Latest News from Kathmandu

I'll be off for 2-3 weeks. I have to be back to catch my plane to Chengdu on November 24th.

The harddisk is dead. I've wasted 3 hours trying to make it work somehow.

I had the pictures from the rest of the trek selected but could not upload them.

The DVDs with the pictures worth 100USD+ in just burning and shipping costs are on the way with a fast service. It's been more than a week now that I sent them off and the tracking number does not work.

I have more stories to tell.

I have found the "Garden of Dreams", a peaceful heaven in the middle of the city behind tall thick walls. If you'd ever dream of a beautiful garden you could dream of this one. Don't miss it if you ever come to Kathmandu.

The "Trek" magazine issue on Kathmandu valley and Nepal is very interesting. I already used some of its information. Most important: the museum in Patan, a nearby town whose main square - Durbar Square - is just another UNESCO world heritage site. With Austrian help the former royal palace has been restored and transformed into probably the best Asian museum. It is being praised as the best by some.Beautiful it is, but overwhelming as well. The main piece of knowledge that stuck to my head and will probably stick to yours as well: the representations of gods and goddesses in Buddhism and Hinduism may have several heads and limbs in order to better express their complex characters and functions. That, I think, is an essential piece of wisdom fundamental for better understanding this culture.

I'll think of you all and mention you in my incantations to the mountain gods.

Have fun at the BCMC centennial banquet!