May 12 Stupas of Kathmandu

Temple at Boudanath

 Today I wanted to see the 2 large stupas on either side of Kathmandu: Boudaath and Swayambhunath.  These are the very large ones with Buddha eyes on the upper part.  As we drove along not only were the jacaranda trees blooming a brilliant orange/red, but there was another tree that blooms bright purple that I had never seen.  They ringed the park and proliferated the streets with their beauty.

Bodhnath Stupa

The taxis here use woolen rugs to save the seats from wear & tear.  There are a few bicycle rickshaws in the main part of the tourist district, Thamel, but mostly regular taxis.  The streets outside that area are a combination of patches of pavement, gravel & mostly dirt.  At least the gutters are for rain water run-off rather than grey water.  It is a much cleaner country than India, that's for sure.  I have seen very few cows loose, hence there is very little, if any, poop on the streets.

I've seen enough of this huge city and I am booked on a bus to Pokhara tomorrow.  The pollution here is awful as the cars, motorcycles, etc. have no emission control and the belch out clouds of black smoke.  At least half of the people here wear masks similar to surgical masks, but decorative, in different colors, and some very imaginative.