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Stefanie's Travel Journal
Hello from Kathmandu!
Today was very busy but I got a great overview of Kathmandu and some of the surrounding sights. As usual below you will find a short and long version of my day, my ramblings, etc. Pictures will follow once I figure out how to get them onto one of these computers =)
SHORT VERSION: The electricity was out with a rolling blackout for a few hours tonight so I only have about 30 minutes for this journal entry.So it may be more of an outline with details filled in tomorrow. Here goes ...
I woke up around 6am (went to bed around 10 -Kathmandu is an 'early to bed, early to rise' kind of city with a curfew currently in place (more on that in the long version).I found the 'park' where locals run, walk, or play soccer in the morning and had a good jog. I felt so much better after a good sleep, good run, breakfast, and a shower.Traveling yesterday had left me feeling tired and bloated and not myself so this morning was great.
Then our tour group met at 9am for a morning of sightseeing in the Kathmandu Valley. We went to two sites:
- Swayambhunath is one of the most famous Buddhist temples in the area.It is on a hill overlooking Kathmandu.The walk up the 300+ stairs was great, the temple was interesting,and the views of the valley were impressive.
- Pashupatinath is one of the most sacred Hindu sites in the world. There is a temple that only Hindus are allowed into and cremation platforms along a sacred river. We saw some of the temple grounds, the river, and a few cremations in progress.Very interesting and moving place.More below in the long version.
I had a great Indian lunch and then spent the afternoon wandering around Kathmandu. I saw a lot of small temples, monastaries, and the main square, Durbar Square. It was all very interesting but I did get tired of being accosted as a tourist in Durbar Square.You can't even sit for 5 minutes and enjoy the view because people are talking to you. But I still had a great afternoon.
My tour group is a good group of Australians (yup, just so happens I'm the only non-Australian). There are only 8 of us. John and Karen are a couple from Brisbane. Sara, her aunt Michele, and Michele's son Cal are from New Castle, Vicky is from Melbourne I think, and David (our latest arrival) is from Melbourne too I think. More on our tour group in the long version. The short version is they all seem very nice and I think I"ll enjoy the tour a lot.
Infrastructure here is very 'iffy'. Getting electricity, hot water, and phones all to work at the same time doesn't really seem to happen. Electricty seems like the biggest problem.I"ll write more on the infrastructure and life in kathmandu in the long version.The short version though is the food is great, the streets are relatively clean, the weather is good, and I still find it very convenient despite some quirks.
Well, my time is up for now. I'll fill in the long version tomorrow after we arrive in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet.
LONG VERSION:
Running
Swayambhunath
Pashupatinath
Electricty
Curfew
Tour Group & Guide
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