Kathmandu Unfolds

Saturday and Sunday, March 2-3, 2013

Today was our first day in Kathmandu. Russ and I, along with a fellow Intrepid traveler Sandra from Texas struck out on our own through the gates of the Kathmandu Guest House after breakfast at the cafe.  Our formal group gathering with our guide wouldn't start until 6:00 pm, so we made arrangements through the Intrepid office for a half day tour to Baktapur, a UNESCO World Heritage site, after lunch, but for now we had the morning free.

Sandra had also come in the night before and was as curious as we were about the dark alleys we had traveled through and what they would like in the day light.  The shabby steel doored alley ways were still shabby, but  the steel doors had lifted and the alleys had exploded into a profusion of people, vehicles, and brightly colored textiles, rugs, clothing, masks, scarves, shawls, fruits, vegetables, jewelry, musical instruments, incense, rickshaws, purses ,bags, and so much more.  What an absolute feast for the eyes.

Here is what the Intrepid Itineray looks like for the first two days.

Days 1-2 Kathmandu

Namaste! Welcome to Nepal.

Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm on Day 1.

Kathmandu is the largest (and pretty much only) city in the country. It can feel like another developing-world city rushing into a modern era of concrete and traffic pollution, but take a walk in the back streets and the capital's amazing cultural and artistic heritage reveals itself in hidden temples overflowing with marigolds, courtyards full of drying chillies and rice, and tiny hobbit-sized workshops largely unchanged since the Middle Ages.

Day 1 optional on your own:

Take a trip to Bhaktapur, located about 20 km east of Kathmandu. Known as the 'City of Devotees' and Nepal's cultural gem, Bhaktapur is filled with monuments, palaces and temples with elaborate carvings, gilded roofs and open courtyards.

After a tasty lunch of momo (similar to pot stickers) and Thukpa  (noodle soup), we hired a taxi and guide to take us to Bhaktapur.  This is a city built in the 1400's.  The temples and carved wood work are wonderful.  UNESCO is assisting with financing the restoration of this site which needs repair as much of it has gone to ruin.  The locals who live here have limited electricity and still draw water from the well to take up to their living quarters.

Nepal is primarily a Hindu country.  Hinduism is a complex religion based on mythologies and reincarnations.  

Day 2 optional on your own:

Early AM:  Take-off on a flight from Kathmandu airport to see some spectacular mountain scenery. Those who don't have the opportunity to go trekking can get panoramic views of the Himalayas in just an hour.

Our early morning flight suffered many before and after delays due to ground fog, but we had a beautiful sunrise and the views of the Himalayas were wonderful.  As we flew back to Kathmandu, the pilot informed us that the Kathmandu airport had closed because of the fog and we could not circle indefinitely or we would run out of gas.  So we had to wait it out in Pakhara,  20 minute flight or 8 hour car drive from Kathmandu.  We could just see a ghost of the Anapurna range through the fog while we were on  the ground.   It was an altogether different experience seeing these massive mountains from the bottom looking up

Day 2 as a group:

Mid-morning, early afternoon:  See the ancient Swayambhunath Stupa (known to tourists as the Monkey Temple) - Kathmandu's most important Buddhist shrine. The sleepy, all-seeing Buddha eyes that stare out from the top have become the quintessential symbol of Nepal.

Join the pilgrims at Bodhnath Stupa - the largest stupa in Nepal and the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet. It's the centre of Tibetan culture in Kathmandu and rich in Buddhist symbolism.

Our morning flight was delayed, so we didn't start our temple tours until afternoon.  We visited the Swayambhunath Stupa and the Bodhnath Stupa, both Buddhist  temples.  The first one was the oldest and the second is the biggest in Nepal.  We visited an art school where Buddhist monks and students work to paint the Mandela.  It takes ten years to become a master student.  It is amazing the patience and fine hand skills these students develop.

Tomorrow our group heads out tp the Chitwan National Forest for some trekking.  I think posting photos, blogs, etc. will be difficult if not impossible.  

For now though, all is well with the 2 Worrall Travel R's.