Boudhanath

Since I told the bus staff where I was going, he told me when I had to get off. Boudhanath was one of the places that I had a priority to visit in Kathmandu. There is a huge stupa (Actually the biggest one in Nepal) in the center of the square, and the square is surrounded by lots of restaurants and stores. There were many pilgrims and tourists and the place looked like a very solemn and energetic place. For some reason, I really like the flags coming out from the top of the stupa; actually, not just from the stupa, (I saw them anywhere in Thamel). And, there is also another symbolic thing which I found smetimes in that country and I really liked it! it was the Buddha eyes. Because the symbol was very impressive and unique, they became my impression of Nepal. I liked them so much that I got a T-shirt of them as a souvenir for my brother later!

Anyway, what I did at Boudhanath was...
●I walked around the stupa with pilgrims (There are some rules when you do that).
●I took a look of the stores around the square and bought some stuff.
●I went out of the square, and wandered there.
Oh, and for some reason, I got to take some pictures with a few local domestic tourists, lol. I don't know what made them want to take a picture with me but it was a kind of funny experience for me :)

So after a while, when I felt everything was done there, I decided to go back to Thamel. It was not as easy as finding a bus to come here, but after some minutes, I finally found a bus which takes me back to Thamel. I knew that it would be easy to take a taxi, but I just wanted to take the way that was a little tougher, and would also make me more satisfied when I accomplished it ;)

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Until I Took A Local Bus For The First Time

The second day in Kathmandu, became mostly my first adventurous day in Nepal. I woke up, prepared and left the hostel. I was searching for somewhere to eat breakfast. When I was walking, I was spoken by a guy and he wanted to take me his picture. Since he was a tourist, I thought that he wanted the street as his background. So I took a picture in that way; set him in the edge and took lots of space for the background. However, he didn't like the picture. He wanted himself in the middle of the picture...it's what we call hinomaru picture (Japanese flag picture). He looked satisfied when he saw the second picture (but I was wondering if he had to take picture right there, lol). Then, he asked me what I was doing and I told him I was searching for a place to eat breakfast. "Yummy and cheap", that's what I required. He told me he knows a cheap cafe near his hostel, and took me there. It was actually a cafe...maybe cheaper than other similar places...not what exactly I wanted, but anyway, we went in.

His name is Rashid and he is from Dubai. We talked about the places we were planning to visit. Actually, he just visited Nagarkot, the place I was planning to visit in a few days. He showed me some pictures from there, and after while, we exchanged contact information and separated.

After breakfast, I headed to see Durbar Square. However, I met a local guy on my way there and he showed me around there. There was also another guy came with us...actually a beggar coming with us, explained things like a tour guide but and finally asked me for money. I just rejected. I don't know what is right or wrong, but I just don't give them money and it's my rule. After walking around, (I didn't get to see the Durbar Square that time, lol), I asked him to tell me the bus station to go to Boudhanath; the biggest stupa in Nepal. I'm sure that I've mentioned about this before...but I LOVE taking local buses while traveling abroad because I got to see some normal people's life there. My first local bus experience in Nepal was...riding what doesn't really look like a "bus" for us; it was nothing but a dirty white station wagon, but I LIKED IT! Play the video and take a look of how the bus ride was ;)

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