First stop

Perched on top of a hill, it was said that the hilltop was once an island left after a major volcanic eruption many years ago. The Kathmandu valley was what's left after this catastrophic seismic activity. Indeed, a valley that entraps the smog and creates a permanent haze all day long, like a veil. Incidentally, many have come to unveil this shroud to see the real essence of Nepal, but probably to the wrong part of her bossom.

The Swayambhunath or commonly known as Monkey Temple, is located 2km away from where I resided. And I'm glad I made the trip on foot the first morning. After braving the notorious Tridevi Marg, the journey was quite a pleasant one in comparison. Well except for the incessant dust churned up by cyclists, motorcyclists, rickshaws and cars along the way.

To the East of the hill is a flight of stairs that leads to the temple ground, comprising of a total of 365 steps with grounds near the central temple angling 45deg up-slope. The magnificent Stupa immediately came into view and around it encirle hordes of camera touting tourists behaving like hawks eyeing a piece of the structure for that perfect shot. I am one of them unfortunately. Evident in the image, we can see some tiny shrines carved into the base of the Stupa, therein sits an Buddhist Idol. With a little donation, I had my tian zhu blessed by one of the idols.

The general rule is to circle the Stupa in clockwise direction, failing which the consequence will be borne by the perpetrator (pls dun quote me). U'll probably bring calamity to that city, a deed similar to turning the wheel of life in the counter clockwise direction.

But the Monkey temple is not just for the Stupa itself, tis for the faith of the general Buddhist population.