Beautiful Temples

I started out early today so I could see all the sights on my list. First I had to figure out the bus system. I was able to get to my first stop, Boudna, in record time.

Boudna is a very famous and unusual temple. It was really amazing to see a huge white dome stupa and tower painted with the eyes of budha and gompas (temples) surrounding it. There was a “service” (not sure that is what it is called) going on in one of the gompas. All the monks were chanting and they had two very long horns that would sound every five minutes. I happen to be inside when they went off and it was verrrry loud. It really is amazing to see.

I walked around the white dome and did some shopping. This stupa was built by Tibetan refugees, so the shops are filled with Tibetan goods . It was pretty exhausting and, thanks to lonely planet, was able to find a great coffee shop. Yes, even in Nepal there are coffee shops.

After seeing all the sights, I decided to walk to my next temple, Pashupatinath, which is the most sacred temple in Kathmandu. As I walked, I noticed a little friend, a boy in first grade, walking with me. It was really a great walk… made sure I had well over 10000 steps in for the day…. and the little boy stayed with me until we reached our destination. I bought him an ice cream cone.

Now, I know I do not do a great job of reading signs, but I really messed up this time. Apparently no one but Hindus are allowed to enter temple and definitely not cameras. I walked right in like I owned the place and was in the middle of taking a picture when a holy man and police officer started yelling at me. I was asked, no forced, to leave the temple quickly. Wow was that holy man mad… he wasn’t acting so holy. I guess I was lucky in that I got to see inside, where all the tourists were forced to stay outside.

I was allowed to enter the sacred river and watch the cremations (paid 500 rupees that only the tourists were charged). Apparently as soon as someone dies, they are immediately cremated in a ceremony at the river. The Brahmans (priest class) and monarchy are treated differently than the other classes, but all are cremated at the river. I watched a couple bodies being burned and one that the family was preparing to cremate. It was amazing. They believe that everyone dies (we believe this also) and that it is a very public ceremony, because the person will be reincarnated in another life. The river, although polluted, is considered very sacred. It actually joins a sacred river in India.

After I finished at the temple, I met Razeena and we shopped for over three hours trying to find an appropriate outfit for me to wear to dinner on Monday night. I am going to a special dinner with the donors and board members of Tewa. I found a Kurte and shoes and earrings… I probably will never wear it again, but I will really look Nepalese on Monday night. I am also going out on Tuesday and found a Kurta for that evening to wear with jeans. The difference between Kurte and Kurta is whether the outfit has matching pants.

After shopping until I was exhausted, we went to Razeena’s hotel and ate dinner. I was home by 9am and ready for a good night’s sleep… tomorrow is another sightseeing day.

Namaste