January 5th - Tour of Kathmandu

First stop on the tour of kathmandu was the trip to Pashupatinath, the cremation site for hindu peeps. They are insanely open about death, there are concrete plinths set up along the river side, which is pretty dry, and then on these plinths are pyres, just with bodies burning, and just across the river are kids playing foot ball in the ashes basically, and monkeys eating stuff. Further up the river was a ritual washing, with pilgrims coming from India to wash in this sacred river. sat on the steps of this temple, surrouded by these people washing were two bodies covered in saffron cloth. A little alarmed when our guide pointed it out, but i guess thats how it goes here!Our next stop was the buddist stoupa,picture should be in here, very difficult to explain but beautiful. All the prayer flags have mantras writen on them, and each time them flap n the wind a prayer gets sent to the gods. You have to walk clock wise around it though. and there are monks constanly praying and turning the buddist prayer wheels. We were then introduced to Thanka painting which uses real gold, very intricate. http://www.boudastupathanka.com/. Then on the bus again and a trip to Patan which is the city of arts in the Kathmandu valley. beautiful temples, including a small one which if you blinked you'r miss, called the golden temple. Where rats, yes rats roam free. We thenwent behind the temple to the shop with singing bowls. I had a bowl put on my head which s then hit with a soft mallet and left to vibrate. actually very relaxing. might have to go back and buy one!