Durbars Squared

Hello friends! I awoke this morning, not sure if I really cared to do more sightseeing. After all, there was shopping to be done and someone had to do it. Good thing I did, though, because I had such a fun day!
My guide picked me up this morning and it just so happens his two sons are studying at the University of Minnesota. He was just tickled when he found out I was from Minneapolis. He called his wife, told everyone we met on the street, etc that I was from the city where his sons live. It was so cute. He decided to take extra special care of me and took me to lesser visited spots in the Kathmandu valley.
The main itinerary for the day included going to the Durbar squares (plazas with temples and the former kings' residences) in Bhaktapur and Patan, two other cities in the Khatmandu valley. I've been trying to think all day why I'm so enchanted with the architecture here. The streets are winding, and cobblestoned. It feels very old everywhere. It's beautiful and ornate without being opulent, like Thailand. The buildings are all ornately carved--the woodcarving is unbelievable. I think it also has to do with the fact that it's not so hot here. I think the architecture is different because of that, but I don't think I can articulate why exactly. Also, a lot of the interesting architecture in SE Asia was colonial. Here, it's purely Nepali. I really feel like I'm on the silk road. The silk road has never held much fascination for me, but it does now.
So, today was really fun. As I type, I'm trying to upload some photos for your viewing enjoyment, but Yahoo is giving me some problems.
George, to answer some of your questions. I know I'm utterly insane for going to India right now. I've met a number of people who look at me like I'm a complete idiot when I tell them I'm going to visit India in April.
I'm glad discussion of my bodily functions entertains rather than shocks you. I'm sure some people are aghast at my immodesty. Speaking of immodesty, I will accept comparison you made of me to Mozart with the utmost appreciation. Feel free to share with Bud and the crew!
Thanks for the happy Passover wishes!
Anyways, I can't get Yahoo to upload my photos, so I had to do the even more time consuming photobucket to here route. In other news, while I wait for my 3 photos to upload (and that's as many as you're going to get! I've been at this for a long time...), some of you may be interested to learn that I've become a religious flosser. Others of you will not be interested at all. I used to feel like flossing was the straw that broke the camel's back--bathing, exercising, eating well, wearing clean, matching clothes, doing your hair, getting enough sleep, brushing not once, but TWICE per day, etc. Flossing on top of all this struck me as one task too many. Maybe it's my reduced-stress lifestyle, but flossing no longer strikes me as the odious chore it once did. No longer will I be forced to lie to my dental hygienist. This is good for my karma.


Kathmandu's Durbar square


This is a wall of carvings of the Tibetan Buddhist mantra "Om Mane Padme Hum."


These are the sections of pipe some porters were carrying. The straps hanging down go across their foreheads. This does not appear comfortable to me.
Hopefully I'll be able to upload more photos from India.
TTFN!
Lauren