SGTrekker 10D9N Everest Panorama Trek (17-26 March 2011)
- Thread starter SgTrekker
- Start date
wkcheah
New Member
Goose, you missed one - (11) You jump in excitement each time you hear a humming sound (from grass cutter) that resembles a propeller plane...
wkcheah
New Member
Still on Swayambhunath
Although the site is considered Buddhist, the place is revered by both Buddhists and Hindus. Numerous king Hindu followers are known to have paid their homage to the temple, including Pratap Malla, the powerful king of Kathmandu, who is responsible for the construction of the eastern stairway in the 17th century.
Each morning before dawn, hundreds of Buddhist (Vajrayana) and Hindu pilgrims ascend the 365 steps from eastern side that lead up the hill, passing the gilded Vajra (Tibetan: Dorje) and two lions guarding the entrance, and begin a series of clockwise circumambulations of the stupa.
cheahwk#5
DSC_7609 by wkcheah, on Flickr
Swayambhunath is also known as the Monkey Temple as there are holy monkeys living in parts of the temple in the north-west. They are holy because Manjushree, the bodhisattva of wisdom and learning was raising the hill which the Swayambhunath Temple stands on. He was supposed to leave his hair short but he made it grow long and head lice grew. It is said that the head lice had transformed into these monkeys.
cheahwk#6
DSC_7615 by wkcheah, on Flickr
Although the site is considered Buddhist, the place is revered by both Buddhists and Hindus. Numerous king Hindu followers are known to have paid their homage to the temple, including Pratap Malla, the powerful king of Kathmandu, who is responsible for the construction of the eastern stairway in the 17th century.
Each morning before dawn, hundreds of Buddhist (Vajrayana) and Hindu pilgrims ascend the 365 steps from eastern side that lead up the hill, passing the gilded Vajra (Tibetan: Dorje) and two lions guarding the entrance, and begin a series of clockwise circumambulations of the stupa.
cheahwk#5
DSC_7609 by wkcheah, on Flickr
Swayambhunath is also known as the Monkey Temple as there are holy monkeys living in parts of the temple in the north-west. They are holy because Manjushree, the bodhisattva of wisdom and learning was raising the hill which the Swayambhunath Temple stands on. He was supposed to leave his hair short but he made it grow long and head lice grew. It is said that the head lice had transformed into these monkeys.
cheahwk#6
DSC_7615 by wkcheah, on Flickr
limwhow
Senior Member
HAHAHA... That was really really funny Mr Goose!!
Yah, you are right.... we are actually fantasizing about EBC.
Shucks.... I must wipe that notion off my brain before it grows into a big Pipa tree that cannot be completely removed!!! Hahahah..!
limwhow
Senior Member
Ladies and Gentlemen, as I mentioned earlier on, don't worry about the sequence of the photos with relation to my lor-sor travel diary.
You guys are doing great! Keep your shots coming as fast and as furious as you can! Hahaha...
T R A V E L O G U E
Day 2 - Durbar Square at Bhaktapur
Adrian and Acpical entering Bhaktapur's Durbar Square... in Infrared 535nm.
SgTrekker got things arranged very quickly and we arrived at the ancient city of Bhaktapur just in time for lunch.
Our team was split into two - each group had lunch in a separate restaurant.
From the table where SereneXMM, francis chia and I sat on the second floor, we could oversee the whole Durbar Square, the old Palace square of Bhaktapur.
Like what was written in one of the many reviews, roaming the cobblestone streets of Bhaktapur was like taking a walk back in time through the medieval periods of Nepali history.
I could see all my team mates firing away with unrestrained enthusiasm at anything that moved or didn't move in Durbar Square.
The history went like this:
When one of the Kings of Kathmandu passed away, he split his Kingdom into three for each of his son: Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur.
It was during this period, when intense rivalry and competition between the three Kingdoms brought Newari Architecure to a new heights as evident from the intricate designs and carvings on the temples and buildings in Bhaktapur.
It was precisely why there were three Durbar Squares - one each in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan.
You guys are doing great! Keep your shots coming as fast and as furious as you can! Hahaha...
T R A V E L O G U E
Day 2 - Durbar Square at Bhaktapur
Adrian and Acpical entering Bhaktapur's Durbar Square... in Infrared 535nm.
