All the ways lead to Nepal!

Today, very unexpectedly I met my good friend Monika, who was circulating the Bodnath Stupa 107 times. At 67th, our paths have crossed.. ;-)

Ok ok, I made up a little bit this story ;-)) But for real, this meeting was not really planned! I knew Monika was somewhere in Asia, and possibly in Nepal, but we were not in touch since some time. And on that morning - my last morning in Kathmandu - I received a message from her proposing a meeting in Kathmandu. Really great to meet good friends on another side of the World :)

Bodhnath Stupa was one of the most amazing and spectacular sites I've ever seen in my life. Asia's largest stupa and a place where thousands of Tibetan pilgrims ritually suround the Stupa 107 times.

Enlightened at Swayambhunath :)

Last night I slept really a lot, and I wake up only at noon! It does not allow me to do a longer excursion, thus I decide to go to Swayambhunath - Buddhist temple and Unesco World Heritage Site.

But before I go there, I try the famous Momos - Nepali dumplings.

The temple is placed on the top of the hill, from where we can admire the city of Kathmandu.

The central point of the temple is a big white stupa, with the eyes of the Buddha looking at you from four angles of the stupa. Later on I will see those eyes all over Kathmandu and Nepal. Also there for the first time I hear the famous Tibetan mantra Om Mani Padme Hum, which you can hear all the time in Nepal. 

Along with other people, I also try my luck and throw the coins to the jar :)

In love with Kathmandu! So happy to be back in Asia!!

As usually my trip is completely spontaneous and unplanned. After arriving to Kathmandu, I have no clue where to head next. I did not book any hotel yet, I know only I want to stay in Thamel - the backpacker area of Kathmandu. 

When I leave the airport, there are plent of taxi drivers who want me to go with them. Slightly tired my flight was 5h delayed), I'm going with some young boy who wants to show me the hotel, where he is working. As I don't have anyway any other option, I decide to see the hotel which he was recommending. The Heritage Hotel turns out to be very ok, located in Thamel, but in its more quiet part, and is within my budget (1000 rupiah).

After a quick shower, I decide to go to Durban Square - the historic centre of old Kathmandu, and I immediately fall in love with this place, with the wonderful buildings and with the atmosphere.

I'm sooooooo happy to be back in Asia! :)

Packing for my next trip!!!

Today is a big day!! After a long break of one year, I'm coming back to my beloved Asia!

I posted this photo on facebook, and asked my friends to guess where was I going. Trekking shoes and bikini were a bit misleading, and in the end nobody guessed the two countries where I was about to spend the next month. These countries were Nepal and Thailand :)

Comfortably numb in Budapest

A short weekend in one of the most beautiful cities - Budapest - was a great occasion to combine my big passion for art, as well as to meet two of my big "cultural loves": Egon Schiele - whose 70 masterpieces coming from Leopold Museum in Vienna, were presented in the Museum of Fine Arts of Budapest, and the legendary Roger Waters from Pink Floyd playing in Hungary in the framework of the Wall Tour. 

On another side of the wall

Hebron

Ritual bath in Ganges

Ganges - the holiest river for all Hindu. Pilgrims come here to wash away their sins or to cremate their loved ones. This morning I assured myself (and ten generations of my ancestors!) the eternal salvation of my soul ;-)

p.s.: Besides being the holiest river, Ganges is also the most polluted river in the world full of rubbish, toxins and bodies. Luckily I was ok ;-)

Wagah border ceremony

Today we went to the Indian-Pakistani border (a transport on the mini bus can be found easily in Amritsar) to watch the Wagah border ceremony. Every evening a HILARIOUS border closing ceremony takes place there. A combination of theatre, Bollywood movies and Monthy Python's Ministry of Silly Walks :)

On each border side there's a huge amphitheatre where thousands of Indians and Pakistanis are shouting "Hindustan" or "Pakistan" (slightly more spectators on the Indian side though) watch this amazing (and official) spectacle of both countries' border guards walking, jumping, running and moving in a very very bizarre way. Fantastic show!!

Spectacular Taj Mahal!

Taj Mahal

Welcome to India!

I was wondering for quite some time which should be my next destination. I knew I had one month to travel, so I wanted to use this time to maximum. Different countries were going through my mind, but in the end I decided to go to a place which is total, where all your senses come alive, which attacks you from everywhere with colours, smells, crowds, and noises, which you can love or hate, but which will never leave you indifferent. 

INDIA.

I often travel alone, but I decided to invite my younger brother for this trip. It was his first trip outside Europe, but he managed it perfectly. Only later I realized how difficult travelling in India is, so he was of a huge help and support to me.

First moments in India are a good prediction of the entire trip. While ordering a pre-paid taxi from the airport (350 rupias) we were cheated by 1000 rupias (we were given 100 rupias of change, instead of 1000). Luckily I realize it, but back then, I still naively think that it was a mistake. In the next days and weeks I'll discover that 90% of all the people we deal with during our travel will try to cheat us on and take advantage on us. First days were not easy to handle it, but shortly, given my travelling experience, psychological knowledge, sixth sense, negotiating skills and strong personality, I manage to scan people's minds and their attempts to rip us off. I'm definitly not an easy opponent ;-)

We head to Paharganj - a backpacker area of New Delhi. Of course we did not book any hotel, but since we arrive in the morning, it was not difficult to find one. We stay in Cottage Yes Please - in a dodgy room with dirty sheets and no window, but hey - it was cheap :)

We spend the day on discovering the neighbourhood of Paharganj, and Connaught Place - a huge square full of shops nearby. Of course, still tired after the flight, as well as trustworthy and naive, we are being driven by a tuk-tuk driver to an "Information Centre" which turns out to be a travel agency, striving very hard to sell as a tour costing 800 euros... of course unsuccesfully ;-)

We decide to come back to Paharganj, we both make a henna (Wojtek with Ganesha) and we finish te day with a beer in Rodeo Bar :)

Hotel Prince Polonia :)