A couple of months ago I finally I made it back to Nepal and Kathmandu! The last visit was in 1996...
Here is the first report here on SN:
Walking from the airport more or less on random I soon bumped into both the burning ghats with ongoing cremations as well as some major procession.
The next day turned into a real feast when the family of these guys invited me in!
https://images.ecency.com/DQmde71SqFWaSa1r4dS9uNhWPkHFzHby5THfAKhLDDo8zik/dscf7731.jpg
This is simply colouring, it looks grisly in monochrome, so for this shot I think it kinda fits ;-)
https://images.ecency.com/DQmdmAorUhL4ZScM671cJkjG7fPmTeoo7CUY3rtjc7JM2Wa/dscf7757.jpg
I have no idea what this is about, probably some statue that is transported? The city is chock full of details like this!
https://images.ecency.com/DQmdeaVG2hJN7K6DHMYfiFV9bxF6w8Cu8HeQJWnb53re8LD/dscf7801_00.00.01.055.jpg
Along the main road the assistants ram passengers into the buses, always with a wad of cash/change in hand, and often a smile too.
https://images.ecency.com/DQmaqm1RvNKU4fNK1QsSvWAJiNPHNoZau6Ni8yMTh7xR1Vj/dscf7803_00.00.00.325.jpg
This guy was a bit skeptical, though!
https://images.ecency.com/DQmUNWEHFZgPDx94h1bjzHVwSsEuB8zjz7hfRC2qPYhsfgG/dscf7805_00.00.00.564.jpg
And this guy seems to be very happy, even if working long hours on dusty roads.
https://images.ecency.com/DQmWCP7ppCcM8etut81H4JHrc4dhbhPAdDjoQWNw4kCJ5gH/dscf7806_00.00.03.429.jpg
The traffic here is really something, this is more orderly than in the tiny streets though. Traditional dresses are seen all the time, for many it must be what they wear daily.
https://images.ecency.com/DQmbs8QXWvmLhLmdgDY67nptrg2FPbhhn2QWw7TRfidogkz/dscf7809_00.00.06.020.jpg
A peaceful dog by the big stupa Boudhanath.
https://images.ecency.com/DQmYpwtvCzs4q5E8WfQv3EaYdLducVS7YRabAaXzGSvGGEn/dscf7873.jpg
Kids get lost of real life experiences early on here, and that includes real friendship! Many kids also do not have any phone to distract them...
https://images.ecency.com/DQmVQTC5CXyTLBwKWNgTkBVeLrw9JtJoZSCJcGxpFFPw5X3/dscf7878.jpg
A mix of young monks & tourists.
https://images.ecency.com/DQmPYBztikonkKihFDGaf3ZRzFJYR1m2EH35nuk8TV1uiPD/dscf7904.jpg
This old monk was really calm, powerful like a mountain...
https://images.ecency.com/DQmdNWf6ooUvCV8V7zr4ZqeiDi5NkyAWqVHkrtng8Kvowqn/dscf7934.jpg
https://images.ecency.com/DQmb87sry22J8miTjnvo4jXY17Qby6DnS5sBA1FU9W3pFnq/output4_00.01.27.513.jpg
And last but not least a cool dog that followed the procession around, a little nervous from all the sounds and people, but also happy to be part of it all I think!
He let me pet him several times :-)
That's it for now!
Cool shots! Have never been to Nepal but have been to Tibet twice, definitely want to explore more of this region of the world at some point!
Oh really, well Tibet is the real thing, although its been occupied for far too long... But so far I have not had that chance in this lifetime!
Who knows, maybe soon :-)
Yes, the situation is quite complicated from what I can tell even if there doesn't appear to any kind of active resistance movement. I was there in 2006 and then in 2016. The government definitely built up Lhasa in a major way over the time...but likely as a pretense to bring in many more Han Chinese as much as anything else...