stalking monkeys on day one of the strike
If you’ve been following my story so far you’ll already know that today was the first day of the week long strike called by the Maoists in Nepal. I got conflicting responses to the question “will you be open during the bandh?”, sometimes from the same shop owner. My search for breakfast and internet were both successful though you had to know where to look. At 8 a.m. all the storefronts were shuttered but a few side doors were open. As the day wore on a few of the hippy clothes & cd shops opened but the business-people are noticeably on edge.
I thought I’d take advantage of my proximity to Swayambunath (a.k.a the monkey temple) to walk over and shoot some pics since they can’t really keep people from circumambulating, can they? On the way I passed North of Durbar Square where there was a large military presence on the street. Lots of guns, big ones, in hand. Yikes. Just a few short blocks later it appears almost as though life is normal: corner stores are open, no soldiers, taxis every so often.
It took me about 35 minutes to reach the base of the hill on which Swayambunath is perched. It took me another 30 minutes to climb the hill. Once on top I chased the many monkeys round and round the stupa in the proper direction. Man they’re fast but I got a few good ones, the last shown here of a baby monkey that kinda creeps me out. He looks like a bat… a vampire bat.
I’m almost done with my latest book find, a copy of the Edible Woman by Margaret Atwood left behind at Shechen Gompa guest house. When there’s no laundry, yoga classes, shelf stocking, and art making there is ALOT of time for reading. In a stroke of luck, my current home, the Tibet Guest House, has cable! I’ve already watched the schmaltzy love story Wimbledon, 1/2 of the Jessica Alba vehicle Honey, and 4(!) episodes of Friends.
Sue Borchardt in Kathmandu on February 5, 2006 where it’s 65 degrees at 6:58 PM
