NEPAL 032412 An Amazing Saturday in Kathmandu

Hello Dear Ones

Today (Sunday 0325 here) we fly to the Terai, the lowest elevation region of Nepal, to visit the Chitwan National Park where we will look for wild game from the backs of elephants instead of from Land Rovers.

Yesterday Karma suggested that we go to central Kathmandu to Durbar (Palace) Square and then walk to the other big stupa in the area, Swayambhunath.  We began and ended this exploration with thrilling taxi rides from and to our neighborhood, Boudha.  The taxi left us off to walk into the pedestrian area of downtown, and on the way we met a parade featuring this formidable dancing figure.

Durbar Square is a spectacular center of traditional 17th & 18th century Newari architecture including the former Royal Palace and many important temples and religious sites.  The temple shown below is typical of the fabulous Newari wooden building style that became to model for pagodas throughout Asia.

NEPAL 032312 Friday in Boudha = WOW!

Hello all :-)

Yesterday afternoon we arrived at our hotel in Boudha which is an area east of Katmandu where there are many Tibetan refugees  living.  This area holds about two dozen Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and nunneries and the famous pilgrimage site pictured below, the enormous Bodhnath stupa around which thousands of pilgrims and Boudha residents walk each day in devotion to Buddha. It is a breathtaking site and an example of the power of religion in the life of these people. This morning we will visit the stupa again and some of the monasteries.