Benjamins Trust and I would be very grateful to anybody who would like to, and is able to, donate.
I have written a little before about the work of EBT but in brief they rescue and repatriate Nepali children who have been trafficked across the border into India. Those children for whom a return home is not possible (because of the risk of re-trafficking, or for other reasons) are cared for in one of three refuges where they are provided with high quality care and a good education. They also look after street children and children whose parents are in prison. They run various educational programmes and fund a school for deaf children in Bhairahawa (South-west Nepal). The work that is being done out here is really amazing. For more information please visit the website at www.ebtrust.org.uk
Obviously, it should go without saying that if anyone has already got anything for me I would love to receive it! And cards are still appreciated ☺
I have written a little before about the work of EBT but in brief they rescue and repatriate Nepali children who have been trafficked across the border into India. Those children for whom a return home is not possible (because of the risk of re-trafficking, or for other reasons) are cared for in one of three refuges where they are provided with high quality care and a good education. They also look after street children and children whose parents are in prison. They run various educational programmes and fund a school for deaf children in Bhairahawa (South-west Nepal). The work that is being done out here is really amazing. For more information please visit the website at www.ebtrust.org.uk
Obviously, it should go without saying that if anyone has already got anything for me I would love to receive it! And cards are still appreciated ☺
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Torch Rally
Yesterday we had a barbeque at the flat. It was a great day - everyone (except the boss, although he was invited) came along. P demonstrated how to make chicken curry and aloo gobi, D made an amazing tomato relish and J and I prepared a version of banoffee pie. We ended it drinking Nepali chiya (milky tea) on the roof terrace with Bollywood music.
My plan today was to sleep in, finish off some work and then head in to town to buy the hula hoop! I decided to walk to Thamel for a bit of exercise and everything was going to schedule. I stopped off for some papaya juice and then popped in to buy the hoop. I always find it a bit embarrassing carting around a hula hoop so my intention was to get straight into a cab and speed home with my purchase (although I've really got the hang of the buses now so ordinarily I wouldn't have got a cab). All this was thwarted though when I walked back outside, it was dark by now, to be confronted by a small fire in the road and lots of people queueing up to light big sticks and join a procession down the street. I wasn't sure what was going on - it all seemed quite calm. Me and the hoop (which is the least discreet colour possible, a glow-in-the-dark green) climbed onto an overpass to watch the proceedings. It was an incredible sight - on one side the whole street as far as I could see was filled with people marching with flaming torches, and on the other side was a traffic jam into the distance and the sound of horns beeping (this is also when it dawned on me that getting a cab was going to be a nightmare). Sadly I didn't have my camera, I took some snaps on my phone but can't upload them at the mo. Initially I had wondered if it was some kind of festival but it was a Maoist protest against the government. I have been terrible at reading the local news since the daily paper to the flat was stopped. I was aware of a protest for the 10th when the Maoist's will blockade the airport but it seems this is the start of a 2 week programme of demonstrations. I've been trying to google/twitter for some photos to link to but nothing has turned up. Anyway the hoop and I had to traipse for miles to get away from the traffic and find a cab. After agreeing a fare the driver went all over town, down backstreets and alley ways to avoid joining a traffic jam. I have no idea where we went but we crossed the river at least twice and were driving along the river bank for a while. I have never been down there but saw at first hand some of the many makeshift huts where people live by the river. The dust and pollution and car fumes were awful. The whole journey took about 50 minutes (twice as long as usual) and my eyes were stinging by the end of it. Still, me and the hoop are home now. She's in the living room at the moment and I'll be giving her a whirl in a bit!
Update - I found these photos on-line.
My plan today was to sleep in, finish off some work and then head in to town to buy the hula hoop! I decided to walk to Thamel for a bit of exercise and everything was going to schedule. I stopped off for some papaya juice and then popped in to buy the hoop. I always find it a bit embarrassing carting around a hula hoop so my intention was to get straight into a cab and speed home with my purchase (although I've really got the hang of the buses now so ordinarily I wouldn't have got a cab). All this was thwarted though when I walked back outside, it was dark by now, to be confronted by a small fire in the road and lots of people queueing up to light big sticks and join a procession down the street. I wasn't sure what was going on - it all seemed quite calm. Me and the hoop (which is the least discreet colour possible, a glow-in-the-dark green) climbed onto an overpass to watch the proceedings. It was an incredible sight - on one side the whole street as far as I could see was filled with people marching with flaming torches, and on the other side was a traffic jam into the distance and the sound of horns beeping (this is also when it dawned on me that getting a cab was going to be a nightmare). Sadly I didn't have my camera, I took some snaps on my phone but can't upload them at the mo. Initially I had wondered if it was some kind of festival but it was a Maoist protest against the government. I have been terrible at reading the local news since the daily paper to the flat was stopped. I was aware of a protest for the 10th when the Maoist's will blockade the airport but it seems this is the start of a 2 week programme of demonstrations. I've been trying to google/twitter for some photos to link to but nothing has turned up. Anyway the hoop and I had to traipse for miles to get away from the traffic and find a cab. After agreeing a fare the driver went all over town, down backstreets and alley ways to avoid joining a traffic jam. I have no idea where we went but we crossed the river at least twice and were driving along the river bank for a while. I have never been down there but saw at first hand some of the many makeshift huts where people live by the river. The dust and pollution and car fumes were awful. The whole journey took about 50 minutes (twice as long as usual) and my eyes were stinging by the end of it. Still, me and the hoop are home now. She's in the living room at the moment and I'll be giving her a whirl in a bit!
Update - I found these photos on-line.
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