SgTrekker got things arranged very quickly and we arrived at the ancient city of Bhaktapur just in time for lunch.
Our team was split into two - each group had lunch in a separate restaurant.
From the table where SereneXMM, francis chia and I sat on the second floor, we could oversee the whole Durbar Square, the old Palace square of Bhaktapur.
Like what was written in one of the many reviews, roaming the cobblestone streets of Bhaktapur was like taking a walk back in time through the medieval periods of Nepali history.
I could see all my team mates firing away with unrestrained enthusiasm at anything that moved or didn't move in Durbar Square.
The history went like this:
When one of the Kings of Kathmandu passed away, he split his Kingdom into three for each of his son: Kathmandu, Patan and Bhaktapur.
It was during this period, when intense rivalry and competition between the three Kingdoms brought Newari Architecure to a new heights as evident from the intricate designs and carvings on the temples and buildings in Bhaktapur.
It was precisely why there were three Durbar Squares - one each in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan.
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limwhow
Senior Member
All went crazy - shooting and shooting right after lunch...
... and many of us found ourselves learning something in the form of social education from the wall carvings of the temple in Durbar Square...
The golden gate of Bhaktapur
This was the gate leading into the old Palace ground. We could see that even now there were still military guards stationed at the gate.
From what Mr Nepal described, right inside the palace there was a temple of the Goddess Taleju, with whom the old King paid patronage.
It was told to the King he had to keep a young virgin 4-7 years old girl as a Living Goddess, known as the Kumari, in the Temple as this virgin would be Goddess Taleju's reincarnation.
And up till today, the practice of Hindusim in Nepal still maintained their Kumaris.
Every one of the three cities of the Kathmandu Valley (namely, Kathmandu, Patan and Baktapur) has its own Kumari.
The Kumari of Kathmandu is considered the holiest as she is the only one out of the three Kumaris who follows strictly the doctrine and stays in the temple. The other two Kumari of Patan and Bhaktapur, however, stay in their own house.
Mr Nepal said:
... and many of us found ourselves learning something in the form of social education from the wall carvings of the temple in Durbar Square...
The golden gate of Bhaktapur
This was the gate leading into the old Palace ground. We could see that even now there were still military guards stationed at the gate.
From what Mr Nepal described, right inside the palace there was a temple of the Goddess Taleju, with whom the old King paid patronage.
It was told to the King he had to keep a young virgin 4-7 years old girl as a Living Goddess, known as the Kumari, in the Temple as this virgin would be Goddess Taleju's reincarnation.
And up till today, the practice of Hindusim in Nepal still maintained their Kumaris.
Every one of the three cities of the Kathmandu Valley (namely, Kathmandu, Patan and Baktapur) has its own Kumari.
The Kumari of Kathmandu is considered the holiest as she is the only one out of the three Kumaris who follows strictly the doctrine and stays in the temple. The other two Kumari of Patan and Bhaktapur, however, stay in their own house.
Mr Nepal said:
"The Kumari has to be a virgin and always before she reaches menstruating age, she would have to be replaced by a new Kumari. The old one would be given a small sum of money and would continue to live life as a commoner. But the problem is- No one dares marry a Kumari, for it is believed that the man who does so would have bad luck befalling him."
SereneXMM
New Member
Some shots more shots to share.
SereneXMM #7
A lady carrying her water pot on Durbar Square in Bhaktapur. She looks like in pain. Maybe the water pot was heavy. Keke..
SereneXMM #8
The Golden Gate.
SereneXMM #9
And the soldier guarding The Golden Gate. He has a bored look on his face.
SereneXMM #10
SereneXMM #7
A lady carrying her water pot on Durbar Square in Bhaktapur. She looks like in pain. Maybe the water pot was heavy. Keke..
SereneXMM #8
The Golden Gate.
SereneXMM #9
And the soldier guarding The Golden Gate. He has a bored look on his face.
SereneXMM #10
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limwhow
Senior Member
Some sights of Bhaktapur's Durbar Square...
Actually I remember it was here that every one of us went snapping snapping and snapping.
You guys have got lots of good shots, from what I could gather by observing all your angles.
Now I am eagerly awaiting all of you to post your shots!
Actually I remember it was here that every one of us went snapping snapping and snapping.
You guys have got lots of good shots, from what I could gather by observing all your angles.
