Nameste from the hill tops of Kathmandu.
The cab ride through the busy streets of Nepal are always a thrilling roller coaster. You always feel on the edge of your seat and never know which way your body might suddenly shift. Rajesh, Mitchell and myself got into a Hope & Home cab, and journeyed to the top of Monkey Temple. The sun was near dusk, so cabbing to the top was our best bet if we wanted to see anything before sundown.
Near hill top, I saw my first monkey on the street. It was like see a small child covered with fur sitting on the grown. Then another one jumped out from underneath a car to chase a dog, then two more picking at each other on a roof top. Before I knew it they were everywhere. I can see why foreigners call this Monkey Temple, where as the locals call is Swayambhunath, which I learned from Rajesh meant "Self-Sprung". The religious belief is that this holy place sprung out of the ground.
I felt awkward pulling out my camera in this holy place, it had such a beautiful yet intense energy, but Rajesh kept insisting I take pictures, so I did. Where I felt the most out of place to pull out my camera was in this small intimate room where 5 monks and a young child monk were sitting together and praying and chanting together. Rajesh told me to take of my shoes and walk around them clock-wise to take photos. I felt really out of my element, but I was appreciative of the experience.
Monkey Temple was the first real place that I was also exposed to beggar children. Their innocent faces and unwashed bodies and faces were hard to see. I felt helpless not doing anything, but as I've learned and discovered while being here, it puts them in a worst position by giving them money, so I can only hope and pray that the universe, God, Krishna, will keep the innocent safe.
Philip
The cab ride through the busy streets of Nepal are always a thrilling roller coaster. You always feel on the edge of your seat and never know which way your body might suddenly shift. Rajesh, Mitchell and myself got into a Hope & Home cab, and journeyed to the top of Monkey Temple. The sun was near dusk, so cabbing to the top was our best bet if we wanted to see anything before sundown.
Near hill top, I saw my first monkey on the street. It was like see a small child covered with fur sitting on the grown. Then another one jumped out from underneath a car to chase a dog, then two more picking at each other on a roof top. Before I knew it they were everywhere. I can see why foreigners call this Monkey Temple, where as the locals call is Swayambhunath, which I learned from Rajesh meant "Self-Sprung". The religious belief is that this holy place sprung out of the ground.
I felt awkward pulling out my camera in this holy place, it had such a beautiful yet intense energy, but Rajesh kept insisting I take pictures, so I did. Where I felt the most out of place to pull out my camera was in this small intimate room where 5 monks and a young child monk were sitting together and praying and chanting together. Rajesh told me to take of my shoes and walk around them clock-wise to take photos. I felt really out of my element, but I was appreciative of the experience.
Monkey Temple was the first real place that I was also exposed to beggar children. Their innocent faces and unwashed bodies and faces were hard to see. I felt helpless not doing anything, but as I've learned and discovered while being here, it puts them in a worst position by giving them money, so I can only hope and pray that the universe, God, Krishna, will keep the innocent safe.
Philip
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