Viva Nepal

In Kathmandu we encounter Hindu and Buddhist worship in all its colour and splendour, there are temples and monasteries galore. Many in our group were fascinated by those temples celebrating the Karma Sutra! (I didn't look).

Hindus also believe Kathmandu is the home of Kumari, a living goddess. We saw her and it caused a great deal of discussion amongst group members. Apparently the Hindu believes that the Kumari is an incarnation of one of the gods. She is chosen by holy men to be the Kumari at about the age of 4, and she then retains this position until she starts menstruation when a new Kumari is chosen.

For me and 5 others who stayed in Kathmandu white water rafting in the Trishuli, Marshyangdiand Kali Gandaki rivers was the order for the next 2 days (4th/5th). We had great meals produced on the river bank and in the home of the one of the locals that put anything organised by Ozbus to shame - that would not be hard from my experience.

Then to Pokhara (5th) for 2 days trekking (Sarankot Hill, and Peace Pagoda via the Devi Falls) in the hot sticky weather. The hotel has been good, the food great and cheap, and the walking so spectacular. We awoke today to see from our bedrooms the tops of snow capped mountains in the Annapurnas.

Others have also done their own thing and those on the bus have had to face travelling back to India on a minibus as the big bus has broken down!! Not surprising given the roads we have travelled, the bus has been through a lot!!

Tomorrow (8th) the six of us return to Kathmandu, then Calcutta on Wednesday for one night before going to Bangkok! The border between India and Mayanmar is closed so we knew that we needed to fly for this short part of the journey.

I already know I want to come back to Nepal.