Swayambhunath

I have a lot of pictures, but the internet is very slow. I will add them later.

Sunday we had lunch of fish, potatoes, pumpkin shoots, rice, and dhal with Dilli Mama and her family, and then set out in a taxi for Swayambhunath, the Monkey Temple, which according to the guidebook is a holy center of Buddhist learning that is more than 2500 years old. Down below on the first day in Kathmandu is a photo of Swayambhunath taken from the roof of Claire’s home in the city. The stupa itself, 300 steps from the bottom of the hill, is filled with symbolic significance. Like other pilgrims, we circled the stupa, keeping it on our right, setting the prayer wheels spinning as we walked. Wild monkeys are ubiquitous and sometimes aggressive. One ran past Antonio, trying to snatch his bag from his hand.

We then took a taxi back to the sari shop district, had semi-cold, very refreshing drinks in a little restaurant, and went back to the sari shop where Claire carefully deliberated over the sari she will present to Sajal’s mother Rajyashree as part of the wedding rituals. In the meantime Antonio was offered the chance to bet 500 rupees (about $6) on the day’s world cup games (he lost). Then Dilli Mama and Erika arrived, and we set out shopping again. Dilli Mama found the elusive fabric to match my sari (after the 11th shop all told), and Claire ordered blouses for all the saris she is giving, and I bought a pair of shoes for the wedding in a small department store-like place with real glass doors, air conditioning, and a cash register.