Pat k.'s Blog (4)

Travelling with ones hound is never easy, even when you have your own vehicle. Constant thoughts of: will he be okay, will he runaway, will some other animal attack him or someone hit him. Then of course there is the litany of cultural hurdles to be aware of: not to go inside the house, not to drink from the water pot, beware of plates on the ground. And if he is a black dog, like our Kailash, then the fear that he can bring to people is quite amazing.

But…

Swyambunath’s Monkey Temple area has been a big draw to tourists and locals alike since Kathmandu came into existence. It is a place where people find relaxation in their day, away from the noise and smells of the city below.

The balance between the citys largest forested area, with the densest population of monkeys, monks, temples and prayer wheels, gives the place an almost village feel, yet one steeped in the valleys…

Today I had an uplifting meeting with one of the head-researchers at WWF (World Wildlife Fund), as I am working on an article about the changes that have happened in elephant populations along Nepal’s border with India.

Before I entered I felt down, even depressed about the topic, as I know the condition of much of the jungle along the Tarai (border area). Today it is a sad shadow of what existed in the 50/60s. I figured that the…

Through the last many years, I have had the pleasure to be a part of the Swyambunath community, living amongst its various Tibeto/Buddhist groups. It is the most important Buddhist site, outside of Tibet and the largest forested area in Kathmandu, protected under a UNESCO banner. But strangely enough my most interaction has been with the areas other, more mischievous residents: simians, or monkeys, to us…