Arrived safely in Kathmandu, where we spent most the day checking over our kit. Pleased to see some familiar faces from my Cho Oyo trip in 2006 and looking forward to getting to know the others.
Managed to squeeze in a bit of sightseeing at Sawabunath Stupa, Kathmandu's most important Buddhist shrine. The sleepy, all-seeing Buddha's eyes that stare out from the top of the shrine have become the symbol of Nepal. They are painted on all four sides of the stupa's spire, represent the eyes of the Buddha and face the four cardinal directions--east, west, north, and south.
A quick spin of the prayer wheels which are set into the walls leading up to the gate. Inside the wheels are thousands of Tibetan Buddhist prayers and it is believed that when each prayer wheel is spun, all the prayers inside are recited and sent heavenward.
Managed to squeeze in a bit of sightseeing at Sawabunath Stupa, Kathmandu's most important Buddhist shrine. The sleepy, all-seeing Buddha's eyes that stare out from the top of the shrine have become the symbol of Nepal. They are painted on all four sides of the stupa's spire, represent the eyes of the Buddha and face the four cardinal directions--east, west, north, and south.
A quick spin of the prayer wheels which are set into the walls leading up to the gate. Inside the wheels are thousands of Tibetan Buddhist prayers and it is believed that when each prayer wheel is spun, all the prayers inside are recited and sent heavenward.
From Kathmandu we took an exhilarating flight to Lukla, from where it is all uphill (and by foot).
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