After so many days of public transport strike we decided that the best option to visit Bhaktapur was by bike. Well, the day that we decide to rent a bike the strike finishes!! Such a jinx!
What it meant to be a peaceful day by bike ended up being a urban nightmare! Thousands of cars, buses, bikes,tuk tuks, cows.... and of course without bycycle lane! It was a funny experience! The traffic wasn't that bad as it was the pollution. The combination of low quality fuel, old vehicles and the lack of control makes Kathmandu a very polluted place.
Once we arrived to Bhaktapur we had to pay a fee entry to the town. The whole town looks like a museum. The city centre is traffic free; this fact makes walking through its alleys very enjoyable.
We visited its temples and we could see lots of people who lives from traditional craftwork- wood carving, paintings, masks, wool ...)
In the evening we went (again!!) to our favourite local place for dinner. The cook is a nice woman who cooks delicious momos! Furthermore, it is sooo cheap!! Nepal is a very cheap country for European people. To give you an idea....
Dinner in a local place (veg rice with a cup of tea): 50 cents
Bus ticket (around 6 hrs journey): 1.5 Euros
Tailor made blouse- 3.5 Euros.
To see some pictures of Bhaktapur click here:
viernes, 27 de junio de 2008
jueves, 26 de junio de 2008
Day trip to Patan
Patan is a Newari town separated from Kathmandu by the Bagmati River. These days there is a public transport strike in the country so we are not able to use any bus or taxi to go around. Therefore, we decided to go to Patan by foot, at 5km from the capital. As all the Newari towns, it is plenty of little squares, courtyards, alleys and temples with a main central square known as Durbar Square.
The doors of the porches are made to Nepalese size. You can't imagine how short they are. We have to even duck to go through!
We were walking around for a few hours around the village and, of course, we tried its momos!!! These ones were stuffed with buffalo meat... and a plate of momos for 25 cents!! yummy!!
In the evening we met Cora for dinner, a german girl who is doing volunteering work in a hospital in Kathmandu. After a nice meal we went to bed... so tired!!
To see some photos of Patan check here:
More pictures click here
Kathmandu: capital of Nepal
Kathmandu is a city in a valley surrounded by lots of places to visit. There is an area in the city centre known as Thamel. This is where all the hostels, restaurants, travel agencies and shops for the tourists are. Here is where we have looked for accommodation and from here we will stay visiting the different areas on the valley.
If you compare Kathmandu with other cities or towns that we have visited in Nepal, you can really see the difference. It is a lively city where you can do lots of things outdoors but it also has crazy traffic day and night!
People told us that it is a very chaotic city but guys, after being in New Delhi nothing seems to be stressful for us anymore!
One of the temples that we really liked was the Swayamhunath or familiarly known as “the monkey temple”. It is a huge stupa placed in the highest point of the city. The stupas were burial monuments that after the centuries have become the figures that symbolize the Buddhist philosophy.
Apart from the wonderful views of the city and the huge Buddhist statues we enjoyed this visit for the attitude of its monkeys! You have to see them! They were unwrapping the sweets that the tourists were giving to them and one of them jump over a girl and stole her ice cream from her hands! Hilarious!
Leaving the temple we met some Nepalese guys from the musician caste. They are called Gandharba, they pertain to the untouchable caste and it is the unique musician caste in Nepal. According to the Hindu mythology, they used to be the musicians of the Gods.
We went to their house for a cup of tea and we ended up all dancing and singing their traditional songs. It is nice to see how they feel the music as it is their way of living. It really was a cool afternoon.
If it wasn’t enough with the music there... We went out to see the night live in Kathmandu -) Oh!!!! You can choose among Reggae, rock, electric music... we ended up in a night club for some dancing! ... You can’t resist to a nice rum and coke for 1 Euro!! :-)
For more pictures from Kathmandu click here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26652485@N06/?saved=1
If you compare Kathmandu with other cities or towns that we have visited in Nepal, you can really see the difference. It is a lively city where you can do lots of things outdoors but it also has crazy traffic day and night!
People told us that it is a very chaotic city but guys, after being in New Delhi nothing seems to be stressful for us anymore!
