EBC Day 15: Back to Kathmandu...

The re-entry into the chaos of Kathmandu was quick. Friday afternoon traffic was bedlam, but the views along the way were once again fascinating.

It was a slow crawl, but eventually we were back at The Address Kathmandu Hotel. 

We dropped our bags in our rooms, Terri and I took our braids out and then met Carlin and Kent for a light lunch at the hotel. Afterwards I truly enjoyed taking a nice long shower and finally washing my hair for the first time in two and a half weeks.

After cleaning up and repacking, we spent some time doing some last-minute shopping.

For our final dinner in Nepal, we were taken out by a Himalayan Wonders staff member to a nice restaurant. Everyone laughed when I ordered dal bhat, but I have plenty of opportunities to eat non-Nepali food and it was very good. Terri had to leave dinner early as she wasn’t able to revert back to our flight since it was full and so was flying out later that night. It was strange having that big hotel room all to myself.

Around the Stupa...

This stupa was located in a busy neighborhood with lots of restaurants and shops surrounding it.

We entered a temple across from it...

...where we stood on this balcony for yet more views of the stupa...

...and the bustling street.

There was some colorful artwork inside...

...and a giant prayer wheel.

This little girl enjoyed a popsicle on a warm day...

...while this little boy enjoyed feeding the pigeons. All-in-all, it was a fascinating day and I’m glad we built the extra day of sightseeing into our schedule.

Boudanath Stupa from Every Angle...

Our next stop was supposed to be the Hindu Crematorium, but we were running behind, so we skipped it (I was disappointed later when I heard from other trekkers that it was quite a remarkable site).

Our last stop was the Boudanath Stupa, the largest stupa in Nepal at 120 feet (36 meters) and the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside of Tibet. 

According to legend, it was originally built in the 5th century and rebuilt after being destroyed by invaders in the 14th century. The gold spire was heavily damaged in the 2015 earthquake; 66 pounds of gold were needed for the repairs, which were funded by private donations and took 18 months to complete. The 13 levels of the spire represent the stages that must be passed through to achieve nirvana.

We had great views from the ground, on a balcony overlooking it and on the structure itself.

It is believed that those with a pure heart that walk around the entire structure will help to create good karma. Not sure how pure my heart is, but I was happy to try creating some good karma.

Fruit and Veggies...

Fruit and vegetables were sold in a variety of interesting ways, including this fascinating banana bike.

These ladies used rice bags on top of bricks to display their corn, squash and greens. 

I’ve never seen bananas or pineapples hung like this at markets in Holland.

Although this stand mostly sold flowers and small pots, there appears to be some edible bits of green in both corners. 

Healing Center...

Next we walked over to a “healing center” which uses the vibrations from “singing bowls” to heal people.

The salesman worked on Terri’s knee...

...Carlin’s back...

...and my whole body, which felt great.

Both ladies bought one, but they were beyond my budget.

Just around the corner, we saw this building with unusual windows...

...and this one with an unusual door.

More of the Square...

Our tour guide showed us where he was when the 7.8 magnitude quake hit in April 2015―luckily he was unhurt. 

Three years later, the pagodas are still being repaired. Often the scaffolding...

...and ladders being used by the construction crews didn’t look very stable. 

We had lunch at a rooftop café with a great view and good food. 

On our walk after lunch, we saw some graffiti...

...folks making necklaces and tassels...

...iinteresting contrast of women in shorts whole others are in saris...

...and this colorfully decorated statue.

The Former Royal Palace...

 

We started with a walk through the palace and a quick jaunt through the museum’s collection of archaeological findings. 

Built in 1734 on the site of a Buddhist monastery, its life as a palace was apparently short-lived since it was conquered just 35 years later in 1769. Little is known about its use until the 20th century. It was transformed into Patan Museum in 1997.

The royal bath was especially fascinating.

There were only a few other tourists visiting, including these two little girls.

It was damaged in earthquakes in 1934 and 2015. Construction continues...

...much of it by hand, to restore the historical design as much as possible.