Nepal is a place for walking. The people are really friendly, Brian did a great job traveling, and senery is beautiful.
Bhaktapur
Prakas Dhaubhadel, proprietor of the Hotel Heritage, was kind to invite us to his house on Taumadhi Square to watch the Chariot of Bhairab being pulled during the first day of Bisket Jatra at Bhaktapur heralding the start of the Nepali New Year. Bhairav, the other god on the Chariot is the fierce manifestation of Shiva associated with annihilation: a well respected rude dude god. The tug of war teams for the chariot carrying two gods from the temple in the square consists of the upper side of the town v.s. the lower side of the town ( population 80,000 ). The result is always the demise of the chariot and usually followed by a brick fight between the two teams to settle the winner. The teams join from time to time to attack the police, who are abundant and armed, and whenever the police retreat, the brick fight between upper and lower sides resumes. It is an exciting and injurious celebration, and teams of red cross doctors arrive early.
Dhampus with Sally, Luke and Dylan
This happy baby enjoying the sunrise is three months old, same as Brian. I met him and his family when I walked up and over the wrong mountain to see the sunrise and stumbled on their really quaint house on a steep mountain slope terraced with rice paddies far from any roads, and they invited me for tea.
Dhampus with Sally, Luke and Dylan
Sitting at Australian camp, 3000m elevation, with the Annapurna range peaking through the clouds in the background. It is a short flat walk from Dhampus to Australian camp, meaning it is not 100% stairs, like the hilly walk to Dhampus. The flat walk to Australian camp is possibly only 90% stone stair steps.
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no matter where you go