more Pashupat - a different side

After watching the cremation process, we walked amoung the pagodas, and up a hill to see the Yogis.

One of them was over 100 years old, and as I stopped to take a picture with him, he wrapped his ancient dreadlocks around my neck. Don't be fooled by my smile - I was freaking out when he put his locks on me. Don't get me wrong, I love dreadlocks, but these locks were pretty gross!

I am not really sure about the history of these Yogi's. They are followers of one of the Hindu gods - I think the elephant god, but I can't be sure. They were pretty charming - in a weird sort of way.

Katmandu - Pashupati

We flew into Katmandu, Nepal and travelled 20 minutes to our hotel, Hotel Tibet. Thomas Kelly, a renowned photographer met us and took us on a tour of the city. 
First stop: the Pashupatinath, or Pashupati, a Hindu temple on the banks of the Bagmati River in Deopatan. It is dedicated to a manifestation of Shiva called Pashupati (Lord of Animals). It is regarded as the most sacred temple of Hindu Lord Shiva in the world. Thousands pilgrim to this temple, known as the "Temple of Living Beings". It's history is shrowded in legends and tales - some say it dates back to the 400AD.

Many ornate pagodas surround the temple which is situationed on the riverbanks of a tributary to the Ganges, the Bagmati river. This is considered a holy area and it is believed that to die and to be cremated here will release one from the cycle of repeated birth and death.The ashes of persons cremated are sprinkled into the waters of the Bagmati, eventually to be carried to the Ganges. 
In the hour that we stood on the banks and watched, we watched the pires be loaded with logs, stuffed with kindling, and bodies burned - then the pires cleared of all remaining ash - and the process repeated again.  

If you look closely at the river, you will see that it is filled with trash, monkeys, and cows. As we stood and watched, smoke and ashes filled our nostrils and covered our sweaty bodies.  Although it is a holy place, I was anxious to leave to river bank and the smell of burning flesh and rotting trash behind.

Thailand Part 1

I arrived safely in Bangkok om July 12th, at 12:00pm after nearly 24 hours of traveling. My hotel is connected to the airport. Its a little shwanky, definitely not my style and 30 minutes from the city! - but the whole group is staying here and it is one of the safest places in the city. After check-in and a quick shower I got a cab into the city.

Zack was right - this is one crazy city! Everyone is going, going, going, buying, selling, swerving, talking, going, going, going. It's the Thai style of New York City.

My first stop was the Grand Palace which was built in 1782 as a complex consisting of the royal residence and halls, as well as government offices and the renowned Temple of the Emerald Buddha. For 150 years it was home to the Thai King and his Royal Court.

First, I bought at 350 baht entrance ticket, then I had to make a 200 baht deposit to borrow a skirt (my cropped pants were too short). Men and women alike need to cover their feet, legs, and arms. Then I was free to amble about the courtyard. Upon entering the temple, everyone must take their shoes off. The Grand Palace is often referred to as the spiritual home of the Thais.

The complex is large, filled with gold covered statues, ornate walls, monuments, etc.

BTW, its 98 degrees and HUMID, so as I was walking around in a state of revelry, sweat was constantly dripping down my face and back.

Next stop was to Wat Pho to see the equally famous Reclining Buddha at the oldest temple in Bangkok. The Reclining Buddha is the largest statue of Buddha (over 150 feet long) in Thailand, and it lays resting on its side with one arm supporting its head, and the other arm laying down by his thighs. Covered in gold plating, the temple seems to glow – if not from the gold, then from his serene face and peaceful nature. The bottoms of his feet are covered in mother of pearl and intricately decorated with 108 auspicious scenes in Chinese and Indian styles. As you walk around his body, there are over 1,000 other pictures of Buddha painted on the walls.

Went to Water Loon, but did not go in as they wanted to charge the foreigner and arm and a leg! So instead I explored a couple of the crazy markets before heading back to the hotel to meet the rest of the group. As luck would have it - they were checking in when I arrived!

So we met up, everyone checked in, then headed to the pool to cool down and relax.

My roommate for the duration of the trip is Christinia Hebets, aka Tini. Also here is Mike Duffy, a prof at USF, David and Zack Batstone, and Kique Bazan.

Okay - gotta run - I am on Tini's computer and we nee to head out. Eating breakfast, then going to the airport to catch a flight to Katmandu. We will stay the night in Katmandu and leave on Monday am for Pokhara - from there we will begin the trek. This is my last time near the Internet for a while.

Love you all!

Kate