Travels Round The World

Temple of the Tooth

Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic is a Buddhist temple in the city of Kandy, Sri Lanka. It is located in the royal palace complex of the former Kingdom of Kandy.  It houses the relic of the tooth of Buddha. The relic has played an important role in local politics since ancient because it is believed that whoever holds the relic holds the governance of the country. Kandy was the last capital of the Sri Lankan kings and is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Monks conduct daily worship in the inner chamber of the temple. Rituals are performed three times daily: at dawn, at noon and in the evenings. On Wednesdays there is a symbolic bathing of the relic with an herbal preparation made from scented water and fragrant flowers.  This holy water is believed to contain healing powers and is distributed among those present.  Sandy & I were able to see the evening celebration and the opening of the golden shrine doors to see the Golden Shrine containing Budbha’s tooth relic.

We learned that Buddhism predates Christianity about 600 years. There were thousands in the shrine area, most were dressed in their best clothes, had offerings, their hands together in prayer,  and observably devout.  We gained greater understanding and respect for these people and one of the world’s great religions.

Tooth of Buddah Ceremony Hall

Tooth of the Buddah Shrine

The Tooth of the Buddah Shrine is actually six golden and jeweled shrines within one another.  Our picture was very blurred due to all the mass pushing of the crowds trying to get just a glimpse of it during the five minute viewing.  However, you can see and excellent picture on Google by clicking “Buddha’s Tooth Shrine“.

The Esala Perahera is a grand festival with elegant costumes held in July and August in Kandy, Sri Lanka. This historical procession is held annually to pay homage to the Sacred Tooth Relic of Lord Buddha.  The 15 day festival has processions  consists of many traditional local dances such as fire-dances, whip-dances, Kandyan cultural dances and elephants who are brighly painted or in lavish garments. The highlight is large tusker elephant carrying the Casket of Buddah’s Tooth Relic which the masses see and venerate.

Ceremonial Elephant Tusker carrying Sacred Casket of Buddah’s Tooth

Vishnu relic

Elephant in Perahara parade

Dancers of Esala Perahera

Earlier that day we started our day with breakfast on the terrace oevrlooking the lake at the Lake Hotel in Polonnaruwa.  We felt like royality when the staff set up a cooking counter next to us on the terrace and prepared our breakfast to order.

Breakfast on Lake Hotel Terrace

Sandy with breakfast chef

Many of you have asked us to show more about the food we had on our journey.

Breakfast fruit plate

Scrambled Eggs on Terrace

Breakfast fruit plate

After breakfast we visited several sites of the Polonnaruwa ruins, a Unesco World Heritage Site.  There are a lot of ruin sites in a small area.  They show the advanced architecture and irriagation systems from ancient times.

Polonnaruwa ruins

Ruins at Polonnaruwa

Polonnaruwa Sleeping Buddha

Polonnaruwa Vatadage

Polonnaruwa

Sigiriya, The Lion Rock in Sri Lanka

Sirigiriya has been a UNESCO World Heritiage Site since 1982.  Originally a hermitage for Buddhist monks from the 5th century B.C.  Sigiriya became an important part of Sri Lanka history books when the King Kashyapa claimed it as his own.

The top terrace is 200 meters above the base city and fortress and consists of about 3 acres of of cascading terraces with the ruins of the King’s palace, landscaped gardens, water features and royal baths.

Top Terraces of Sigiriya

The entrance to the top fortress is through two giant lion’s paws.

Lion Paws entrance at Sigiriya

Although the 200 meter asscent is tough, the descent is tougher for those with verigo.

Sigiriya descent

The base is early example of city and urban planning with symmetrical rectangular moats, ramparts, water gardens, fountains, and serpentine streams specially constructed for slow movement of water. This is an early example of water resource management and technology with earthenware aqueducts, underground stone conduits that use gravity and the force of pressure from the top terraces to the water gardens and ponds below.

Sigiriya’s Water Gardens

Our afternoon was spent on a Jeep Safari at the Kandulla wildlife preserve.  Originally we planned to go to the Minneriya preserve but the jeep guide said he did not see any elephants there the day before.  We were glad we did because the herd or “The Gathering” had moved to this preserve’s reservoir with more water.  There were just a few elephants in the afternoon, but 6 p.m.  Friday evening must have been the elephants “Happy Hour” because suddenly over 90 emerged from the forest and gathered for a drink.

