November 2017 – Dawn Stief Photography

Roses and Thorns

Our family adopted a tradition from some dear friends a few years back entitled Roses and Thorns. Before tucking in for the night, we all join together to reflect on our favorite and least favorite events from the day. In all the chaos of daily life, it has become an enjoyable respite and a way for us to all connect and reflect as a family. Before we embarked on our big trip, it was also a means to tease out what the kids were up to while at school or other various activities. Now that we are together 24/7, it is a time to check in to see how we are all doing and reminisce about our adventures big or small. I started to log these roses and thorns in a notebook to keep a diary of our trip. Yesterday, was the first time, my daughter really couldn’t think of a thorn. Yes!

We have now been in Nepal for just over a month. Aside from our trek out of the valley, we have stayed entirely in Kathmandu. The hustle and bustle of the city can at times be over stimulating, with the pollution, traffic and constant noise, but I have to admit I love it. I think this is the first time that I have not let the negatives get to me and just embraced it all. We have been going on short excursions to temples, stupas, and walks into the old section of the city. In just a mere 15 minute jaunt across the Basmati foot bridge from my in-law’s house in Chhauni, we can be in Jhhonchen (Old Freak Street), Asan, Durbar Square or New Road. This old section of Kathmandu is so full of life and color and hustle it is a joy to take it all in. Below are a some images from the last few weeks. Thank you for following us on our journey!

Schools out and the local kids enjoy some street side pani puri

All the fish you can find in Asan

Hot roasted peanuts!

Love Hate Kathmandu-17 — Young child in Asan

You never know when you might stumble upon a wedding procession in the middle of the day.

Wedding procession through Chhauni

He’s got the beat.

Bring it on home!

Love Hate Kathmandu-4 — One of the thousands of dogs on the streets of Kathmandu

Pashupati Ghat

Young girl at Pashupati

Sadhu at Pashupati

Patan-17 — Ceremony on the streets of Patan near the old Durbar Square

Architecture museum in Patan

Views from old Newar building

Temple sights from Patan

Lighting the candles at the Bagalamukhi Temple in Patan

Mother and son making offerings to the deity of the temple, Patan

Let there be light

How much is that doggie in the doorway?

One of a few screen prints on old buildings in Patan

Love Hate Kathmandu-3 — Evanan waiting for our visa photos in Chhauni

We Already Are Where We Are

As we were leaving the Muktinath temple on our way back to the village of Kagbeni, my daughter reached the entrance gate and said, “We already are where we are.” Certainly, she meant that we had returned back to where we started but I was so charmed by this statement. It has become a mantra in a way. Each time we reached a place we had been before, I found myself saying it. We are where we are and we keep coming back. A metaphor of sorts.

As I mentioned in a previous post, my husband and I went on the Annapurna trek exactly 20 years ago. We did it in reverse this time, flying into Jomsom and walking back to Ghasa. It was my goal to make it up to Muktinath since we were unable to reach there the last time due to the all too common traveler’s sickness. It was wonderful to be back here with our children despite some of the challenges with the road. Development in the area has certainly had a negative impact for trekkers, but we were able to find alternative trails that avoided the dusty and often times dangerous road.

Rather than bore you dear readers, with a full trip report, I offer these visuals. I did spend some extra time to caption the images if you are so inclined.