Bodhnath photos

Small temple dedicated to the goddess of smallpox!


Buddhist gompa (monastery) - there was a service when we were there; the monks were chanting and playing music on huge ancient horns. It made me quite emotional - Alison thought I was nuts!


The main stupa at Bodhnath, with the eyes of Buddha watching all four corners of the Kathmandu valley



It turned out that the New Year celebration is being held on Saturday at the site where we went for the picnic with the kids a few weeks ago - if we've got the energy to hike over there! There was a group of Nepali men singing and dancing on the bit of waste ground across the road last night which was quite funny - alcohol had obviously been involved and they were initially singing and dancing under their own steam. Then they all vanished and came back in a micro (minibus) which was parked on the waste ground with the doors open and music blasting from the stereo. When we went to bed we could hear a party going on in one of the houses at the back, with music from Kylie Minogue, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Beyonce and The Three Degrees - it sounded bizarre enough on its own but when you added the barking, howling dogs....unique!

We went up to see the kids yesterday afternoon and they were all dancing, it was great. Some of the girls did traditional Nepali dances and the boys were all trying to be cool - there was even some breakdancing going on! I've got some video but I don't think this computer will cope with uploading it onto the blog - I'll maybe try later if I get time to sit and be patient (it's sooooo slow!).

Breakfast calls again, so I'd better go. Only 11 days till home now - it's going to feel strange to be back - 24 hour electricity and a washing machine - it'll be like luxury!

Ann & Alison
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