nepal

Swayambhunath is also known as the Monkey Temple. Some people consider the monkeys that live there as holy. They don’t seem to be interested in people unless you’re carrying food. We loved watching them play in the wish fountain and hang upside down to get a drink of water.

“That’s why I’m going to Katmandu,
Up to the mountains where I’m going to.
If i ever get out of here that’s what I’m gonna do.
K – k – k – k – k – Katmandu,
Take me, baby, ’cause I’m going with you.
If I ever get out of here I’m going to Katmandu.”

They help drive away evil spirits and bring attention and focus to the mind before a ritual or prayer.

The prayer wheels contain paper rolls where Buddhist texts are printed. When the prayer wheels are spun, people believe that praying is done automatically. Easy breezy!

The Stupa is on the ancient trade route from Tibet which enters the Kathmandu Valley. It then turns directly south, heading over the Bagmati river to Patan. Tibetan merchants have rested and offered prayers here for many centuries. When refugees entered Nepal from Tibet in the 1950s, many decided to live around Bouddhanath. The Stupa is said to entomb the remains of Kassapa Buddha.

We got on a pretty crowded little mini van type bus to get us to Kathmandu after we were done river rafting. A boy asked where we were from and we said the US. He said they were, too. They were currently living in New Jersey having moved from Nepal in 2003 I believe. They wanted to start a new life. They work at a casino in NJ, but were on holiday visiting grandparents.
They were so nice and helpful. Maddux loved talking to P.A. (their oldest boy) and their youngest was a sweetheart, too. I talked the mom’s ear off! Sorry about that.
It sure is nice to encounter good friendly people while you’re on a journey like this.
Thank you guys for making the road trip lots of fun and that’s much shorter! Good luck to you all. If we end up in NJ sometime, we’ll have to get together for lunch or something. Take care and thanks again for your helpful traveling tips regarding Kathmandu. We had a great time there.