Ties that bind
Having spent the last week laying low, we’ve managed to fully recover from our terrible bout of gastro. We’ve spent a lot of money lately getting around by taxi since we didn’t know the area so well, but now we’re beginning to take risks on buses we can’t read the numbers to, and avoid the heavily congested main roads in favour of sidestreets.
We visited Pashupathinath Temple, which is a hindu temple where hindus send their deceased family members to get cremated. We had to pay a tourist entry fee which always annoys me, despite the fact that we don’t look that foreign. But they know. Its probably the way we carry ourselves – all cautious and protective, and armed with a camera doesn’t help either!
On that topic, my camera is still serving me well although I hate that it’s so silvery and shiny which always attracts unwanted attention, especially as I always desire that candid, natural composition. Grr…
The temple itself was magnificent, even more glorified by the gentle glows offered by the waning evening sun. We were shown around by this tourist guide who we initially refused services from but he kept tagging along and tossing up interesting comments such that we were hooked and had to have him come along for the ride. We were told that in such holy places to walk only clockwise though I regret not asking why. The temple is banked up by a small river and a cliff punctured by caves. In those caves live shy holy men who, unlike commercial holy men who are gaudlily dressed in hues of oranges and yellows, do not offer to have their picture taken for a nominal fee. (Bleah. We go cheated into paying for a nice group shot at the temple). But that was a really interesting visit to say the least.
Back on home turf we are very much settled in, having gotten used to the Nepali way of life. Typically Nepali people only eat twice a day : once in the morning and then again in the evening. We are yet to adjust our demanding stomachs to this routine, which we are slowly in the process of assimilating with a good supply of biscuits and chips for lunch. At meal times we eat a lot of rice (bhat) and lentils (dhal), and combination of other things like spinach, potatoes, beans, and some spicy condiments alongside for that extra kick. As with the muslims, we are only permitted to eat with our right hand, and when we want another serve of something, the serving spoon must not touch the plate. Nepalese people enjoy picked chilli which is like the indian achaar, but I think it’s more salty here.
Our host and hostess have a 17year old daughter and a 22 year old son. The daughter is starting her last year of high school soon whilst the latter is preparing to head to the US for further university studies. Both seem really friendly and welcoming, which must be testament to the number of visitors this family has been accomodating since 1992. Just two nights ago we played Cheat/bluff with two decks of cards, which brought tears of die hard laughter to our eyes everytime they try to bluff and we catch them out. Equally amusing was the game of Murderer where he who is it has to wink at other players without getting caught by the Detective. It made missing home more bearable.
As a very connected person, I especially miss not having a television to watch, but it turned out that our host family has cable tv! Most, however, are Indian channels bursting with Bollywood / pseudo American cum Indian music videos, but blessed are we for CNN, ESPN, StarWorld and Discovery – truly spoilt to the core!
I hate heaps more to say, but my internet time’s running out. Stay tuned for hearing about shopping in Nepal! Suba Ratri! (good night)
We visited Pashupathinath Temple, which is a hindu temple where hindus send their deceased family members to get cremated. We had to pay a tourist entry fee which always annoys me, despite the fact that we don’t look that foreign. But they know. Its probably the way we carry ourselves – all cautious and protective, and armed with a camera doesn’t help either!
On that topic, my camera is still serving me well although I hate that it’s so silvery and shiny which always attracts unwanted attention, especially as I always desire that candid, natural composition. Grr…
The temple itself was magnificent, even more glorified by the gentle glows offered by the waning evening sun. We were shown around by this tourist guide who we initially refused services from but he kept tagging along and tossing up interesting comments such that we were hooked and had to have him come along for the ride. We were told that in such holy places to walk only clockwise though I regret not asking why. The temple is banked up by a small river and a cliff punctured by caves. In those caves live shy holy men who, unlike commercial holy men who are gaudlily dressed in hues of oranges and yellows, do not offer to have their picture taken for a nominal fee. (Bleah. We go cheated into paying for a nice group shot at the temple). But that was a really interesting visit to say the least.
Back on home turf we are very much settled in, having gotten used to the Nepali way of life. Typically Nepali people only eat twice a day : once in the morning and then again in the evening. We are yet to adjust our demanding stomachs to this routine, which we are slowly in the process of assimilating with a good supply of biscuits and chips for lunch. At meal times we eat a lot of rice (bhat) and lentils (dhal), and combination of other things like spinach, potatoes, beans, and some spicy condiments alongside for that extra kick. As with the muslims, we are only permitted to eat with our right hand, and when we want another serve of something, the serving spoon must not touch the plate. Nepalese people enjoy picked chilli which is like the indian achaar, but I think it’s more salty here.
Our host and hostess have a 17year old daughter and a 22 year old son. The daughter is starting her last year of high school soon whilst the latter is preparing to head to the US for further university studies. Both seem really friendly and welcoming, which must be testament to the number of visitors this family has been accomodating since 1992. Just two nights ago we played Cheat/bluff with two decks of cards, which brought tears of die hard laughter to our eyes everytime they try to bluff and we catch them out. Equally amusing was the game of Murderer where he who is it has to wink at other players without getting caught by the Detective. It made missing home more bearable.
As a very connected person, I especially miss not having a television to watch, but it turned out that our host family has cable tv! Most, however, are Indian channels bursting with Bollywood / pseudo American cum Indian music videos, but blessed are we for CNN, ESPN, StarWorld and Discovery – truly spoilt to the core!
I hate heaps more to say, but my internet time’s running out. Stay tuned for hearing about shopping in Nepal! Suba Ratri! (good night)