One of the temples that we really liked was the Swayamhunath or familiarly known as “the monkey temple”. It is a huge stupa placed in the highest point of the city. The stupas were burial monuments that after the centuries have become the figures that symbolize the Buddhist philosophy.
Apart from the wonderful views of the city and the huge Buddhist statues we enjoyed this visit for the attitude of its monkeys! You have to see them! They were unwrapping the sweets that the tourists were giving to them and one of them jump over a girl and stole her ice cream from her hands! Hilarious!
Leaving the temple we met some Nepalese guys from the musician caste. They are called Gandharba, they pertain to the untouchable caste and it is the unique musician caste in Nepal. According to the Hindu mythology, they used to be the musicians of the Gods.
We went to their house for a cup of tea and we ended up all dancing and singing their traditional songs. It is nice to see how they feel the music as it is their way of living. It really was a cool afternoon.
If it wasn’t enough with the music there... We went out to see the night live in Kathmandu -) Oh!!!! You can choose among Reggae, rock, electric music... we ended up in a night club for some dancing! ... You can’t resist to a nice rum and coke for 1 Euro!! :-)
For more pictures from Kathmandu click here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26652485@N06/?saved=1
viernes, 20 de junio de 2008
Natural park of Chitwan
The natural park of Chitwan is one of the biggest attractions in Nepal. The 932 square Km park is situated between Pokhara and Kathmandu and it offers a high diversity of activities.
On our first day we rent some bikes to visit the breeding elephant centre. Elephant females have a pregnancy of 2 years and after giving birth, baby elephants stay with them during 3 years, until they are ready for the jungle safaris. It is funny to see baby elephants that have 6 months of age and they were nearly as tall as us! One of the little elephants went out (as one of the fences was open) and started to run toward us! Yeah.. baby elephant but we were running so fast! hahaha
Around the park there are little towns of different ethnic groups. We visited one of them, the Tharus, and then that night we went to a cultural show where there was a performance of their traditional dance and songs. A dance where the locals hit wooden sticks to the rhythm of the drums.
The next day we got up very early to spend the day in the jungle. We started with a canoeing trip through the Rapti River where, apparently, we had to see some crocodiles. However, due to the rainy season, the water is very high and it is very difficult to see them. We were lucky and we saw one’s head! Better than nothing…
Afterwards, we continued the adventure with a trekking through the jungle: dense vegetation, humid weather, thousands of insects and some tiger footprints!! Scary!
Before lunch we went for a refreshing bath with the elephants. The activity is called “bath with the elephants” and they literally shower you with the water that they split from their trunk! And then you have to add the balance that you need in order to keep yourself on top of the elephant!
The afternoon was enjoyable with an elephant ride through the jungle. Two hours ride where we saw rhinos, monkeys, deers…You are so high on the top of the elephant that you need to fight against the branches of the trees and get rid of the thousand of spiders that want to join you! Definitely, an activity not suitable for those who are extremely scared of spiders or suffer of vertigo!
The day ended up enjoying a beautiful sunset which was followed by an amazing full moon.
We spent our last day walking around the natural park where we could see the local working on the lands.
We leave now the wild world to go to the “civilized” world. Our next destination is the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu.
To see pictures from Chitwan click here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26501406@N05/?saved=1
On our first day we rent some bikes to visit the breeding elephant centre. Elephant females have a pregnancy of 2 years and after giving birth, baby elephants stay with them during 3 years, until they are ready for the jungle safaris. It is funny to see baby elephants that have 6 months of age and they were nearly as tall as us! One of the little elephants went out (as one of the fences was open) and started to run toward us! Yeah.. baby elephant but we were running so fast! hahaha
Around the park there are little towns of different ethnic groups. We visited one of them, the Tharus, and then that night we went to a cultural show where there was a performance of their traditional dance and songs. A dance where the locals hit wooden sticks to the rhythm of the drums.
