Michelle's traveling companion, Greg, writes:
The ancient enclave of Bhaktapur is pretty sweet especially at dusk when all the cooking is going on in the alleyways and crevices of the village.
It got dark on us and we ended up outside the walls inadvertently. Foreigners are supposed to pay $15 for a pass to enter the area but yesterday no one was at the gate (typical Nepali) so we skated. As we attempted to come in a little while ago the guard said $15, but I interjected that we had paid and our passes were back at the hotel. He said which hotel? So I pulled the hotel card out of my pocket as he said, ok, bring it tomorrow. Yeah, right, sure.
There are a lot of craftsmen working on pottery, wood carving and others selling their wares that are made by them and their families off site. Musical instruments, brass works, jewelry, and especially all grades of cashmere, among other things.
Checked out the old palace (which is now a museum) for 100R, about $1.20. Not much of it is open so it's a little bit of a disappointment, especially compared to the detail of the 2-3 hundred year old hand carved temples abounding nearby.
Spent the day meandering and exploring impossibly narrow alleys, hobbit doors leading to hidden restaurants, small shrines, and hooka bars. It looks like a combination of the casbah and old England. Bought some great gifts for prices about a tenth of US prices assuming you can find this stuff at home. It won't be in statesville.
Some of the snacks today:
Muesli with bananas, apples, and a fantastic water buffalo yogurt (famous Bhaktapur curd) and a real cup of coffee.
Cheese toast(yak?)
Fried momos ($1) which are small veggie egg rolls with a spicy sauce.
Fried soybeans with sautéed carrots, peppers, and onions (very spicy).
Everest beer
Lychee (a small spiney fruit that is easy to peel and tastes like a lemony peach but the consistency of muscadine grapes). $3 per kilo.they are about the size of a ping pong ball. Very delicious and just in season. I didn't get those growing up in Leaksville, NC.
Oh yeah, more water buffalo yogurt which is best very cold but the electricity was off all day.
Well, back to my Everest on the roof (found a place for 250R about $3 for a 22oz.).
Namaste
It got dark on us and we ended up outside the walls inadvertently. Foreigners are supposed to pay $15 for a pass to enter the area but yesterday no one was at the gate (typical Nepali) so we skated. As we attempted to come in a little while ago the guard said $15, but I interjected that we had paid and our passes were back at the hotel. He said which hotel? So I pulled the hotel card out of my pocket as he said, ok, bring it tomorrow. Yeah, right, sure.
There are a lot of craftsmen working on pottery, wood carving and others selling their wares that are made by them and their families off site. Musical instruments, brass works, jewelry, and especially all grades of cashmere, among other things.
Checked out the old palace (which is now a museum) for 100R, about $1.20. Not much of it is open so it's a little bit of a disappointment, especially compared to the detail of the 2-3 hundred year old hand carved temples abounding nearby.
Spent the day meandering and exploring impossibly narrow alleys, hobbit doors leading to hidden restaurants, small shrines, and hooka bars. It looks like a combination of the casbah and old England. Bought some great gifts for prices about a tenth of US prices assuming you can find this stuff at home. It won't be in statesville.
Some of the snacks today:
Muesli with bananas, apples, and a fantastic water buffalo yogurt (famous Bhaktapur curd) and a real cup of coffee.
Cheese toast(yak?)
Fried momos ($1) which are small veggie egg rolls with a spicy sauce.
Fried soybeans with sautéed carrots, peppers, and onions (very spicy).
Everest beer
Lychee (a small spiney fruit that is easy to peel and tastes like a lemony peach but the consistency of muscadine grapes). $3 per kilo.they are about the size of a ping pong ball. Very delicious and just in season. I didn't get those growing up in Leaksville, NC.
Oh yeah, more water buffalo yogurt which is best very cold but the electricity was off all day.
Well, back to my Everest on the roof (found a place for 250R about $3 for a 22oz.).
Namaste
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