Life in Kathmandu: Part 2

Our days in Kathmandu consisted of leaving our guest house around 9:00 or 10:00 in the morning, hunkering down at a coffee shop (or somewhere with free WiFi) for about three hours.  We always tried to eat brunch so we could wait to have an earlier supper, which allowed us to save money by eating two meals rather than three.  :)  We would then go back to our room for an early afternoon siesta, and we'd then emerge in time to wander around, semi-searching for a place to have supper.  We'd hunker back down in our room around 8:00 or 9:00 pm, and enjoy one or two...or maybe ten!...games of Yahtzee and Wizard!  

One of the many small streets in Kathmandu's tourist district - Thamel.  

One of my Canadian friends (who has been living at Fort Leavenworth for the past two years) happened to have another friend that was traveling to Nepal the same time we were.  So, she connected Karin and I, and we arranged to meet at a coffee shop in Kathmandu one morning.  Karin's originally from Wisconsin.  What a small world, eh?!   

Fruit for sale!

This small Hindu temple was just down the road from our guest house.  Each morning, Hindus on their way by would say a small prayer inside, then receive a tika blessing on their forehead.  

This was some Hindu festival we walked by one afternoon.  

Quite the costumes!

Out for a walk one evening, we saw this small nursery nestled into a back alley down a side street.  

I don't think we saw ANY traffic lights during our whole visit to Nepal...I'm sure there has to be at least one!  Instead, they had two police officers directing traffic in one of the busiest intersections we saw.  Interesting, huh?!  

Exploring in Bhaktapur's Durbar Square.  

Walking to the top of the temple...stupa...gompa...whatever this one was.  There are just too many to remember!

Potter's Square is named exactly how it should be...because of all the potter's that make clay pots in the square!  You can literally walk by and observe each step of the pottery process - starting with the dirt clumps from nearby fields, to the finished product that's sold in surrounding stores.  Really interesting!

All the clay pots laying out to dry...

Clay brought in from surrounding fields.

One of the shops that sells paintings and some of the small clay pots.  

Dipping the clay pots.  

I don't think this guy was too impressed that I was taking his picture.  Making pottery sounds like fun, but I'm sure it's really hard work day after day...

People watching...one of our favourite past times!!  

Had to take this picture for my dad.  Not sure what kind of contraption this is!  

These public "water holes" can be found all around Kathmandu.  Water has been flowing from these spots for hundreds of years, and people have been bathing, washing clothes, gathering water, and sharing the latest gossip from these spots for a long, long time!  

Another shot in the Square.  This was just as school was being let out, so kids from every corner came through the square.  People watching at its best!  

Popcorn anyone?  You can choose the types of kernels you'd like, and it'll be popped fresh right on the spot!  I'm guessing it's a favourite after school snack for this little girl.  

A small veggie market right by our guest house.  

Nepalese souvenir?!  Sure, why not...have your pick from the HUNDREDS that are available!  Every day and night, these same guys pack up every single one of these items, package them in the boxes, then stow them for the night.  Can you imagine?!  

Another place to buy some fresh greens next to the small temple near our guest house.  She was gone by noon every day...which is when her supplies ran out, I guess.  

Well, that's about it from our time in Kathmandu.  I hope you enjoyed reading about some of our experiences, and learned something along the way.  It was a really fascinating place...so glad it was on our itinerary!  We would love to go back one day!

For the past month and a half, Guillaume and I have been spending time with our families in Minnesota and Quebec.  In that same time, we have also started making plans for our life post-World Trip 2012.  We've found an apartment in Montreal, I've been accepted into a Master's Program at McGill, and Guillaume is on the hunt for a job.  We are very excited for our upcoming trip to Italy.  We'll spend a week touring by ourselves, then we'll meet up with two dear friends from New Brunswick for the rest of the time.  Hard to believe that will be the official wrap-up of our year of travels! 

Stay tuned for a few more posts from our adventures in Italy which will begin in less than two weeks!!  Thanks for reading!