What lost looks like

I have been out wondering and again I have managed to get myself lost again so thought I would show you what lost looks like. I have no idea where I was, even now when I look at a map. The streets are like a rabbit warren and impossible to navigate. There are lots of little alley ways and minimal sign posts. I often rely on the sun for working out which way to go but it is tricky in these little roads.  I was obviously off the beaten track somewhat going by the number of looks that I got (more than usual...and thats a lot!).

Lost AGAIN somewhere west of Dunbar Square and south of Thamel



The streets are really this narrow and feels somewhat clostrophobic and the thought that this is on an earthquake fault line does not reassure me any.

You start to know you are getting close to somewhere when you start seeing more westerners and the tiger balm salesmen start popping out of nooks and cranies.

If this works the video below will give you an idea of what some of the roads are like here. This is an inner city street. This is not the back blocks. In the background you may hear my guide Jack explaining the current political state of Kathmandu where there is a caretaker government in at the moment and an another election (and the final chance the UN is giving them) in January. As Jack said "it is good that you travel now miss Bronnie...January who know".

This next video is of the street traffic in outer Kathmandu. It was probably around rush hour but it seems this chaotic and crazy all the time. Crossing the street is quite easy...you just J walk. Vehicles will usually stop or narrowly go around you and always honk their horn to let you know that you are in the way.

Till next time

Should have read the guidebook...if I had one

I have had a quiet couple of days in Kathmandu. Despite what I have read and heard I dont particularly mind they busy city of four million. On Wednesday I went to another Stupha (i.e. a block of round concrete) which people walk around in a clockwise motion in the hope that someone will see and help them get a better afterlife. Buddism seems to be a lot of rituals in the hope of something that is not guaranteed. Quite empty really. I also went for a peek into a monestry. Not sure if I was allowed there but I didn't get thrown out so took a quick snap.

Boudhanth Stoupa

Trainee monks at a monestry near Boudhanth Stoupa

Yesterday was a deliberate "temple free" day so I splashed out on a 1 hour foot massage for $10.00. Probably got ripped off but in the big scheme of things does it really matter when the massage is so good. It was more of a bone massage than a muscle massage and I have some soreness today but that will subside.

Today after a walk where I got well and truly lost and then found I ventured out into the big Kathmandu world and headed off to Pashupatinath temple. The half hour taxi ride cost me $3.00 (petrol is 85 cents a litre).

Quality taxis. I tried to work out what it was but it appears it is a plain pack car. It definately needs some new rear wheel bearings

If I had a guidebook, I would have been forewarned about what was to come. Seems that today is a good day to visit if you are into cremations. I wasn't aware that this is what happens at this temple. To get there you have to go past the old peoples home (so convenient!), enter the gates and right there is the ghats where the bodies are cremated. Apparently a female takes 5 hours and a man takes 4 hours to be reduced to ashes. The ashes are then put into the river that eventually winds its way to the ganges in India.

The lead up

And so it starts

A busy day at the ghats

Note the monkey in the foreground

I also have another photo but figured you didn't want to see the dead persons hand and head.

Very similar to the camp fires that you sit around, no matter where you walk the smoke follows and now I have a very yucky taste in my mouth despite having a salami pizza on the way home. Also at this temple are some very cunning and probably rich "holy men" who pose to have their photo taken. I counted one getting his photo taken 17 times at $1.14/photo so figure they are probably some of the richer people in Kathmandu.

I almost got away with it until I realised he was following me...!!!

I actually paid for this one. Probably the richest man in Kathmandu

Right behind where the cremations were happening is the cornea excision centre. A bit of a worry!!

 The sights and sounds during the day never cease to amaze but at night it is silence. Not a horn sounding, no roosters, no dogs just silence and it is almost too quiet when you consider the hussle and bussle of the day.

The weather has been perfect everyday so far with sunny skies and the temperature in the mid 20's. Night time is a bit chilly at about 10 degrees.

I have also had some fun with internet cafe's and if you feel a bit tired and need to look at the keyboard from time to time it can be a bit confusing. 

A few added extras that make you look twice

While completely lost I found a local butcher shop. Autopsy revealed goat. There is a pork one near my "hotel"

 

A nice sign to see

 I would also like to  mention that Mr Google maps needs to come to Kathmandu because the maps do not resemble anything that is actually here. After some days I have managed to find the Garden of dreams which is this garden (see below) that is an escape from the noisey outside world and a nice place to stop for a while. It is not very big but a nice change from Kathmandu.

The "Garden of Dreams" in central Kathmandu

 So, that is it for a while. I appear to be getting a cold at the moment which is not pleasing to me. Figured the stress of work has gone and so comes the coughs and colds. Time for me to head back to the  "hotel" which is a left turn at the knife stand and then a right at the bong shop...easy even when the power is off.

Photos that were meant to go in the last post - technical hitch - the power went off again

The view from the plane coming into Kathmandu airport. Not sure what this mountain is called. They were not as spectacular as I expected. Suppose it is tough to beat flying into Christchurch.

Restaurant for the first night. Had a spicy nepalese dish that blew my tongue off. Mild is not an option.

Prayer wheels at the monkey temple. Christianity seems so easy compared to all the bits and pieces that go into Buddism.

The view from the monkey temple and yes I did walk up here and I was marginally fitter than my guide (he asked me to stop twice for breath and said I walk too fast!)

Another view from the monkey temple. I think to the west.

Dunbar Sqaure with its pesky pooping pidgeons. I got hit twice with poop! How can emaciated cows be sacred?

For the dentists out there. This is a place where you can offer a sacrifice to end your tooth ache! Sort of looks like a bad tooth

My guide Jack. I always said I like a man in a tie. On the plate at the front are mo-mos (aka dumpling). Not particularly exciting to eat! On his plate (which I had over to the left of picture) had rice, daal, vegetable curry and some leafy/spinich dish