Cemetery
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The first day in Kathmandu we started with a visit to the cemetery along a tributary of the Ganges. A Hindu wants when possible to die with his foots in the holy water. A quiet unusual kind of funeral ritual. Somebody ill and near the death asks his family to carrying him to the Ganges. Really with the foots in the water they are lay down there. After the last moment you were burned on a funeral pyre. Some hesitation overcome you while taking pictures, but it is quiet impressive. Every day they cremate thirty peoples in this spot. This time a high officer were cremated. Just for our arriving there was an attack on the highest police officer. But they didn't tell this the public. There was an enormous crowded of military people pay there last respect. Nobody dare to take pictures.
The country has some troubles the last time. There are large differences between the rich in the cities and the poor on de countryside. There arise some Communist groups, those are in charge in big parts of the country. But still they are friendly and tourists aren't involved yet. Without hesitation they drive us through the whole country. Either there isn't really a problem or the guide pay them off (?) Potentially it is a dangerous situation, that can escalate. But for the time being both side doesn't shoot on civilians and tourists.
Another remarkable incident was the shooting in the royal family. The crown prince, a real playboy, had some disagreement with the rest of the family, because of a women. This resulted in shooting, where almost 90% of the family died. Only one absent brother of the king survived and is the new king now. In Nepal this kind of stories goes by rumors. Official investigations won't happen. May be there happens something totally different. Rumors are saying, that a big part of the costs of the royal family are carried by percentages over every business operation. These transactions can be quiet divers...
The Ganges river is at this spot not a mighty river. May be it is in the rain time. The water wasn't more then twenty centimeters. Along the river there are over more then hundred meters all kind of installations for cremations. There are stairs. Dying people are carried to the river and lay down with the foots in the water. When death they build a funeral pyre. The axis were thrown in the river. On one side of the river up the hill there are a great number of small temples to pay respect.
Near by in the city there is a nursing home. The older people without family can stay there. Tourists visit this home in big groups. Such a nursing home exists out of a inner court with a big monument in the middle (stoepa). The seniors stay in the buildings around. You see caretakers doing the laundry, pumping water, etc. In our view the provisions are rather poor.
After the visit to the cemetery we go the famous temple. It is an enormous half sphere with a diameter of more then 50 meters on a platform. Around the temple a circle of buildings with shops and pubs. We entered a pub of a friend of the guide and go to the roof from where you have a beautiful sight over the whole area.
