We took a walking tour of the temples and markets in the centre of Kathmandu. The streets were much as explected, narrow, very busy, with a mass of people going about their business. You had be very mindful of the mopeds and motorcycles speeding up behind you sounding their horns!
The street shops were selling all manner of goods, including fish and freshly butchered meat of goat, buffalo and chicken. We came across a fruit and spice market with a wonderful display of great looking produce and aromas.
There are apparently many hundreds of temples of varying sizes in Kathmandu. We went into several, mainly Hindu, including one where the living Goddess was present - sorry no photos allowed! Along with the temples came the obligatory Sadhu's in their brightly coloured dress and painted faces.
After an excellent lunch taken on a roof top restuarant we went to an area where the people burn their dead relatives on funeral pyres beside a river. Needless to say it was busy with three underway and several more planned.
Last stop was to vist the most sacred Buddhist temple of Boudha. This is the famous image you see on all the travel brochues with the all seeing eye of the Buddha. There were many Tibetan pilgrimes and refugees who live in the city and come every day to pray and walk around the temple, three times, each day.
A great first day, tomorrow we leave Kathmandu to go to Kurintar and Gorkha, homes of the famous Gurkha soldiers.
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