The first morning after I arrived in Kathmandu, just after early breakfast, I roamed the vicinity. The streets were alive with the sounds of automobiles honking excessively. It's chaotic. Pedestrians, cars, and motorbikes are racing to move forward just inches from each other. I got honked a few times as I hesitated to get by, hopping to where I can stand safely. Meanwhile, I watched the locals walking like they are in the park ... they are moving harmoniously with the traffic.
I met a local guy while I was walking in the street and he readily gave me a free walking tour hoping I hire him as a guide. So I hired him to guide me in the afternoon to the monkey temple up on a hill which is 25 km from the town center. Meanwhile, I continued checking out the area and went back to the hotel because I booked a massage at 11 am. A boy came to pick me up and led me to a labyrinth street to the sauna parlour. The owner of the place looks like a yogi master with his long hair. After discussing what type of massage and for how long, I went for an hour regular massage and sauna for $25.
After the massage, the same boy escorted me back to my hotel. I decided to have my lunch at the hotel. The hotel restaurant is just small with a limited menu but the food is great. I've ordered my first Dhal Bhat, a very popular Nepalese cuisine and it's delicious. Then after an afternoon nap, I went and met my guide and we took a taxi to the monkey temple.
The monkey temple is on the little hillock of Swayambhunath in the northwest of the Kathmandu Valley. The complex consists of a stupa, a variety of shrines, and temples, some dating back to the Licchavi period. The taxi took us to the road around the hill from the south leading to the south-west entrance. There is another entrance by way of a long staircase leading directly to the main platform of the temple, which is from the top of the hill to the east. It is too hot to climb the stairs as I watched those who did it catching their breath. Considering I will be walking a lot soon and in much higher terrain, I couldn't believe that this would scare me, aha!
After the massage, the same boy escorted me back to my hotel. I decided to have my lunch at the hotel. The hotel restaurant is just small with a limited menu but the food is great. I've ordered my first Dhal Bhat, a very popular Nepalese cuisine and it's delicious. Then after an afternoon nap, I went and met my guide and we took a taxi to the monkey temple.
The monkey temple is on the little hillock of Swayambhunath in the northwest of the Kathmandu Valley. The complex consists of a stupa, a variety of shrines, and temples, some dating back to the Licchavi period. The taxi took us to the road around the hill from the south leading to the south-west entrance. There is another entrance by way of a long staircase leading directly to the main platform of the temple, which is from the top of the hill to the east. It is too hot to climb the stairs as I watched those who did it catching their breath. Considering I will be walking a lot soon and in much higher terrain, I couldn't believe that this would scare me, aha!
My twin sister Teresa and 3 others from our trekking group of 12 arrived later in the evening. The rest of the group arrived Sunday. Tomorrow Monday, April 10th was flying into Lukla, the gateway to Mt Everest. This is where we start our 12-day trek to Everest Base Camp and back.
Here's the video of my first day in Kathmandu
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