City Tours

 During breakfast, Randy and Derek introduced themselves before joining Sharon, Tim, Noni, Lily and me in the hotel’s restaurant.  Randy and Derek are Canadians.  However, Randy resides in England, having inherited a family estate many years ago.Orientation was conducted on the hotel lawn.  At first we were in the shade, but as the sun rose, the shade dwindled, leaving many of us exposed to the heat of the day.  Orientation wrapped up quickly thereafter.  The information included a revised itinerary (this being Trekker’s maiden trek to Everest Base Camp, there were bound to be revisions as the trek progressed) and lessons on sanitation and keeping hydrated.

Bhakatpur City tour was next on today’s agenda.  We boarded an air conditioned bus parked in front of the hotel.  Our guide, Archana asked us to call her “Archie.”  Archie had to shout as the microphone was not working today.  Our driver had an assistant in the passenger seat to watch the left side of the vehicle in tight spots, or to capture the attention of those who were too close to our vehicle.  Yes, the driver is on the right side in Nepal.

Once out of Kathmandu, the traffic was less hectic, but dustier.  The area was very dry.  Along the way, I saw a lot of squalor and poverty.  There were some new looking homes three or four stories high dotted among the small towns, but for the most part, the towns were very old and deteriorating.

Bhaktapur had the air of an ancient city that was once magnificent.  Many craftsmen labored long hours to carve the stone for the steps, walls, detail of deities and other symbols of worship in this city.  I had the feeling that long ago, only the privileged ranks were allowed to enter this part of the city.  Now, it is full of hawkers who will follow you at great lengths if you show a slight interest in their mass-manufactured jewelry, pottery or textiles.

Our group stopped for a late lunch at a restaurant in the main square.  The food was excellent and plentiful.  Had we known the portions would be so large, we would have ordered two plates to share at our table of 5.  With heavy hearts (and bellies) we left our half eaten meals at the table to continue on with our tour.

When all had finished their lunch, we met outside the restaurant in the sun among the myriad of hawkers selling the same beaded necklaces, coin purses, carved Buddha’s, swords and ringing bowls.  Archie led us to the pottery making section of this ancient city.  There were tarps of drying wheat surrounding the main kiln.   From there, we left the square to return to our bus.

The bus stopped at Pashupatinah, (The temple of Lord of the Animals).  We went into a courtyard where no photos were allowed because the Hindu temple practiced animal sacrifices.  If we were wearing leather shoes, we were required to remove them.  Luckily, many of our hiking shoes were rubber and cloth/synthetic materials.

We went into another courtyard containing a sacred bathing area with a snake theme.  The bathing pool was drained of water.  We could see the steps leading into the pool and the details of the snake carvings.

Next stop:  the Kapan Monastery, where the main focus of interest was the ghat (cremation site) for Hindu members.  Hindu’s do not bury their deceased, all are cremated and scattered into the river.

3:00 PM:  Back to the Shangri-la Hotel.   After a quick stop in my room, I returned to the lobby to meet up with Lily.  After a wait, Lily returned to the hotel with Chelli.  They had gone to the pharmacy to purchase Diamax at the ridiculously low price of $2 USD.

Lily accompanied me as we searched for the hotel’s authorized SIM card vendor.  After stopping at the pharmacy for directions, we braved crossing the street among the chaotic traffic to NCell the SIM card store.  After waiting patiently for the cashier to take a break from his conversation with his friend, I inquired if this store were part of the hotel.

He asked, “What do you need?”

I’d like to buy a SIM card.

No SIM card today.  All sold out.  Come back tomorrow.

I leave tomorrow.

He just shrugged, giving me that “Oh well…” look.  Disappointed, we bravely crossed the street back to the hotel.

Lily said she didn’t bring a bathing suit, but wanted to dip her feet in the pool.  Sounded good.  After a quick stop to our rooms, we met up at the pool.  I read while working on a tan.  Lily soaked her feet in the pool.

It was getting cooler and time to get ready for dinner.

Dinner was a buffet served in the Garden Restaurant.  The buffet was included with our room, but not our beverages (whether alcoholic or not).

After dinner and light conversation getting to know our fellow trekkers, we retired to our rooms to pack our gear per Trekker instructions.