NOW NEPAL

My last stop on the tour - Kathmandu.

I loved many things about this city…

But it was such a contrast…

Between the clean metropolis of Bangkok…

And the pristine countryside of Bhutan.

Kathmandu is congested…

And not just with people…

But plastic trash everywhere…

Including the main river which was mostly stagnant.

Funeral pyres are a frequent occurrence...

And although I didn't see any...
I did experience one in a different way.
One afternoon...
I was hungry and at some point said...
"Mmm, something smells good."
My tour buddies cracked up...

"Leigh! That's a burning body you're smelling."
Lord!
I had to contemplate on that for awhile.

Of course Kathmandu has many temples....
But unlike the gilded temples of Bangkok…

And the modest, but still ornate temples of Bhutan…

Nepal’s temples seemed worn out and overrun...

And not just by humans…

But often pigeons and in many cases, monkeys.

While I wasn't wowed by the city of Kathmandu…

I found the people to be the most fascinating. 

As if they were characters out of an exotic novel...

And then there was this cutie...

Who I couldn't resist holding.

Also awesome in Kathmandu - the markets...

The best shopping on the tour!

And c'mon!

No matter where a girl goes...

A girl's gotta shop...

Where a girl needs to shop! 

Tomorrow...

Some random shots along the way.

Always, Em-Musing

TIGER'S NEST - BHUTAN

While in the pristine countryside of Bhutan…

I trekked up to a monastery called Tiger’s Nest…

Located in the lower Himalayas…

Not to be confused with the high Himalayas…

Where Mt. Everest is.

The local tale is that Padmasambava, a Brahmin royal…

(also known as the second Buddha)

Who brought tantric Buddhism to Bhutal in the 1600’s…

Arrived in by way of a flying tiger—his concubine…

To Paro Taktsang to meditate in a cave for four months in the mountains where this monastery is located.

There, he also subdued local demons.

With no flying tiger in sight…

(and thank God no demons)

I went halfway up by way of a gassy pack horse…

The other half by foot, plus all the way back down.

The monastery is perched at 10,000 feet.

Starting point is already 7,000 feet…

And then you trek the remainder 3,000 feet…

On loose soil, jagged rocks…

With shear drops down.

Tricky!  Slippery!  Sometimes scary!

But the scenery? Jaw dropping!

The flags you see are prayer flags…

And are everywhere in Bhutan.

I of course...

Hung a few recommended by locals.

Halfway up is a tea house…

Where we stopped for much needed nourishment.

 

And finally...

I and my group of 6 made it! 

Of course there's a foot bridge we had to cross...

To get the monastery.

Me and our guide, Chadau

Well, that's it for today...

Monday?

Nepal.

Have a great weekend!

Always, Em-Musing

I SEE PENISES

Ah, Bhutan…

Your pristine waters flowing…

Your Himalayan mountains showing…

Your temples glowing…

Your monks of the Buddhist mind…

Your people friendly and kind…

Chadau, our guide

And everywhere…

Penises of every color and size! 

These are hung on the 4 corners of a house
for good luck. 

Chadau with penis statue in a restaurant

Made in workshops everywhere

Bhutan is known for....

GNH - Gross National Happiness...

And perhaps with the penis...

And what it stands for (pardon the pun)...

That's the reason why?

So?

On the happiness scale...

What's gives you...

Your GPH - Gross Personal Happiness?

Tomorrow I'll share my trek up to Tiger's Nest, 9300 ft.

Always, Em-Musing 

LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO INSIGHT

Guten tag….

Sawasdee Ka

Kuzu Zampo…

Namaste

I’m staring today’s post…

With greetings from Bangkok, Bhutan, Nepal…

And Germany.

Why?

Because I’m going on a journey…

A spiritual journey…

And these are the countries I’ll be visiting.

To say I’m excited is a huge understatement…

I’m off the wall excited.

Life has been strange for me this past year…

Who would have ever thought…

I’d be living now by myself in Mexico?

But I’ve always felt that Mexico…

Was the beginning of my path on my spiritual journey…

And when my friend Donna invited me on her tour…

These faraway places called to my soul.

I’ll be spending most of my time in Bhutan…

Visiting monasteries and attending festivals.

And this is what Bhutan’s philosophy is:

The wise and farsighted King of Bhutan has introduced this philosophy of gross national happiness. According to this philosophy, the progress and development is measured in terms of the Gross National Happiness (GNH) rather than the gross domestic product (GDP).

Can anyone not find happiness with this already?

I won’t be posting again until the end of November.

I can’t wait to see what this trip does to my muse.

Bye for now…

Auf Wiedersehen 

la kxn

Kuzu Zampo…

Namaste

And of course, adios.

Always, Em-Musing