After a well deserved night’s sleep we were ready to hit the streets with Biren. Shadi and Nicholas left very early in route to Bhutan, a trip Shadi worked very hard to make happen at last minute.

Jealously they made it and seem to be having a great time.

Biren picked us up early as he had a wedding to attend in the afternoon. He planned three stops for us so we got cracking.

First off – another Kumari to visit. This is a lower level Kumari to the girl we saw before. She got to live in her temple with her parents and brother. The basic rules still applied as in can’t touch the ground, can’t leave the temple, etc. They live in four rooms, those being the only ones she exist in.

Her mother brought her, and it turned out Biren knew the mother.

Biren made a donation and we got to speak to the mother. The daughter looked like any 13 YO girl, pissed off and over it all. Jeff asked the mother if she would do it over and she emphatically said NO.

Because of Biren’s connection we were able to get a picture with mother/daughter together. As you can see, neither is exuding happiness and joy.

Following this stop, we walked to the next.

Biren explained that young Hindu girls get married three times in their life. Marriage one occurs around 4-5-6 and the girl married “the sky”. It is a full ceremony, and a right of passage.

Marriage two is to the wood apple, a hard fruit that they will then keep in their trousseau and lives for the rest of their days. The wood apple is meant to protect the girls from the social stigma of potential widowhood.

We got to attend the beginning of a 2nd marriage ceremony. Many beautiful young girls were decked out in their red finery, and their parents were dressed to the nines as well. We were particularly taken by two sisters.

We also learned that in this area that animal scarifice is still practiced. At this location, where the girls were getting married, this was the scraficial area.

In fact, the design over the door to the main temple was adorned with the intestines of an animal.

This temple was large, as the former home of royalty. We walked around and saw the royal bath and pool.

Obviously the pool has not been used for some time.

In keeping with this being a former royal palace, the statuary reflected that. This statue shows the former king, he’s been gone a while now, being protected by a snake. The bird on the snake’s head, it is told, will be there until the king dies. I want to come back and check that out.

Our last stop was to a shop where healing bowls are hand made. We were educated on the nuances of healing bowls, versus singing bowls, and got to try them, as well. Each bowl is made from seven metals and hand shaped.

Jeff got a Full Moon bowl and some other trinkets. I got some things for friends and family.

After, we headed back to our hotel so Biren could get to his wedding. Must say I am still floored by the electrical grid here.

At Jeff’s wise suggestion, we arranged with our hotel to keep our rooms until six PM as that was when our ride came to take us to the airport. We said our last goodbyes to Biren. He was immensely important to the overall quality of our time in Nepal. Anyone coming here please contact me for his contact info.

We lounged in our rooms, napped, took showers, had a couple of Carlsbergs, and all around had a great afternoon.

At six PM our ride showed up and ferried us to the airport. WOW, the airport was as packed as I have ever seen it, having now been there 5-6 times.

The crowd was made up of people traveling, but mostly of family/friends there to see them off. Lots of crying, waving, and well wishes.

We finally got in, and lo and behold, there was a very nice Radisson lounge in the airport where we camped out until our flight.

We boarded our Malaysia Air flight and headed to Sydney.

To wrap it up, both Jeff and I agreed that Nepal and Kathmandu were fantastic places, replete with beautiful people, scenery, and an overall vibe of calmness and serenity. Yes, the streets are wildly crowded, the overall number of people can be overwhelming and intimidating, but beneath it all is a warmth that makes one want to come back and learn more.

On to Sydney !