procession at the Boudha Stupa - Kathmandu

While eating lunch at an upstairs restaurant overlooking the amazing Boudha Stupa, I heard loud music coming my way... looking out the window, I saw a long parade of people... in robes, holding flags, playing instruments, and - towards the middle of the line - people carrying what seems to be some kind of ...tomb?

3x's around Boudha Stupa - Kathmandu

Some photos from taken during my walks around the Boudha Stupa.   : )

Monks making the walk around:

Mountains in the distance:

My view while writing postcards and having lunch!

I really enjoyed the fresh goat cheese in Kathmandu! (...Like in the salad below...)

There are so many goats... and it is so fresh... yes, please!

Like in Saigon, there are a number of really lovely restaurants and cafes in a city where a person might be afraid to eat the food or not know where to go. Sarah brought me to some great places with delicious food! I did, however, get sick halfway through the week... and remained so for the next two weeks. TWO WEEKS! Yikes.

After a few doctor visits and multiple tests... I found out that I had Salmonella. The good thing is that it went away on its own with time. Feeling better now!

Boudha's prayer wheels - Kathmandu

Along the outside of the Boudha Stupa, there are prayer wheels. 

The wheels are set on a spindle to twist and have Tibetan Buddhist prayers, mantras, written around the outside.

This lady was incredibly cute. I followed her a bit... as she walked around the large stupa and pushed each prayer wheel as she kept a steady pace.

prayer flags... and ...prayer wheels

One of my favorite purchases while in Kathmandu was a prayer wheel! I bought a small one to sit on a shelf or hang on the wall... my prayer wheel is red, teal, blue, and gold.

BOUDHA STUPA - Kathmandu

Sarah said that one of her favorite places in the city is the Boudha Stupa. I can see why!

This large stupa is directly set off of a busy street... but as soon as you walk down the little alley into the stupa's open plaza, the entire feeling and aura changes. There is a quiet peacefulness to the area and the large stupa in the center is quite powerful. I read in the Wikipedia article that this ancient stupa is one of the largest in the world!

I walked around the stupa three times for good luck.

There are shops and restaurants surrounding the outer ring of the stupa's plaza.