Post #26: Nepal sojourn

We spent a week in Nepal attending a health conference and then being pure tourists. We think Nepal is the most exotic and interesting place of our entire sojourn. Warm and fascinating people, remarkable sites, beautiful scenery.  But we should add that Kathmandu might have the most polluted air anywhere! The mountains seem to trap every chemical emitted in the entire valley, and it is truly hard to breathe.  Everyone was coughing, including us. Oh well, nowhere is perfect...

This is an amazing structure in the center of Bhaktapur.

Every few seconds, someone comes by this tiny shrine to leave a flower petal or to receive a blessing. 

Much is in a state of disrepair.

We did no serious trekking but had some fabulous walks. We never learned when this set of stairs was built into the trail we took.

At 2000+ meters the skies were blue and the air cleaner.

All mason's assistants are women. 
Could you balance a dozen bricks on your head for 10-12 hours a day?
It is highly unusual to see men and women working together on anything -- except masonry. 

This picture was taken back in our neighborhood in Defence Colony.
Every mason's assistant is a woman, and all are dressed elegantly in their saris.
Masonry work  seems to be both a family and a caste enterprise. 

AND ECHOES OF THE NEPAL HEALTH CONFERENCE:

Nepal is much cleaner than India -- real efforts are being made to expand sanitation.

AND WE CAN'T LEAVE NEPAL WITHOUT COMMENTING ON THE GREAT SEX ON THE WALLS OF MANY OF NEPAL'S TEMPLES!