The Little Wanderer

A blog dedicated to my travels, both international and domestic. Arkansas based, Globally curious. Shot on film.

[thelittlewander3r]

Bhaktapur, Nepal July 2017

Bhaktapur is still technically part of Kathmandu Valley, but it is an ancient Newar city about eight miles from Kathmandu. Bhaktapur is well known for the intricate wood carvings that feature on the buildings. Unfortunately, some of the temples there sustained damage from the earthquake.

Damaged by earthquake.

Bhaktapur is also famous for its pottery, as featured below.

*All photos are mine, please give credit. All photos shot on 35mm Portra 400 film.*

[thelittlewander3r]

Kathmandu, Nepal July 2017 - Part II

Swayambhunath, locally known as the Monkey Temple (due to the many monkeys that hang around), is another stupa that’s really amazing to behold. This one is located on top of a hill that allows for a view of the Kathmandu valley below. This stupa is more tranquil than Boudhanath but there are still plenty of people around.

P.S. you should be cautious of how close you are to the monkeys, especially if they are babies. It’s smart to mind your distance.

One of the things that I found to be interesting about Nepal is its religious beliefs. The religious demographic is split between those who practice Buddhism and Hinduism. Pashupatinath Temple is one of the only temples that I encountered in Nepal, and I was unable to go inside because I do not practice Hinduism. The temple is located on the banks of the Bagmati River, one of the main rivers that runs through Kathmandu, and can be likened to a smaller version of the Ganges in India. Along the Bagmati through the area of Pashupatanath, crematory services are performed, in which the bodies of the dead are burned on pyres near the river. 

Street vendor near Pashupathinath.

Walking back from the temple.

You can now ride cable cars through the Chandragiri Hills and up to one of the peaks. Probably one of the steepest cable car tracks that I’ve seen, it is a silent and almost otherworldly nine minute ride to the top. The day that I rode it was a bit cloudy, so rather than having a view of the valley the entire time, we were shrouded in mist once we reached the low-hanging fog. It was dense, everything around was a white-gray, and you could only see the cable extend in front of or behind the cable car by so many feet. It was almost like being suspended in nothingness. But I did get a view of the valley on the way back down, which was quite impressive.

*All photos are mine, please give credit. Photos of and around Pashupatinath shot on 35mm Portra 400 film.*

[thelittlewander3r]

Kathmandu, Nepal July 2017

Nepal: how can I put into words what it felt like to arrive in Kathmandu, to step out of the small airport and into a crowd of people surrounded by car and motorbike exhaust and dust, ever still surrounded by the Himalayan mountains that lie around the city. Chaotic, but beautiful. There was something oddly refreshing about the initial craziness of Kathmandu. Amongst the swirling dust and whirring cars, and the stares that met mine, I still felt in awe. It was new places, new things; and I loved it instantly. The city is still rebuilding after the 2015 earthquake, as evidenced by many of the damaged buildings, but it does not make the city or the people any less. There is life. There is generosity. There is culture that is unbelievably rich. I only hope that my love and respect for Nepal and its people is reflected in my posts.

Of course, there are things that people come to Kathmandu to see: the stupas (a dome-shaped Buddhist shrine of sorts), the temples, the Himalayan mountains, the momos. The momos?? YES THE MOMOS. Okay, well, maybe people don’t come to Nepal specifically for the momos but they are a treat not to be missed. What are momos exactly? These beauties are Nepalese dumplings filled with meat, traditionally buffalo, sealed with nine folds, and served with dipping sauces. My love for momos is deep and strong and was, of course, born on my travels to Nepal. Below are images of a *few* of my many momos.

There are plenty of stupas to admire in Kathmandu, but the most well know is Boudhanath Stupa, which is one of the largest stupas in all of Nepal. Every stupa or temple that you will visit is certainly unique, but they are all generally quiet, peaceful, and allow for introspection. It’s typical that the only sound you might hear at a stupa is the soft clinking of chimes. Boudhanath Stupa is not like this, rather, it is a lively center with music and a few small restaurants and shops. But to stand under the gaze of its massive eyes with prayer flags blowing in the breeze is unlike anything I’ve felt. You feel centered, at peace, but undeniably small and grateful. I was fortunate enough to have a local named Krishna escort me through Kathmandu and walk with me around Boudhanath in the hot afternoon sun, singing along to the music and laughing as he shooed pigeons away. I don’t speak Nepali and he didn’t really speak English, but I deeply respect Krishna, and our language barriers didn’t interfere with our communication or our adventures around Kathmandu. (Krishna is briefly pictured in the blue shirt in the first photo on this post)

Continued in next post.

*All photos are mine, please give credit. All photos except momos shot on 35mm Portra 400 or Kodak Gold 200 film.*