The next day we got up very early to spend the day in the jungle. We started with a canoeing trip through the Rapti River where, apparently, we had to see some crocodiles. However, due to the rainy season, the water is very high and it is very difficult to see them. We were lucky and we saw one’s head! Better than nothing…
Afterwards, we continued the adventure with a trekking through the jungle: dense vegetation, humid weather, thousands of insects and some tiger footprints!! Scary!
Before lunch we went for a refreshing bath with the elephants. The activity is called “bath with the elephants” and they literally shower you with the water that they split from their trunk! And then you have to add the balance that you need in order to keep yourself on top of the elephant!
The afternoon was enjoyable with an elephant ride through the jungle. Two hours ride where we saw rhinos, monkeys, deers…You are so high on the top of the elephant that you need to fight against the branches of the trees and get rid of the thousand of spiders that want to join you! Definitely, an activity not suitable for those who are extremely scared of spiders or suffer of vertigo!
The day ended up enjoying a beautiful sunset which was followed by an amazing full moon.
We spent our last day walking around the natural park where we could see the local working on the lands.
We leave now the wild world to go to the “civilized” world. Our next destination is the capital of Nepal, Kathmandu.
To see pictures from Chitwan click here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26501406@N05/?saved=1
jueves, 19 de junio de 2008
Bandipur- a national treasure
Bandipur is a medieval town considered a national treasure. Both, its location (between vallies and mountains) and its arquitecture (stone Newari houses with wooden carved windows and porches) make of this village a charming place. It is kindly surprising how such a nice town has scaped from the mass tourism and has chosen instead a sustainable tourism. There are no tourist shops or travel agencies, just a small information point and some guest houses that maintain the medieval asthetics of the area. This fact makes this place more magical.
Apart from its arquitectural beauty, this town is also surrounded by nature and some places to visit.
We have walked around town enjoying the shade of the millenial trees, we have visited the Sidha cave (the biggest in the Himalaya region) , we have gone up to Bandipur viewpoint and we have even played a football match with the children among the porches.
We are leaving Bandipur towards the natural park of Chitwan. See you soon!
Here you have pictures from Bandipur. Enjoy!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27523343@N06/?saved=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27523343@N06/?saved=1
martes, 10 de junio de 2008
Serachaur: the experience of living with Nepalese a family for 3 days
Our adventure started with an early morning in Kaji’s house for breakfast. Right after, three of us took a bus to Serachaur, a small village in the hills of Nepal, in order to spend 3 days with a Nepalese family.
We arrived to the village around midday and we were introduced to the family. In the house are living the mother, the father, 2 male sons and the wife of one of them (in Nepal, the women when they get married go to live to the husband’s family house).
The tipical Nepalese house is comprised of a simple main room (where they sleep all together) and a porch beside the kitchen.
Most of the houses have a shed where they have goats, buffalos, chickens, hens and, in this case, a very grumpy cock!!! We had to defend ourselves with a stick as he tried to bite us all the time!
According the land that the family own, there are women working on the fields or otherwise, they take care of the housework.
Men are mostly farmers but it is interesting to see that some of them are dressmaking, sewing cloths for their families or selling them. This fact explains that there are some sewing machines in lots of Nepalese houses.
During our staying in Sorachar we visited the school, we played with the local childs, we visited a rice mill and we are even sponsors of a local football team!.
Our visit to the school was a nice surprise to the children. They went mad when they saw us and all of them wanted to show us their classes , the library, etc.We ended up all singing and dancing their and our sons.
In the evening we went to play with them. It was very nice too as we played traditional games .
We also had the chance to see the slaughter of the “dangerous cock” that the family had in the house. It was the side dish of the rice during our last night!
We left with a nice memory from this village and its people and of course proud of being able to be sponsors of the football team!!! We will grant them with 2 footballs! You should have seen the children! Such an administration! They made a contract for us where we had to sign and they had different roles as accountant, headmaster, treasurer… Very funny!!
To see some pictures of this nice experience click here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/27523343@N06/?saved=1
Nepal has been proclaimed Federal Democratic Republic
After our trip trough India, we crossed to Nepal by land on the 28/05/2008; just the day that the country was stated Federal Democratic Republic.
