Team Cooper Arrive in Kathmandu, Nepal.

It has been a long flight from Heathrow in the UK, but not an unpleasant one.  The air hostesses were nice and were always checking if we needed anything.  Alistair had his place at the emergency door, sitting in the handle…just in case he needed to pull out his bunny parachute.  On board we were given the Visa application to fill in so as to save time at airport.  After leaving the plane we collected our Visa but they would not stamp our passports...sorry Alistair.  Next we went to pick up our cases and head outside.  It was hot and stuffy in the airport, but the little mini cab was worse and absolutely ancient.  There was only 3 of us in the cab however the roads from the airport are CRAZY!!!  There is no traffic system as such, the police monitor the traffic however no one actually responds.  Each car, bus, bike, person and whatever else, they just take their chances!!  You really need to see it to believe it.  

 

 

 

 

Apon arriving at the Radisson Hotel, we were told we would have to wait, but then they told us we had a upgrade on our room.  Yay!!  Our room is massive and really nice...and it was definitely a nice to have that extra added comfort before hitting the trekking life for the next few weeks.  ;)   

 

After short snooze a trip for lunch and pool on the roof top

 

 We meet up with trek leader Roy and our fellow trekkers for additional info and kit bag.


Roy has booked a table for us all to go for a traditional Nepalese meal with music, it works out about 6 courses not heavy, but tasty. 

We head for hotel along the dark dusty and very busy streets about 9pm. We found out later that Kathmandu is the only city in the world that switches all its street lights off at night.

 On arrival at the hotel we had a drink at roof top bar before heading to room. Though it was not too busy day we were very tired from travelling, and it did not take long to fall asleep in that huge comfy bed.

Day in Kathmandu

We woke up quite refreshed in the morning looking forward to our half day tour around Kathmandu. We went had a buffet breakfast which offered a huge choice. And a coffee that was good and much needed

 

Once again we have. to drive down the crazy roads. Asking our guide why was there so much rubble and half houses, was it becausebof last years earth quake. 'No' was the reply, present govement has decided roads were to narrow for the amount of traffic ( I would agree, there is no left or right hand drive I think :)) that they issued to homeowners shop keepers 15 days notice to remove their properrties to allow road extensions or they would send bull dozers in,, and that is what they did. no compersations or help to remove rubble. The air is so full of dust and fumes, it does not take long to feel it in your chest.

 

 

 First stop we went to The Bagmati River in eastern Kathmandu which is considered a sacred river because it eventually flows into the holy Ganges. Here, people come to pray at Pashupatinath, Nepal's holiest Hindu temple. This was very interesting. when people die to allow their soules to be accepted by God they need to be cremated within an hour of passing. 

The ceremony is performed by the male family members of the deceased, all dressed in white (white is the colour of mourning). The body, wrapped in orange cloth is laid on a bamboo stretcher and carried to a slope on the river bank so that the feet just touch the water. The stretcher is then carried back to the steps where the sons and other family members light candles, lay orange cloths over the body and scatter flower petals and coins. The women, all wearing their hair down, pay their last respects to the deceased, scatter flowers and lay cloth over the body which is then discreetly undressed beneath the layers of cloth. The male members then lay the deceased relative on the wood and straw funeral pyre, and ghee (clarified butter) is laid on the logs to help them burn.

The wood and what’s left of the burned body are dumped into the Bagmati River after the cremation is over.

 

  

 

 

At the time we were there 3/4 cremations were being held, also we watched a man who had just passed away getting feet blessed in river before his cremation

 

 

What an experience, infact very moving and lots of celebrations of the passings along the bank.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next we drive along the crazy roads to visit a large Budda Stupa one of biggest in the world, Boudhanath Stupa (or Bodnath Stupa) is the largest stupa in Nepal and the holiest Tibetan Buddhist temple outside Tibet. It is the center of Tibetan culture in Kathmandu and rich in Buddhist symbolism. The stupa is located in the town of Boudha, on the eastern outskirts of Kathmandu.

 

 

 

 

 

Surrounding Boudhanath Stupa are streets and narrow alleys lined with colorful homes, Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, and street vendors

We visited school of art and their work is amazing it takes at least 6 years to be good enough to be allowed to sign your name and the prices shoot up

  

 

 

 

 bhuddist artist

 

 

it had been a good and interesting morning, we head back to the hotel for some lunch and a beer.
Later on we need to sort our bags and change money and prepare ourselves for our big adventure.

Early morning call 4 am we leave for airport @ 5, fly after 6am. lets hope weather good, is good to us.