We arrive in Kathmandu mid afternoon and take a very narrow taxi to our hotel.  The streets are dusty and the air quality is really bad….glad we bought masks in Vietnam.  As we jiggle along on the bumpy roads my very first impression is that this isn’t a place I think I’ll like much, dusty, poor and no charm….wait a minute check out that monkey running down the road…..and look at that cow just cruising along, and those goats chilling on the sidewalk….ok so that’s all pretty neat.  As we get closer to our hotel I see the surrounds transform and come alive with interesting shops and buildings of brickwork and my first impressions slip away.

The narrow streets team with small cars, narrow vans, rickshaws, motorbikes and people, a challenge to drive, equally difficult to walk. Its so nice to see all the amazing brick buildings but the downside is the large kilns that send black smoke into the already dusty air.

Shop vendors call out as you walk by to come inside their shops, street merchants follow you and if you show the least bit of interest they may hound you for several blocks! It’s hard because you know they’re just trying to make a buck but it can very annoying and detracts from the otherwise amazing experience.

After getting acquainted with our area we head into restaurant called the New Orleans Cafe, an indoor-outdoor place with great atmosphere, great music and great food.  I opt for the Nepalese set which comes on a large tray and consists of an assortment of delicious items:  lentil soup, dahl, sautéed spinach, vegetable curry and mango pickle. So yummy it becomes a fave dish for my stay here.

On our first day of sightseeing we go to Bodnath Stupa, the largest in Nepal and the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside of Tibet.  We entered a large square, the Stupa taking up the centre surrounded by shops and restaurants.

Topping the Stupa is a square tower bearing Buddhas eyes (something we see represented in art and jewelry everywhere) on all four sides.

 

Bhaktapur City

Next we head off by taxi to the ancient city of Bhaktapur.  This is the cultural capital of Nepal. It dates back to the early 8th century and was once the capital of Nepal.  Bhaktapur Durbar Square in the centre of the city was listed as a World Heritage in 1979.

So much to see everywhere you look.   Ancient buildings with amazing woodwork and carvings that have impressed generations.

We wander down a road gazing at the ancient buildings and shops. The narrow street gives way to Pottery Square where potters are working away.  Row upon row of clay pots fills the square, such an impressive sight!

This city is home to almost 100 thousand people and spread over 6 square km so it’s a large area to cover and we only saw the tip of it.