Jeep Safari

Mom and baby

Elephants gathering

Elephant gathering at reservoir

Elephants drinking at “Happy Hour”.

Later that evening we checking into the Lake House overlooking Polonnaruwa Lake, and next to the ruins.  The Lake House is a member of the Galle Face Hotel Group.  Queen Elizabeth spent the night here in 1954 just two years after her coronation.  The original hotel was torn down and rebuilt in a very modern, minimalist style with just 14 rooms.  Our room was #9, next to the Queen’s #10.  We were shown the Queen’s room complete with pictures of her stay.  That evening we had another wonderful dinner.

Dinner at Lake House Hotel

The presentation of the meal looked like a minimalist’s modern art painting.  Never the less, we dug in and enjoyed another unique and delicious dinner.

Lake House Hotel Dinner Presentation

Mt. Everest

Everest Twin or M Peaks

Everest with Clouds

View of Everest

Yeti Airline’s Everest Express Flight

Seeing Mt. Everest was the primary purpose of our trip to Nepal.  The flight was a once in a lifetime experience and exceeded our expectations.

We caution you about Nepal being a 3rd world country with problems with transporation, poverty, traffic congestion, monsoons, smog, and dirt.  The Dwarika Hotel and guided tours overcame these issues for us.

The name of Kathmandu always had a magical and mysterious intrigue for us.

We are glad we went to learn more about their ancient heritage, architecture, and religious history.

Enjoy the exotic people photos below.

Holy Man in Red

Holy Man in Yellow

Holy Man in White

Kumari
Hindu Living Goddess

Girl in Dubar Square

Traditional food and feasts of Nepal

Festival for Rain God

Golden Temple in Patan, Nepal

This 12th century temple is hidden away off the Dubar Square in Patan, Nepal.  It is a UNESCO World Heritage site that has been restored by a family in Nepal during the last two years.  Spectacular!!!

King’s Bath in Patan, Nepal

Patan is known as the “City of Fine Arts” in Nepal.  The King’s Palace is being restored and is becoming a museum of architectural and cultural heritage.  This is the King’s bath in the center of a courtyard with beautiful stone work.

Sandy at Boudha Stupa, Bhaktapur, Nepal

Bhaktapur, also called the “City of of Devotees”, is where you meander down narrow streets past centuries old homes and temples.  It seems as if you are really in the Middle Ages.  Above is the Boudha Stupa.  The Tibetians came here centuries ago to make this Hindu temple in Nepal.

Bouddha Stupa lies about 6 km east of downtown Kathmandu and is the largest stupa in the Valley and one of the largest in the world. It looms 36 meters high and presents one of the most fascinating specimens of stupa design with hundreds of prayer wheels and 108 small images of Buddha. This stupa has four sides with the watchful eye of Buddha. Buddhists throng to this stupa to take part in the sacred rituals during their festivals.

Bhaktapur is one of the three cities found in the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal not far from the capital city of Kathmandu. Today this ancient medieval city, from the 15th century, is a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Nyatpola Temple is a the largest 5-story pagoda located in Bhaktapur, Nepal. The temple was erected by Nepali King Bhupatindra Malla during a 5-month period from late 1701 into 1702. It is the temple of Siddha Laxmi, the Hindu goddess of prosperity.

Nyatpola Temple in Bhaktapur

The Peacock Window, which is also called the “Mona Lisa of Nepal”, is a rare masterpiece in wood. Dating back to the early 15th century, the unique latticed window has an intricately carved peacock in its center. Its an excellent example of wood carving that you see all over the Kathmandu valley.  This window design is the most famous and copied in Nepal, as you might expect with Mona Lisa replicas.  It is truly an amazing example of skilled wood carving found in Nepal.

Peacock Window in Bhaktapur

At the Pottery Square you can see the ancient traditional artwork of pottery making being practiced in front of your eyes.  It is an amazing place to see! You will be taken back 600 years.  We saw the spinning wheel, using hand sculpting, and then firing in ancient primative straw and wood fueled ovens.  Below are the pottery pieces drying in the sun.

Pottery Center in Bhaktapur

A spice market in Bhaktapur looks like this.  It is quite exotic.  The smell and sensation is beyond words. Yummy!!!

Spices in Bhaktapur

Fresh vegetables are the same.  They are better tasting and more flavorable! We think the reason is there are no genetically modified fruits or vegetables in Nepal.  Compared to the US which may offer more disease resistant, bigger, and pulpier fruit, these have an incredible burst of flavor.

