March 23

We started our day later, because well, I slept in until 830!😴🥱  I did listen to Bob Seger's “Katmandu” song for inspiration. Anyway, we had our hearty breakfast – I don't know that I will get tired of it! Then we got out by 1100. We again have a destination in mind, and hit the road, trekking to it via our trusty Google maps. We are really enjoying these treks!! 

We again see more temples, pagodas, and stupas along the way, stopping to pay respect and admire. There are also more local pools/wash areas to see. These are all in various states of disrepair to being well-kept. It is wild to see these old structures with a skyscraper building just the next street over. Old and new contrasts – the mix of architecture keeps me looking all about in wonder (instead of the bumps in the sidewalk, like I should more). We passed by a Royal Palace area, that is still gated and under guarded entry. Along the way we cross over the river, that is polluted with some litter and it is black colored.  But overall the whole city is has been way cleaner than our cities in India. I keep repeating this but it really is a stark, refreshing contrast.

Then it started to spit a little rain, so we ducked into The Burger House and Crunchy Fired Chicken Restaurant for lunch and to get out of the rain. We each had a hamburger: one a regular and one a classic that included – I'm not kidding – eight whole french fries! I almost laughed when it was set down. The hamburgers were like fried fritters, but did have lettuce, tomato, cucumber, cabbage, and carrots on a great bun. We also each had a milkshake – me strawberry, Jeff chocolate. It stopped raining so we paid and left.

Right across from the restaurant was a local soccer field that was being occupied by a large troop of monkeys. This is our first sighting (as I recall) of monkeys here in Kathmandu. As we arrive close to our destination, we are back in local neighborhoods, with the shops/stalls lining the streets. The roads are smaller and again so quiet. We saw more of the Holi T-shirts and know we will get one. Tomorrow is Holi. This is a Hindu holy day, and it is celebrated with color, as in throwing colored powder all over everyone. I'll tell more of it in detail later after we experience it.

Anyway, we arrive at our destination, a World Heritage/UNESCO site, Pashupatinath Temple. We bought tickets and enter into a ground complex of 246 hectares. It is huge! It is set along both banks of the Bagmati River. It has many, many temples and one main pagoda house. The main pagoda house is still active and only Hindu believers can enter. As you cross the river over a couple of bridges you can witness the also active cremations that occur here multiple times daily. We saw at least five such pyres going. It is sobering and brings your humanity back to reality. On our tickets is a saying, 'After visiting the holy Pashupati area, your soul, body, and wealth have become more sacred. May your footsteps always be forward towards human well being.' I don't know about this, but I do know I am human, but a child of God. Amen! I wanted to shout this out to all, but well, this is not the place. After the body has become ash it is then swept into the river. We explored some more, and saw couple of men painted into character's that you could pay for a picture with them. Anyway, we crossed back over the river and the burning bodies, but upon leaving I was glad to be doing so, and I won't be getting into that river anytime soon.

Now, we took a little different way back to our hotel. We did stop at a local food shop/stall and bought a local dessert, Jerry, which is maida flour (plain flour or all-purpose flour) batter in pretzel or circular shapes, soaked in sugar syrup. We have seen them, even in India, but never tried one. We were pleasantly surprised. They were not as sweet as they sounded or looked, and have a nice little burst in your mouth from the syrupy dough. We also found and bought a Holi T-shirt to wear tomorrow (and then throw away).  We came across one more little temple I'll mention because it has a huge tree growing on it or maybe the temple was built into the tree. I don't know which came first the temple or the tree… (HAHA)!🤣

Anyway, next, we stopped at an actual supermarket. It was a very busy place. (because it's Saturday? or is it always busy?? Questions?) We picked up the supplies we needed, and some buffalo jerky and yak cheese for dinner. Then we left, going back, and had to pick up our pace as we were getting rained on again (it has so far always been a fine rain). Arrived back and I caught up on the blogs. Jeff read. We ate supper (the jerky was very dry, but a good, gamy taste, and the cheese was great!) 

Tomorrow we may try to go to an International service in English, maybe experience Holi and hope to see many of you on Zoom or WhatsApp. God Bless to all!