Mon- Sept 29: Kathmandu (Thamel, Bodnath, Swayambuth Stupa, Chobhar)
- Rickshaw in Thamel
I met with Theo, the head of my resort in Le Chobhar. He’s sending their driver over for me today. I’ve already negotiated a rate with the driver, to take me sightseeing.
Today is day to play tourist
I like to dedicate one day to sightseeing all the famous landmarks, so that I can spend the rest of my trip wandering and creating unique experiences. When you’re traveling with others, you’re always compromising your agenda. Now, I have the day’s agenda, all to myself!
There are two more things to know about Nepali people: they LOVE to shop and have a love for celebrating festivals! Thamel with its winding maze of streets is like a one-stop shop for both, tourists and locals.
It is said that festival time is a time of great traffic and people flood the markets as sales signs come out advertising “festival discount”. Currently, in Nepal everyone’s getting ready for Dushain festival.
- Crowded streets in thamel
- Kite seller sells kites for the festival celebration
- Festival sales in Thamel
- Shop of Slippers
Durbar Square & it’s marketplace
A UNESCO World Heritage site, it used to be the plaza of the royal palaces. Today, it’s used as marketplace. The ancient architecture is still there and there’s an government entry fee that foreigners must pay to get in.
- A view of Durbar Square
- durbar square
- durbar square market palce
- produce women in nepal
- veggie sellers
- spice dealers
- spice dealers
- durbar square at night
Bodnath
- Bodnath
prayer wheels
- buddhist monks
The Monkey Temple or Swayambuth Stupa(click here for video)
The temple is about 5-10 minutes outside of Thamel. This is the one temple I HAD to go to- monkeys are EVERYWHERE- hanging from trees, sitting upon statues and monuments, crossing your footsteps… At the top of the 1,000 stairs, you’ll find a giant monument decorated with prayer wheels and a view of Kathmandu.
- monkey temple nepal
monkeys are everywhere
It was dark when I arrived at Chobhar Village and it was only 6P.
A concerned manager, Shankar waiting with the cook and all was in blackout mode save for the electric lamp Shankar had given to me. I take a late meal of the best vegetable momos and tomato onion soup my mouth has ever tasted and go to my room to absorb my day.
Goodnight!
