What to do, Kathmandu

Promptly, we’re on the tarmac awaiting clearance for the twin otter departure…yahoo we’re good to go back to Kathmandu. Within 45 minutes we’ve thread the needle through the mountains, clouds and peaks and now we’re weaving to and fro through the chaos of morning city traffic. Ahhh Dwarkis, museum like with a HOT shower and robes, how fantastic. It’s a haven in a bees nest of urban dysfunction, ergo the frequently cantered “what to do in Kathmandu”. We expunged the mountain sweat, organized our UNESCO guided tour/driver for the AM and treated ourselves to the six-course traditional Nepali dinner at Krishnarpan, mmmmm tasty.

Up and ready to absorb, we met Hari in the lobby and departed at 8:30 am, starting in the old city of Bhaktapur we were rubber necking one sacrifice after another—a duck and goat on leash were quickly ushered to their next incarnation. Between the open-air butchers, fishmongers and busy day of sacrifices Alex is well on her way to becoming a vegetarian. With little time to spare we were off to Patan Durbar Square where we had a lovely tranquil lunch moment in the Museum Courtyard, away from the maddening crowd. At the Golden Temple, a working gem of a monastery we watched the 12 year-old boy monk who lives by himself in the temple perform a ceremony for visiting Buddhists.

When in Kathmandu…visit the Monkey Temple—remember don’t stare at the monkeys as you walk through the sacred area. Big ones, little ones, fast moving ones, dogs chasing monkeys, screaming monkeys…what a ride! This is the sideshow, while religious rituals are going on around the stupa and in the monastery—never a dull moment.

Combating traffic we share our appreciation with Hari for his fountain of knowledge. Then quickly bid our driver good-bye, hop in a taxi to meet Peter for 5:30 pm who’s teaching a leadership class at Shree Mangal Dvip School while we try to digest all the things we’ve learned during the day.

Oh it’s show and tell and we’re the show—Alex does a great job talking with the young women during the leadership class, they gather around with curiosity and questions…a proud moment for mama bear. After class, we walk back to Peter’s for our send off dinner with the boys—Turkish cheese and Prosciutto followed by hot green curry…eclectic and tasty!

Sleep tight, morning flight, Bhutan…