Kathmandu, Friday the 29th of July

degrubenc Wyświetlono: 99 razy 2005-12-09 18:09:52

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All is booked for Pokhara. I am leaving Saturday morning at 10:00, flying with Shangri-la Airline. This gives me some time to do some further tourist things in Kathmandu for the day.
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After a late wake up, I feel like a colony of bats have taken hold of my head (a peculiar feeling, I assure you). I decide that a shower will do the trick; it fails miserably. I head out into the painfully strong sun to plunge my head underwater in the swimming pool. It helps a little. I try to explain to the waiter that I am in need of a super-strength espresso but I get instead a large cup of weak coffee. 2 swims and a small nap later, I finally feel ready to tackle the bustle of the city.<br/><br/>

All is booked for Pokhara. I am leaving Saturday morning at 10:00, flying with Shangri-la Airline. This gives me some time to do some further tourist things in Kathmandu for the day.

After a late wake up, I feel like a colony of bats have taken hold of my head (a peculiar feeling, I assure you). I decide that a shower will do the trick; it fails miserably. I head out into the painfully strong sun to plunge my head underwater in the swimming pool. It helps a little. I try to explain to the waiter that I am in need of a super-strength espresso but I get instead a large cup of weak coffee. 2 swims and a small nap later, I finally feel ready to tackle the bustle of the city.

I take a taxi and head out to Patan, a nearby village renowned for its untouched beauty (6kms from Kathmandu). The village of Patan is so close to Kathmandu that I fail to see a boundary. At first sight, it is very similar to what can be found in the capital. The Durbar square is smaller but more impressive.

The village has a more medieval look, modernisation is less visible, the buildings look older, a lot of woodcarving adorns the walls, doors and windows. I visit a number of temples, including the Golden temple - a large temple so named for the colour of its roofs. It is a jewel of sculpting and chiselling, everything is carved, wood, metal and stone. It seems that the entire temple is dedicated to this fine art. A most impressive sight, if a little heavy on the eyes.

I also pay my respect to the nearby Maha Buddha. This temple is very similar in form to those found in Tibet. As I sit in a dark corner, a flittering butter lamp is hanged from a chain in the centre and, suddenly, all the gods and devils in the Buddhist pantheon take life and chase each other through the shadows of the ancient tapestries and wall paintings which cover the walls.

Patan is interesting but differs little from Kathmandu: it is quieter and more provincial, it has a more concentrated area of buildings with a religious, historical or cultural importance, yet I am glad to be back in the city.

I return to the hotel, have a quick last swim and go out for supper to a nearby Malaysian restaurant. The restaurant is one of those new trendy places where it is good to see and be seen: it has gurgling water fountains, pretty waitresses, funky colours, menus written on glass and, sadly, not enough light to allow me to see what it is I am eating and - more importantly - what I am reading. The food is good if a little overpriced.

I go back to the hotel, with a twitch of excitement: the manager had informed me earlier that they had a great Jazz band coming specially from India to entertain us tonight.

It was a sad concert. The band was there, they set themselves up in the garden which, for the occasion, had been lit with hundred of candles.

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