Leaving Kathmandu

That Hasni character, again.

Tiny little cute store on Freak Street.

Typical garbage pile in the street. The stench can be tres formidible!

Street urchins sleeping in. It is @ 0900. Check out the dog!

Maoist agitation.

It is SAT evening and I am just killing time waiting for my flight on MON. My proposed itinerary goes KTM-BAH (Bahrain)-LHR (London Heathrow)-BOS.

There just is not one more thing that I would like to do in Kathmandu that I have not done. One regret is that I didn't get my flight to Lukla. My pilot friend Nic, an Australian expat who flies for Sita air, was going to take me this past THU but my cell phone, for some unknown reason, failed to pick up his message in a timely fashion. So, I missed out on a free KTM-LUK-KTM flight. Ugh!

While I would not describe this Shivani Air venture as a failed mission, it certainly is one that did not meet expectations. I did get 60 hrs of flying giving instruction to the students and I managed to make a few bucks. The students were fun and I did learn a lot. I never did get any pictures from the air because the WX was always poor and I was waiting for the "next" flight. I also wanted to avoid giving the impression to the student that this was a photo op and not serious business. One day, suddenly, there was no "next" flight. On the flip side, I invested 3 1/2 months and no small effort transiting to and from. And, for sure, it was an adventure. Ultimately, I no longer have to wonder. Now I know.

I am appreciative to all those who took the time to read and comment on my blog ramblings. The challenge of writing the blog has made me think a lot. The blog will also serve as a permanent record of this trip.

UPDATE!

I have arrived back in New Hampshire. The flights went smoothly, although very tiring. I'll take a few days to decompress and then figure out what to do next.

I suppose this will be my final blog entry.

Return to Pashupatinath

A slow day.

Stoking the fire.

I felt a return to the holy cremation site on the Bagmati River at Pashupatinath was warranted. Actually, I was as much bored as anything else. I also wondered if some special ceremony might occur if I returned.

Well, I got a bit lucky. A 65 year old women from a very wealthy business family had expired at the Hospital and the van was just offloading her when I arrived. It was obvious that this would be a special ceremony and I was able to view it from the start.

Feet in the holy river water for 15 minutes or so followed by the washing of the body with holy river water. I would imagine that those are the grandchildren by her side.

The husband gets his head shaved. A Hindu ritual, one of many, that the head of family male will perform during the next 30 or so days. Note the left hand of the barber ... one small tuft of hair will be left standing. That Hindu thing again.

The husband performing some ritual at the direction of the fire manager.

Note the white linen clothing worn by the husband. He had started out in Western type shirt and trousers but the ritual required the change of clothing.

Note my Brahmin buddy in the foreground. I just didn't like this guy from the first.

Carry to the pyre. Note the guy at the front. He was referred to as "The Brahmin". I guess that makes him the head funeral director for the wealthy side. He was MOST obnoxious and his face looked like it had wandered into the flames of a burning for an extended period. However, because of his lofty caste position, he wielded great authority.

Pyre, built and ready to go. The little white sticks are sandalwood, which, I am told, burns very hot.

Peaceful.

Lightoff. Good Journey.

I imagine this will be my last visit to Pashupatinath. I don't wish to dwell too much on death. This experience does force one to focus on one's own mortality. But excess is rarely a good thing. I hope my pictures and commentary have given the proper flavor to this place in the eyes of the reader.