Being witnesses of this fact made us to be eager to learn about the political history of this small Asiatic country. As we could read in the national newspaper, “The Himalayan Times”, a new hope was born after nearly 240 years of monarchy. Long life to the Republic!
Due to the dissatisfaction with this monarchy, a new underground band was born in the hills of Nepal. They were known as the Maoists.
From this started a bloody war (where more than 12,000 people have been killed) between the terrorist band and the State of Nepal.
Due to the rural poverty, the nonconformity against the caste system, the problems with the land reform and the self-interested govern, Maoists founded the Communist Party of Nepal in 1995.
The last fact that gave more credibility to the Maoists was the assassination in 2001 of 10 members of the real family. Even though there are several theories about this massacre, the locals blame the brother of the king assassinated. After the death of the king, he took charge of the monarchy with no interest to improve the country and increasing the corruption of the current government.
On the last national elections, Maoists got the majority of the votes, but not the absolute majority. Therefore, they will have to deal with the other political parties in order to govern the country.
Eventually, all the political parties of Nepal gathered in a meeting to change the current situation. Out of 564 members, just 4 voted in favor of the monarchy, fact that proclaimed the country as Federal Democratic Republic.
Today negotiations between Maoists and the rest of the parties are still running in order to create the basis of a new govern.
On the streets the popular feelings are happiness and hope, asking for a government that assures peace, development, equality and freedom.
A national festivity were the people from Nepal are enjoying, all, old and young people, as even the schools are on holidays for a few days!!
The words of our friend Kaji (a 33 years old guy from Nepal who lives with his family in Pokhara) are the reflection of a national feeling:
“There have been rough years of poverty and disagreement politic where lots of people have died. We are happy with this change because we believe that it will open the doors towards a reform of the country and it will allow that our families enjoy an encouraging future”.
Being witnesses of this fact made us to be eager to learn about the political history of this small Asiatic country. As we could read in the national newspaper, “The Himalayan Times”, a new hope was born after nearly 240 years of monarchy. Long life to the Republic!
Due to the dissatisfaction with this monarchy, a new underground band was born in the hills of Nepal. They were known as the Maoists.
From this started a bloody war (where more than 12,000 people have been killed) between the terrorist band and the State of Nepal.
Due to the rural poverty, the nonconformity against the caste system, the problems with the land reform and the self-interested govern, Maoists founded the Communist Party of Nepal in 1995.
The last fact that gave more credibility to the Maoists was the assassination in 2001 of 10 members of the real family. Even though there are several theories about this massacre, the locals blame the brother of the king assassinated. After the death of the king, he took charge of the monarchy with no interest to improve the country and increasing the corruption of the current government.
On the last national elections, Maoists got the majority of the votes, but not the absolute majority. Therefore, they will have to deal with the other political parties in order to govern the country.
Eventually, all the political parties of Nepal gathered in a meeting to change the current situation. Out of 564 members, just 4 voted in favor of the monarchy, fact that proclaimed the country as Federal Democratic Republic.
Today negotiations between Maoists and the rest of the parties are still running in order to create the basis of a new govern.
On the streets the popular feelings are happiness and hope, asking for a government that assures peace, development, equality and freedom.
A national festivity were the people from Nepal are enjoying, all, old and young people, as even the schools are on holidays for a few days!!
The words of our friend Kaji (a 33 years old guy from Nepal who lives with his family in Pokhara) are the reflection of a national feeling:
“There have been rough years of poverty and disagreement politic where lots of people have died. We are happy with this change because we believe that it will open the doors towards a reform of the country and it will allow that our families enjoy an encouraging future”.
lunes, 9 de junio de 2008
Pictures of Nepal
Hi guys!
Here you have some pictures from Nepal.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26501406@N05/?saved=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26627275@N04/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27523343@N06/?saved=1
Take care!
Here you have some pictures from Nepal.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26501406@N05/?saved=1
http://www.flickr.com/photos/26627275@N04/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27523343@N06/?saved=1
Take care!
viernes, 6 de junio de 2008
Trekking around the Himalaya mountains
After a couple of days in Pokhara we went for trekking around the Himalaya mountains. Out of all the trekkins available, we decided to do a 6 day circuit where the highest point is the Poon Hill. From there you can see a beautiful sunrise and, if you are lucky and the day is cloudless, you can see the Anapurna 1, Anapurna 2 and Machapruchhe. Seeing three peaks of this hight is when you realise that you are here!!! on the Himalaya mountains !!! So cool!!
