This time the trip on the bus was about 30 minutes as we traveled to the west side of Kathmandu to visit Swayambhunath, a religious complex on top of a hill.
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| Thousands of flags |
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| Also known as the Monkey Temple, we were told to be wary of the Macaca mulatta/Rhesus Macaques |
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| The monkeys know who has food |
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| Ha, little boys and their sticks! |
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| World Peace Pond with a gilded figure of Shakyamuni Buddha, the Present Buddha |
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| Pilgrims tried to toss a coin into the pot below the statue, to have their wishes come true; ours will not |
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| These monkeys must be thirsty |
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| A monkey drinking from the spout (KSS) |
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| Waterfall under statue of Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom; a boddhisattva is someone on the path to enlightenment (KSS) |
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| More monkeys at a Peace monument |
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| Awww! |
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| Ancient bell |
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| The sign "Please don't climb on the Buddha" does not pertain to monkeys |
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| Shantipur Temple door, Shantipur is dedicated to the sky, one of five elements that are represented at Swayambhunath |
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| The large lock on the temple door |
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| Sleeping dogs |
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| Repainting Agnipura, the personification of fire |
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| Hanuman, the monkey god, covered with tika/mixture of rice, honey, and vermilion |
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| The woman had just put down an offering at the 7C statue of Dipankara, Buddha of Light, who appeared to Siddhartha Gautama on his journey to enlightenment |
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| The monkey waiting on Dipankara's hand jumped down to see what there was to eat |
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| The monkey took what he found to eat while sitting on Dipankara's head |
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| Chaityas/small stupa-like monuments that are constructed by families in memory of a deceased person |
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| Swayambhunath Stupa is said to have arisen spontaneously on a hill that rose out of a lake (there is no lake now) |
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| Masks and souvenirs |
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| The golden Hariti/Ajima Temple is dedicated to the goddess of fertility and smallpox |
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| Behind the Hariti Temple are two columns topped by statues of White Tara and Green Tara, thus having Hindu goddesses in this Buddhist site; however, they are said to represent the Nepali and Chinese wives of King Songtsen Gampo, who converted to Buddhism |
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| Museum of Buddhist Statuary |
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| A reclining Buddha represents him in his last days of illness before death |
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| A view to the east from the hilltop |
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| Bahu Mangal Dwar Chaitya (rebuilt after the 2015 earthquake) has 124 niches that hold auspicious symbols |
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| Vayupura Shrine is dedicated to the wind |
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| Doors to the Basundhara Shrine, dedicated to the goddess of Earth |
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| Nine bronze shrines are spaced around the dome of the stupa; they house statues of the five Dhyani Buddhas who represent the five qualities of Buddhist wisdom, and the four Taras who may represent the qualities of a "female Buddha" (compassion) |
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| Dorje/Great Thunderbolt is a Tibetan Buddhist symbol of enlightenment or indestructibility |
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| Nagpur is a water tank dedicated to Naga, the snake god, and to water |
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| Pratapur, a shikhara-style temple, is dedicated to King Pratap Malla |
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| Anantapur is dedicated to Ananta, the wife of King Pratap Malla |
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| Prayer wheels |
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| These women were "attacked" by the monkeys |
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| Umm, Ken and Maureen need to watch out! |
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| Bhatmas/soy beans |
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| Momos/dumplings with hot sauce |
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| Chicken wing |
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| And then came dinner! |
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