Foto: Cremations at the Pashupatinath temple (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Nepal - After breakfast, we take a taxi to Pashupatinath. This is a Hindu cremation site where funerals take place on the banks of the Bagmati River. The taxi ride itself is an experience. Cars weave through the city, grabbing every free centimeter to move forward. It does not matter if they have to use the oncoming lane. Everyone uses their horn liberally. After about half an hour, we arrive at the Pashupatinath site. We buy tickets at the counter. Entry is free for locals. Immediately, a guide starts following us who wants to tell us everything. We tell him we are not interested, but he persists. The view of the cremations on the opposite side of the river is strange. I feel more like I am watching a film. Our guide continuously provides information. We realize we are now stuck with a tip. Outside, our guide shows us a nursing home and then we say goodbye. Our guide strongly disagrees with our tip and protests loudly, following us for a while longer.
Durbar Square in Kathmandu
Nepal - We walk through the narrow streets toward Durbar Square, the main attraction of Kathmandu. When we arrive at the square, it is already two o’clock. We decide to have lunch first on a rooftop terrace overlooking the temples of Durbar Square. Back at ...
The royal city of Bhaktapur
Nepal - Bhaktapur is similar to Durbar Square in Kathmandu, but Bhaktapur is less touristy and much more extensive. At the entrance gate, we buy a ticket and are immediately swarmed by guides and students claiming they want to practice their English. We’re ...