Last of the Nepal Trip

One day we saw lots of people parading the street in Kathmandu. I think it was because of a Hindu festival.


We went up to a Hindu holy site. This is one of the temples there. Behind it, there were "holy men" smoking hashish and monkeys running around all over the place. The pollution and poverty there was astounding.


Standing upon one part of the Hindu temple sight.


If you look closely you can see diseased bodies being burned. There were different platforms there by the river that each body was placed upon according to which caste it was part of. After many rituals were performed, the body was completely burned and the ashes swept into the river. Though the river was deemed a "holy river", we saw tons of pollution and people dumping their garbage into it.


The white building here is the hospital, where the very ill are taken. The family members then wait outside on the steps until they die. We saw a body being carried out and washed in the river. Also, there were loud mourning cries. I am so glad I won't have to go through that!!


A Brahma priest performing a ceremony. The women threw different colored powder and candles in the river as part of the ceremony.


A larger view of the Hindu holy site.


All the small temples of fertility. We were told there are 550 there. Inside each one, there is an idol that when rubbed, is suppose to bring about fertility and good luck. Our guide wanted us to go inside one but I protested!


There was a monkey in the background and our guide wanted us to take a picture with it.


Hindu god/goddess shrine.

Trekking Through the Himalayas

We did a small trek one day through the luscious jungle (as they call it) not far from where we were staying. I think we agreed we would love to come back when we have more time and try something a bit more ambitious, of course when I am in better shape!


At the gate to the park we were hiking into.




A view of the Kathmandu valley.


We were almost above the clouds. This is a picture of the Tibetan Buddhist Monastery we saw.


Supposedly the monks were happy to have us come see their monastery. They even let me take pictures when I asked :)


Our guide showing Jason around the monastery. This is the main place where the monks study.


Outside of their place of study.


Buddhist priests taking a break after having lunch.


I saw these people picking up rocks all day and I couldn't resist. Mason I know picking up rocks is your favorite thing! Wouldn't you love to do that for a job?


Our guide, Raz! This was on the way down, and I was a bit exhausted!

NEPAL

Oh Nepal, such a cool place to see!

A street in Kathmandu! They love their motorcycles.


The government building, possibly where the president lives?? We were going to go see it but it was too complicated to get in.




I made some friends! These kids were quite amusing and they told us all about Monkey Temple we hiked up to.


There were lots of monkeys along the way.


What's up!!


Standing together at the top of Monkey Temple sight, overlooking Kathmandu.


More monkeys climbing all over the temple.


In front of a Buddha shrine


This was taken at the restaurant at Kathmandu Guest House where we stayed.

The Taj Mahal

I took lots of pictures here. These are some of my favorites!








So for some reason the Indians here had a fascination with taking pictures of me. Not sure why but the children's father here wanted a picture, but I think he kept telling the little boy to scoot closer to me and the poor boy was terrified.


The guy here wanted a picture with me. He was excited so he put on his disco looking jacket. I love the woman's expression. She seems to be thinking "why are we doing this and why is she standing between us?"


One of two structures standing adjacent to the Taj Mahal. Also amazing!


From the Taj Mahal


So I wanted to ride this camel ha! Instead I got my picture taken next to it :)


This room was fill with hand-made plates and tables, inlaid with semi-precious jem stones. The same families that still make these are descendants of the artisans who worked on the Taj Mahal. Very interesting technique.


Here is a man shaping the jem stones to make the art.


Next we were taken into a jewelry shop with a man claiming to have the biggest saphire in the world there. Though he said it was not for sale, he encouraged us to hold it and look at it. Then of course he tried to sell us some rings!

Agra Fort

Today as we were in Agra a man told us that Indians think of their stomach
first always, then God. Which means when it comes to getting food, that is their
first priority. This makes me more forgiving of the constant harassment we take
from people who want money from us. It is out of pure desperation that they do
this in many cases.

Beautiful sights from more Mughal architechture

The outside of the fort
A view of the inside

Me with the Taj Mahal in the background. What a view!
Another inside view of the main palace

These guys were amazing. They were very fast at tying and cutting knots.

The room full of Persian rugs that we were suppose to buy. The picture doesn't really show how cool these rugs were. But it was a little grueling the pressure put on us foreigners. I think our taxi driver was getting paid commission to take us to these tourist traps. We got taken to stores with salesmen claiming their goods were purely authentic. We tried to just joke with them and make the best of it and I told them I wasn't in the mood to buy clothes! Glad I got out of that one...

You're Not in Kansas Anymore

My second night in New Dehli is tough. I am sitting up wide awake at 3am. There's been dogs fighting non-stop on the street below and the noise keeps me alert. The dogs here are scary and I always stay clear of them on the streets, though there are many.... I can't stop thinking of the days events, my first full day in New Delhi. You could say I have been a bit shell-shocked. I thought I understood poverty, pollution, and corruption before. But the magnitude of it here is incomprehensible.

Pictures from the train ride to Agra



There was no A/C...


Those are cows! Cows are seen quiet randomly here, some wander the streets like stray dogs looking for food.

Apparently the street had flooded!


There wasn't much of a countryside, but isn't it beautiful?