Now I am eagerly awaiting all of you to post your shots!
limwhow
Senior Member
The Naga Basin
Right after the Goddess Taleju's Temple, we right turned and squeezed under a low doorway to The Naga Basin.
This is where the King used to take his bath.
Mr Nepal said that until not long ago, the water from the underground system still supplied this basin.
But it has since dried up.
And who could forget the most important symbol just situated next to the bath Basin?
I am sure every day the King would be caressing and caressing his favourite symbol for the effect that it would bring him...
Right after the Goddess Taleju's Temple, we right turned and squeezed under a low doorway to The Naga Basin.
This is where the King used to take his bath.
Mr Nepal said that until not long ago, the water from the underground system still supplied this basin.
But it has since dried up.
And who could forget the most important symbol just situated next to the bath Basin?
I am sure every day the King would be caressing and caressing his favourite symbol for the effect that it would bring him...
limwhow
Senior Member
Cnleong! Good to have you up with us on the thread finally!
Come come... post more of your shots.
The Ang Moh who kena-ed powdered during the Holi Festival is one classic shot!
I am sure you have more of that!
limwhow
Senior Member
The Thangka Painting School (...Shop?)
My apologies...
I just take half a step forward to arrive at this point first.
Then I will continue to PP my shots while you guys all post up yours!
Un-beknown to us, we were led by the guide to a Thangka Painting School.
Well, honestly, this was the very very first time while traveling with SgTrekker that we were somewhat led to an institute with a 'commercial agenda'.
Nothing against visiting the school at all, I must clarify. Just that it was really really funny to see the look on Adrian's face when he decided that enough was enough and gave a small donation to that lovely young lady who described and explained so much to us about the Art of Thangka Painting.
The sun began to set as evening drew near.
And a drizzle started. I remembered very well Mr Nepal announced to all of us (especially those at the back) at this point:
My apologies...
I just take half a step forward to arrive at this point first.
Then I will continue to PP my shots while you guys all post up yours!
Un-beknown to us, we were led by the guide to a Thangka Painting School.
Well, honestly, this was the very very first time while traveling with SgTrekker that we were somewhat led to an institute with a 'commercial agenda'.
Nothing against visiting the school at all, I must clarify. Just that it was really really funny to see the look on Adrian's face when he decided that enough was enough and gave a small donation to that lovely young lady who described and explained so much to us about the Art of Thangka Painting.
The sun began to set as evening drew near.
And a drizzle started. I remembered very well Mr Nepal announced to all of us (especially those at the back) at this point:
"It is getting dark and we still have to walk about 15 minutes before we will reach our bus. So it would be good to pick up your pace right now."
reservoir88
New Member
Wow! Welcome back all Everst SGTrekkies.
Even in these first few pages the anticipation of the coming adventure is buidling up.
Dorothy and myself are also joining the rest and camping here!
Even in these first few pages the anticipation of the coming adventure is buidling up.
Dorothy and myself are also joining the rest and camping here!
AlexK
New Member
Some sights of Bhaktapur's Durbar Square...
I love this shoot. :thumbsup:
SereneXMM
New Member
All went crazy - shooting and shooting right after lunch...
Wah I was carrying some many things like I am going to climb mountain like that! :bsmilie::sweat: But too bad we never fly up to Lukla that day. End up carrying everything in Baktapur.
limwhow
Senior Member
Hello, Reservoir88 and Dorothy!!!
Great to have you guys up here.
Thanks thanks thanks for your support, on behalf of every one on the trek!
AlexK 大哥! Thank you for your encouragement!
limwhow
Senior Member
Here were some of the portraiture shots we managed to catch while walking at semi-top speed... Hahaha...!
For some strange reason, this girl in modern school unifrom caught my attention, especially the way she was bathed in a swarm of coloured-clothed people behind her.
The contrast in colours was obvious.
But more apparent was a certain air about her. An uppity-up kind of demeanour that she possessed.
As if she belonged to an Upper Caste as compared to those around her...
For some strange reason, this girl in modern school unifrom caught my attention, especially the way she was bathed in a swarm of coloured-clothed people behind her.
The contrast in colours was obvious.
But more apparent was a certain air about her. An uppity-up kind of demeanour that she possessed.
As if she belonged to an Upper Caste as compared to those around her...
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