We have done this trekking with a guide, Kaji, a Nepali guy who was born on the mountains and has been working as a guide for 10 years now. He is a very kind and friendly person. He has explained us lots of things about the culture of Nepal. He is always smiling and eating Dhal Bat (boiled rice with vegetables and a lentil soup) every single day!!
It is very funny for us to see him in the mountain with his umbrella! but, in fact, most of the locals use them either for rain or sun.
To be able to go trekking we had to apply for a permit. Lots of people around the world come here to do these kind of trekkings and this is a way to control the environment of the area.
During the circuit you are passing through villages where there are tea houses where you can stay and eat. You can even find San Miguel beer here!! :-)
We have gone up thousands and thousands of stairs, we have gone down even more, we have crossed some bridges, we have seen waterfalls, we have been cornered by buffalos, we have been walking in the middle of a storm, we have been stuffing our faces with momos, we have been bitten by leeches, we have seen starry skies, we have felt the peace of these mountains and we have even enjoyed a bath in hot spring waters! Nature is magic!
We are going back to Pokhara now... the next adventure will be living with a family from Nepal... see you soon!
We have done this trekking with a guide, Kaji, a Nepali guy who was born on the mountains and has been working as a guide for 10 years now. He is a very kind and friendly person. He has explained us lots of things about the culture of Nepal. He is always smiling and eating Dhal Bat (boiled rice with vegetables and a lentil soup) every single day!!
It is very funny for us to see him in the mountain with his umbrella! but, in fact, most of the locals use them either for rain or sun.
To be able to go trekking we had to apply for a permit. Lots of people around the world come here to do these kind of trekkings and this is a way to control the environment of the area.
During the circuit you are passing through villages where there are tea houses where you can stay and eat. You can even find San Miguel beer here!! :-)
We have gone up thousands and thousands of stairs, we have gone down even more, we have crossed some bridges, we have seen waterfalls, we have been cornered by buffalos, we have been walking in the middle of a storm, we have been stuffing our faces with momos, we have been bitten by leeches, we have seen starry skies, we have felt the peace of these mountains and we have even enjoyed a bath in hot spring waters! Nature is magic!
We are going back to Pokhara now... the next adventure will be living with a family from Nepal... see you soon!
Pokhara (Nepal)
After 35 hours of traveling by train, jeep and bus.... we have finally arrived to Nepal (to Pokhara to be more precise)! We have arrived the day that the coutry has been stated a Republic!
Pokhara is the second most significant city in the country after its capital (Kathmandu). It is a city beside a huge lake and surrounded by the Himalaya's mountains.
The lakeside is full of hostels, shops and restaurants focused to travellers.
In this season, mornings are sunny and hot but in the afternoon there are torrential rains for about 2 or 3 hours and then the evening stays cloudless. It is amazing how your are roasting and then it is suddenly hailing! ... everyone starts to run to take refuge.
The natural environment of the area allows to have lots of activities in the nature, from a walk or boat ride through the lake to a trekking through the Anapurna circuit.
We have decided to go for a 6 days trekking around the Himalaya's mountains. See you then!
Pokhara is the second most significant city in the country after its capital (Kathmandu). It is a city beside a huge lake and surrounded by the Himalaya's mountains.
The lakeside is full of hostels, shops and restaurants focused to travellers.
In this season, mornings are sunny and hot but in the afternoon there are torrential rains for about 2 or 3 hours and then the evening stays cloudless. It is amazing how your are roasting and then it is suddenly hailing! ... everyone starts to run to take refuge.
The natural environment of the area allows to have lots of activities in the nature, from a walk or boat ride through the lake to a trekking through the Anapurna circuit.
We have decided to go for a 6 days trekking around the Himalaya's mountains. See you then!
Suscribirse a:
Entradas (Atom)
