Monday, September 7, 2009

STL DPB On The Road: Kathmandu

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Sunday was a fascinating and exhausting day of touring major sites around the city. The frightening relief above is Seto Bhairab, a terrifying manifestation of Shiva in the central Durbar Square. It is kept closed off most of the year except for a festival now getting underway. Unfortunately, we will miss the main event Tuesday night, when potent rice wine flows out of the pipe and young men jockey for position to slup it up.

The man at the left is a sadhu, a wandering Hindu ascetic. In theory, they renounce earthly pleasures, except that some of them consume staggering amounts of marijuana. To enhance the spiritual process, of course. That always was the point, wasn't it?

9 comments:

Olivier said...

j'aime beaucoup la deuxieme photo, magnifique portrait

Pat said...

Beautiful and inspiring...and the statue looks as if it has a joint, too.

Dave-CostaRicaDailyPhoto.com said...

I am really looking forward to the remainder of your posts from your trip to Nepal. We went to India a few years ago, but Nepal, TIbet and Bhutan are high on our list of destinations to visit.

We saw sadhus similar to your photo today in India, and have posted a few photos on our www.vivalatravel.com travel photo blog/website.

You are ambitious to be posting photos remotely while on your trip. Have a safe and enjoyable trip. We will enjoy your trip remotely.

Virginia said...

Does too much pot turn your beard orange? I like how he's color coordinated! Both portraits are just grand. Keep yakking, we'll keep reading!
V

Sharon said...

Fantastic photos. I will look forward to more!

Maggid said...

I feel like such a dork - I didn't realize a drugged state was the point. Thank you for the insight - and even more - thank you for sharing your journey . . . Awesome.
Be Well,
g

nathalie in avignon said...

Yeah, spirituality was always the point. Don't know why parents never understood that. They're so far behind in finding enlightenment! :-)

Enjoy the trip; we look forward to more photos!

Leif Hagen said...

Great Nepal photos! Is that you wearing a golden robe and turban?!

Ming the Merciless said...

I love both these photos. They are spectacular -- the colors and expressions on their faces are remarkable.