May 25, 2012

• City of Temples

  

  Leaving Varanasi and Dr Han behind, our traveling trio traversed onward to a land of mysticism, monks and mountains. On arriving in Nepal, none of us had the required fee for a visa. Luckily, there was a handy dandy form and functionary located nearby where we could obtain legal entry and avoid me being arrested in yet another country (yes, I am an international criminal-ask me about it sometime ). Of course, as long as we were picking up our papers, it only made sense to obtain some silly snacks and snapshots. And thanks for noticing my new alliteration dictionary!

  

  What could possibly make that tomato so naughty?

  

  Why would you think that slogan would sell ANYTHING?

  

  International graffiti is awesome. But Lets adjourn to the hotel, shall we?

  

  Ah yes, the Hotel Shanker, former palace in Nepal and birthplace of some queen or other. It has many fascinating architectural features

  

  Such as death metal dragons in cafeteria watching you nom

  

  ridiculously large hobbit like rooms (there is more room not pictured in this photo!)

  

  An appropriately palacial entrance with what appears to be a random jewish star off in the corner

  

  And lest we forget, the Kunti Bar. When making a crass an inappropriate remark about things likely to be found in the Kunti Bar, such as whether any cunts were to be found within, a british matron happened to walk by and exclaim in a Mrs Doubtfire voice “Probably not. I’ve already written home about it” which of course sent us all off into peals of laughter. I still enjoy things in my british matron voice

  

  This store for tobacco and spirits would not survive well in America

  

  But let’s take a stroll around town shall we?

  

  The Katmandu Valley is known as the city of Temples

  

  For every intersection or community has its own shrine or temple. The Durbar Square of Kathmandu is located in the old city and has heritage buildings representing four kingdoms (Kantipur, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Kirtipur), built over centuries The complex has 50 temples and is distributed in two quadrangles of the Durbar Square.

  

  When the Katmandu valley was ruled by many different Kings, each one wanted to build a temple of his own to show he was more impressive and or devout than his neighbors

  

  Lions like these guard the entrance to many of the temples

  

  and prayer wheels carry the hopes of the faithful up to heaven

  

  Kumari Ghar is a palace in the center of the Kathmandu city, next to the Durbar square. Kumari is the tradition of worshipping young pre-pubescent girls as manifestations of the divine female energy or devi in South Asian countries. Kumari is believed to be the bodily incarnation of the goddess Taleju until she menstruates, after which it is believed that the goddess vacates her body. No photos are allowed of this divine personage or her residence, so here is a random pigeon temple instead 

  

  After a bit of shopping, it was starting to get late

  

  So we picked up some dinner

  

  Stopped by one last temple

  

  And went home for the night to explore the sights of Kathmandu in more depth the next day 

  • 1:23 pm
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