Ka-Ka-Ka-Ka-Ka-Kathmandu

We arrived in Kathmandu a few days ago on the 26th... luckily 2 days + 6 months before my passport expires (the passport needs to be valid for 6 months for the tourist visa). We admittedly didn't know much about the place, but it's fascinating. From the hindus, the nawali, and other ethnic groups (over 60 in Nepal) walking around in their traditional garb, to the 100s of kites fluttering high above the city, and all the temples strewn about town, it's quite a change from the places we have visited thus far.

The first morning, I woke up to the rooster about 20 feet away at 5 am... couldn't go back to sleep and went on a morning run around town. Because of Dashain, the most important hindu holiday in Nepal there were loads of people waiting in line to give food to the gods, and already people sacrificing their chickens, pigs, and goats... If you ever have a chance to run around in Kathmandu... I recommend 5 am... after that you'll probably get run over by a motorcycle.

Butcher on the street...

And if it's during Dashain, as it's a time of sacrifice (giving blood to the gods) you probably don't want to wear your brand new sneakers... unless it's red.

Cows are spotted in random garbage dumps throughout town... like India

Woke Kimbo up and went on a nice morning walk... got a fresh squeezed OJ from the man in the rainbow umbrella.

Then Kimbo got a Tikka...

There are Hindu and Buddhist temples in and around the city... we visited the monkey temple (Swayambhustupa) first... for obvious reasons... which gives you a view not only of a day in the life of a monkey (kinda like this blog...) but also a grand view of the city below. It's also 2000 years old and just the architecture would make it a fascinating place to walk around. I've got some great videos, but unfortunately the connection here is a little slow... so maybe later.

I heart monkeys...

We went to see the sunrise on the Himalayas and over Kathmandu Valley at Nagarkat (2195 m) this morning. There's a bamboo swing at the top while you wait... there are swings like this all over the city, all with long lines at hours of the day... but this one was the first one we've seen free...

SUNRISE!!!

Some mtns...

Oh, and the motorcycles are crazy here... they are definitely "family" vehicles, often with 5 folks on one...

We even saw one with a kid that was asleep...