Sunday 29 September - rest day at Lumbini which has been established as the birthplace of the original Buddha in 632 BC. A plot of land roughly 2 km by 3 km has been set aside within which is the original birthplace as well as space for Buddhist communities world-wide to establish their own temples, monasteries, or stupas as well as other institutions in the name of world peace and unity. The site is seen as a pilgrimage site for Buddhists, I suppose much like Mecca for Moslems. A nearby small regional airport is being transformed in an international airport with a new longer runway, anticipating that Lumbini will become a major destination with direct flights from elsewhere in the world. We took a tuktuk trip around to visit the various temples, thinking a couple of hours would do it... turned out to be closer to four hours and we didn't enter every one. Here's a few,
Thailand
Myanmar Golden Temple
Germany
Canada - it was closed but the tuktuk driver brought us by to see it. One comment about the overall site is that there were some beautiful, even grandiose, layouts with water features running some of the length of the area, but the roads and paths between national sites were mainly muddy narrow lanes with no particular organization. Totally different when you cross through the gateway into a temple ground, then its well-kept. We can only hope that the resources for improvement and upkeep of the overall site will come along with the anticipated visitors.
China
...and us with a really nice group of Nepalese school kids on a visit to Lumbini - they had to have their selfies, etc...
India, with a depiction of the original buddha teaching...
Cambodia
Japan's stupa at the far end of the areas longest waterway.
...and facing the other way, a Buddha with the original birthplace housed in the white building behind and to the left.
The next morning we woke to clear skies and a view of the snow-capped peaks to the north. The skies didn't stay clear though...
September 30 was an 80-km ride, the beginning through farmland, here husband and wife grinding grass as fodder for the cattle. Seems like every little house had one of these.
There were quite a few cranes in the area and I was lucky to get this one taking flight with some food in its beak.
...and then just a few km later, a gathering of bee-eaters looking like they're watching a flying demonstration.
After 40 km it was through some back streets of a town...
...before getting into the hills for the end-of-day long climb...
...yes, indeed, up to the town at the top of the hill, close to 1000 m of climbing all said...
There are numerous places along these hillside roads with water running off in streams or through pipes as here into this area. Not having running water in most places, people gather there to wasch dishes, clothes, and themselves.
Finally at the hotel to have this view from our balcony/ Unfortunately the sunshine was disappearing and it was clouding over.
1 October... the next day was 120 km, starting with a descent down the other side of the hill - an early start...
...because later in the day we'd be hitting more hills - a couple of 800 m climbs with a bit of respite in between...
Beautiful countryside and we got into Pokhara around 1530 (after being on the bike before 0630 in the morning) so yes, long day, both of us quite tired.
Pokhara is a gateway for trekkers into the Annapurna range, and it was suddenly different to see so many white people on the streets here. The roads we've been on are not much travelled by western tourists as westerners tend to fly in. Prices around town reflect that too.
October 2 - Our rest day here has been largely to catch up on laundry, blogs, haircut for Rae, etc. We visited the International Mountain Museum - a worthwhile visit, but not a photogenic one.
Tomorrow we start on the final stages to Kathmandu. Some shorter distances, but dirt roads so we don't anticipate that it will all be easy. But here's the plan..., and don't try looking on the map for some of these places or for the roads between!
Thailand
Pokhara is a gateway for trekkers into the Annapurna range, and it was suddenly different to see so many white people on the streets here. The roads we've been on are not much travelled by western tourists as westerners tend to fly in. Prices around town reflect that too.
October 2 - Our rest day here has been largely to catch up on laundry, blogs, haircut for Rae, etc. We visited the International Mountain Museum - a worthwhile visit, but not a photogenic one.
Tomorrow we start on the final stages to Kathmandu. Some shorter distances, but dirt roads so we don't anticipate that it will all be easy. But here's the plan..., and don't try looking on the map for some of these places or for the roads between!
Next blog will be from Kathmandu
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