DAY 2 : NEPAL : Kathmandu

Weather : hot, humid, 30o

 

Kathmandu - only 500m above sea level, as opposed to Darjeeling which is 2,500 m.

 

 

The Boudha Stupa.

A huge white stupa, built in the 13th century and houses relics of the Buddha.

 

 

  A Tibetan woman tips prayer wheels as she circumnavigates the giant stupa.

 

 

Worshippers feed pigeons, pray on small wooden platforms and enjoy the company of others.

 

 

 

A Buddhist monastery and guesthouse built by monks from Bhutan near the stupa.

 

 

A monk turns the giant prayer wheel.

 

 

Around the square was a workshop where 'thankas' are produced. Thankas are scroll banners which hang in temples and shrines and date back to the 10th century.

First they hang white cotton cloth on a frame and treat the material  to harden it like canvas or parchment. The design is then drawn freehand.

 

 

Then they are painted with small brushes.

This is the Kalachakra Mandala or 'the wheel of time'.

 

 

Delicious pizza at Fire and Ice Restaurant.

*****

 

 

 

A bit of last minute outdoor equipment shopping and lots of browsing.

 

 

Last minute briefing before we leave Kathmandu tomorrow. Satish has checked our gear, lent us high altitude sleeping bags, jackets, mattresses etc. As it is a substantial trek into remote areas we will have 11 porters,  a cook and 2 guides. We will even carry a portable decompression chamber. All very high tech.

 

 

M&M

 

mm_smith@bigpond.net.au