Journey to Bhaktapur

On our first day off from the health center (we work 6 days per week with Saturday's off), we decided to travel to a nearby district known as Bhaktapur.  Kathmandu Valley is made up of three districts - Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur (our village of Chapagaon is in Lalitpur district).  We woke up early Saturday morning, ate our dhal bhaat and drank our chiya (tea) and set off on our journey.  However, our first obstacle started on our front porch.  We walked outside and tried to put on our shoes but we weren't able to track down Morgan or my shoes.  At first we thought the dogs had hid them somewhere but after minutes (which seemed like hours) of searching, they were nowhere to be found.  Morgan ended up borrowing Erin's extra pair of shoes while I jumped into Samyak's (the older son) shoes (old school converses ;) ).  We finally started our journey and headed to the bus stop to catch a mini bus to Lagan Khel and change buses to Bhaktapur. Just a quick summary of our bus ride --these so called mini buses are small old minivans which you hop on and pray for a seat and once you think the van is full, they pile on 15 more people until there is no space left to breathe.  If Morgan, Erin and I did not know each other before, we do now.  =)

 

Morgan and Erin just being Morgan and Erin. ;)

Pottery corner at Bhaktapur.  Here, Morgan and Erin were able to buy small Buddha figures made of clay.  I bought a couple elephants carved in Yak bone.

Bhaktapur is also known as a very well preserved and traditional city.  The architecture is very traditional and Matrika (who is from Bhaktapur originally) told us that the government gives subsidies to the people of Bhaktapur if they construct their houses in a traditional way in order to create an incentive to preserve their history.

Running out of precious internet time so we're going to enjoy this picture from a new technique I like to call "horizontal." =)

Some traditional architecture in Bhaktapur's Durbar Square.

Native Nepali woman crafting on her porch.