Kathmandu

31 July 2015
Kristen says...

So I went to Kathmandu in June. Sorry it took me a while to post about it...I've been very busy. I started a new job...

But that will have to wait for another blog post. :)

So, here's where I'll begin:

Cows in the road. Awesome!

 I went to Kathmandu to help support after the earthquake, so unfortunately a lot of what I saw was devastation...but also everyday people working hard to get back to life as normal...

I watched this guy chop on this tree for at least 10 minutes. There were guys pulling on ropes trying to pull the tree over, and cops diverting traffic on the road which was right next to the tree.

One of our waiters at the hotel was telling us about the day of the earthquake--he said that about five minutes before it hit, the electricity went out. With no Internet and no air conditioning, he said, most of his family and friends went outside to play soccer--meaning they were out of their homes at the time of the quake.

He said it was the gods' way of saving their lives.

A house, after the earthquake

A temple roof

I was in Kathmandu for just two weeks, and was working and/or sick for most of the time, but I did manage a day of sight-seeing...

I visited a couple of the temples in Kathmandu. This is outside the Bouddhanath Stupa

Prayer wheels and flags at the Bouddhanath Stupa

Bouddhanath Stupa

Bouddhanath Stupa -- the top of the temple is being repaired after the earthquake 

Bouddhanath Stupa

Details of the temple across the way from the Bouddhanath Stupa

 We also went to Durbar Square, one of Kathmandu's best known tourist sites--and now one of it's most devastated areas.

This building used to be home to Nepal's monarchy

Piles of rubble, tipping temple roof

A Hindu god

Durbar Square Danger Zone

Tents (and a satellite dish (in Durbar Square)

Collapsing European-built building at Durbar Square

If you've ever been to Durbar Square, this will look very different to you 

Outside the Living Goddess Kumari's house

Inside the Kumari's house. You're not allowed to take pictures of her (if you're lucky enough to see her)...we weren't that lucky, unfortunately.

Another view of Durbar Square 

The site of the Kasthamandap Temple -- legend says the temple was entirely made from the wood of just one tree

There were many people inside the temple on the day of the earthquake--most didn't make it out alive.

Ladies selling grain to feed the birds -- 50 cents for a bowl

The birds and a fallen statue

Large drums in Durbar Square

Blocked Street at Durbar Square

Most of the temples were officially closed, but we were lucky enough to be allowed to visit some of them, including the Swayambhunath Temple, better known to tourists as the Monkey Temple.

Damaged Buddha Eyes at Swayambhunath Temple

Monkey pool!

One of the most cleared areas at the top of the at the Swayambhunath Temple

Damaged home on top of the at Swayambhunath Temple

View of the tent towns from the top of the Temple 

Rubble blocking the stairs to the at Swayambhunath Temple

One of two monkeys we saw at the "Monkey Temple" -- apparently they vacated the temple pretty quickly after the quake 

Piles and piles of debris. This hill was really damaged.

Prayer wheels at the at Swayambhunath Temple

More prayer wheels

More piles of rubbish. On our way up the hill to the Stupa we passed countless people carrying bricks in reed baskets. Amazing.

We were invited to visit a shop at the Stupa, and went to the roof. I have no words.

The pretty turbine to the left was a gift from China. It's a windmill.

Unfortunately the windmill doesn't actually generate any electricity.

The blue block in the middle is now a roof--the house started out with four stories--it now has one.

The obvious power of the quakes was amazing.

 It was a really, really interesting trip. Overall I was saddened by the sheer amount of devastation I saw, but so, so inspired by the spirit I saw from the Nepali people. Nowhere did I see people sitting around and feeling sorry for themselves--everywhere there were people up, moving, selling, cleaning, carrying, doing what they needed to do to get their lives back to normal.

Amazing.