Vegetables at Bhaktaper

Mt. Everest

One of the reasons we chose Nepal to visit was the opportunity to see Mt. Everest by booking a flight on the Everest Express.  The flight is about an hour long.  Its flight path takes you by 22 Himalayan mountains over 20,000 feet high.  At 29,029 feet, Mt. Everest, also known in Nepal as Sagarmāthā, is the world’s highest mountain.

On May 29, 1953, Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary made the first official ascent of Everest in 1953 using the southeast ridge route.  We both read Hillary’s book High Adventure and Jon Krakauer’s National Bestseller Into Thin Air about the 1996 ascent that went horribly wrong.

We made our conquest of Mt. Everest on our 2nd attempt.  Flights only leave when there is a clear view of the mountains.  Our flight yesterday was cancelled due to cloudy weather.  Every one is guaranteed a window seat.  This was great to see!

In Kathmandu there are several 5 star hotels including the Hyatt, Raddisson, Yak & Yeti, and Sandy’s choice, Dwarika’s Hotel.  The hotel is like no other we have stayed.  It is like stepping into a Nepali art museum.  The hotel houses an extensive collection of artifacts from the 13th century onwards, and the buildings and courtyards house some of Nepal’s best craftsmanship.  We felt pampered being always greeted with “namaste” and meticulous attention to detail.  This is a true santuary.

Dwarki’s Hotel

Durbar Square, Kathmandu, N

Visiting Nepal gives us a chance to learn about the Himalayas, the Nepalese people, their Hindu and Buddhist religion, and their culture, arts, and foods. Nepal was ruled by a monarchy most of its history, and was closed to outside world until 1950. In 2008 elections favored the abolishment of the monarchy and the establishment of a multiparty democracy. During our visit all the newspapers covered the commitment to finalize their constitution by mid-October by the interim parties and government.

We start our tour in the capital Kathmandu also called the “City of Glory”, named by 2013 Trip Advisor as #1 Asia Destination and #3 World Destination on the Rise. Durban Square is the plaza in front of the old royal palace. It dates back to the 10^th century. The buildings showcase spectacular architecture and the craftsmanship over a millennium. Everything is made of brick, mortar, and intricately designed and carved woodwork.

In most traditions goddesses are only spritiual.  In Nepal they live and breathe.  In Durbar Square is the Kumari Ghar which is a three story brick building with wood carved reliefs.  It is the home of the Kumari – the World’s only living Goddess who is believed to be the incarnation of the demon-slaying Hindu goddess Durga, and the earthly manifestaion of divine female energy.  These pre-pubescent girls are selected as children, they live in temples, are carried in chariots during festivals and are worshipped by thousands of Hindus and Buddhists. They retire upon puberty.

We were able to enter the courtyard with more carved wooden reliefs and were able to see her in a brief appearance from one of the first floor windows.

Kumari Ghar

Living Goddess Balcony

Fortunate for us the annual three day national festival celebrating the Kumari started the day were were there.  One part of the festival is to have the Kumari parade in sections of Kathmandu over the three days in a one of three giant gold guilded chariot pulled with a big rope by men.  Here is a picture of Sandy seeing if she can get a ride on the Kumari’s gold chariot.

Kumari’s Gold Processional Chariot

Finally, a picture of the Hindu Goddess Kumari.

Kumari
Hindu Living Goddess

Our next stop was to the Swoyambhunath Stupa, said to be one of the oldest Buddhist Stupas in the World, which is set majestically high on a hill overlooking Kathmandu Valley.  It has 400 steps for pilgrams to climb, but we opted instrad to have our driver take up most of the way leaving only 100 steps to climb to the top.

Swoyambhunath Stupa

It is nickmaned the monkey temple after the trible of monkeys that look after the hill and mainly amuse visitors, especailly at their designated swimming pool.

Monkeys swimming

The top of the Stupa is circled by rings of prayer bells where we each said a few prayers and spun the wheels.

The 150 meter vanishing infinity pool at the SkyPark at the Singapore Marina Sands Hotel offers dramatic views of Singapore from 58 stories above.  The remainder of the top floor offers 360 degree views and has a restaurant, private club, and a hotspot night club, Ku de Ta.  The complex developed by the Las Vegas Sands contains a casino, exposition center, and large retail complex.

Here are a few pictures to show the sights from the SkyPark.