"...a large chariot was being prepared to celebrate the upcoming rains (amongst other things) called Rato Machendranath Jatra."
This has been a stay-at-home spring break for us which is easy to do when you live in the middle of a mix of fascinating cultures.
We went shopping in Thamel, the tourist heart of Kathmandu. While Linda bargained with vendors I wandered the streets with my camera. The tourists have returned and the shops were generally busy.
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| Signs of prosperity |
We had lunch at the RoadHouse Pizza where the featured product is baked in a wood oven.
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| Hot work |
On our way back, our driver suggested we stop at a nearby area where a large chariot was being prepared to celebrate the upcoming rains (amongst other things) called Rato Machendranath Jatra. The chariot will be moved to various sacred spots in the city during the next month.
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| The chariot is that very large "tree-like" structure. |
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| The chariot will be pulled by human power. |
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| Cable service may be disrupted |
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| The yoke of the wagon. |
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| Kids on the chariot. When we were there, no one was climbing up and down the structure. Two years ago, just before the giant earthquake, two people were crushed under the wheels as it was being moved. |
While waiting at the intersection a man approached me from behind "Want a massage? Ultimate end, you decided. Great sex." No, this is not one of those Paul Theroux stories where I will go on to describe in detail a sexual encounter with a prostitute. Nope, not my thing. There are many stories of Nepali girls sold into labor only to end up in prostitution, a sad result of poverty and a lack of respect for humanity. However, I shared the story with someone and they suggested that the guy may have been the masseur, not the pimp! Good point. What a sad life, nothing great about it at all.
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Masseur or Pimp?
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