Up, breakfast and a little work before heading to Patan Durbar Square. I managed to find a taxi at the end of the road, the reception said the fare should be around 500-600R and I negotiated 550r, by the time we got to Patan it was a hectic journey so I did give him 600R. He spent the first 10 mins of the ride insisting he would take me and wait for me and then wanted to take me to other sites, this seems to be the trend here to drum up more business and I really didn’t want to be tied to one particular taxi if I wandered a long way away and this seemed really hard to explain, eventually, and begrudgingly he allowed me just to be taken to Patan. Though the one driver we kept for a few hours really wished he hadn't (to come later)!!
The surrounding are, like much of Kathmandu, had small temples, beautiful door ways, some interesting street art and small alleyways of mystery on every street.
The surrounding are, like much of Kathmandu, had small temples, beautiful door ways, some interesting street art and small alleyways of mystery on every street.
“Graffiti is one of the few tools you have if you have almost nothing. And even if you don't come up with a picture to cure world poverty you can make someone smile while they're having a piss.” ― Banksy
The square was lovely....
.....and also had an architecture gallery and a museum with many artifacts.
The buildings and courtyards of this ancient palace of the Malla Kings of Lalitpur were beautiful...
One of my favorite spots of this palace is the superbly carved sunken water tank known as the Tusha Hiti. Built in 1647, it has 72 carved stone plaques depicting Tantric deities and was used by the king for ritual ablutions.
'Ritual is necessary for us to know anything.' - Ken Kesey
A very peaceful place to view and relax.
Inside the palace is an art and artefact gallery, with some detailed carvings and depictions of gods and deities....
I also had lunch in the gardens of the museum before a final wander around the square and a visit to the Golden Temple
There was a small monastery above which we were allowed into....
I needed to be back for 4pm when we were all meeting up, so I jumped in a taxi for the ride back. Everywhere in Kathamndu is 'only half an hour away, unless there is traffic, them, um an hour, an hour and a half, maybe two' (there is always traffic!). I had left just in time and and walked through the door bang on. After a quick freshen up and some water we jumped in another taxi and headed to the Boudenath. A very special and spiritual place. It had been closed for renovations just after the earthquake, but there were some ceremonies to bless and reopen it when we were there. We had dinner and drinks at a Tapas bar overlooking the dome, which gave us a spectacular view and then we walked around it with everyone a couple of times and even managed to get into a small temple inside.
Temples to worship at.
.....and also had an architecture gallery and a museum with many artifacts.
The buildings and courtyards of this ancient palace of the Malla Kings of Lalitpur were beautiful...
One of my favorite spots of this palace is the superbly carved sunken water tank known as the Tusha Hiti. Built in 1647, it has 72 carved stone plaques depicting Tantric deities and was used by the king for ritual ablutions.
'Ritual is necessary for us to know anything.' - Ken Kesey
A very peaceful place to view and relax.
Inside the palace is an art and artefact gallery, with some detailed carvings and depictions of gods and deities....
The below piece I founds really interesting as it depicts the body, all its charkras, and the realms below and above us on our path to enlightenment...
'To enjoy good health, to bring true happiness to one's family, to bring peace to all, one must first discipline and control one's own mind. If a man can control his mind he can find the way to Enlightenment, and all wisdom and virtue will naturally come to him.'- Buddha
The final exhibition was from a local photographer, most of which depicted local celebration where a tall tree like tower / chariot is made and the God Machchhendranath is carried around in it - more info here http://www.insidehimalayas.com/major-festivals-of-nepal-2017/
There was a small monastery above which we were allowed into....
I needed to be back for 4pm when we were all meeting up, so I jumped in a taxi for the ride back. Everywhere in Kathamndu is 'only half an hour away, unless there is traffic, them, um an hour, an hour and a half, maybe two' (there is always traffic!). I had left just in time and and walked through the door bang on. After a quick freshen up and some water we jumped in another taxi and headed to the Boudenath. A very special and spiritual place. It had been closed for renovations just after the earthquake, but there were some ceremonies to bless and reopen it when we were there. We had dinner and drinks at a Tapas bar overlooking the dome, which gave us a spectacular view and then we walked around it with everyone a couple of times and even managed to get into a small temple inside.
In a gift from Korea the top section is made from 25kgs of gold.
There are so many ways to express your spirituality and prayers....
Yak butter candles, being lit with prayers.
Prayer flags.
Prayer wheels to spin
Bells to ring
I wouldn't describe myself as religious, more spiritual. I have been lucky enough to visit some sites of real religious importance and its amazing how you can feel peoples wishes, dreams and prayers floating in the air at these places. Such powerful places of hope. Something the world needs more of at the moment.
'Infuse your life with action. Don't wait for it to happen. Make it happen. Make your own future. Make your own hope. Make your own love. And whatever your beliefs, honor your creator, not by passively waiting for grace to come down from upon high, but by doing what you can to make grace happen... yourself, right now, right down here on Earth.' - Bradley Whitford
"Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don't wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it's at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored." - Earl Nightingale
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