Some photos of the Himalayas and Kathmandu upon arrival. We could see most of the 8000m peaks. So cool.
Photos of Kathmandu upon arrival.
The Dwarika’s
The Dwarika’s in Kathmandu is a world-renowned 5-star luxury heritage hotel that functions as a living museum of ancient Newari architecture and traditional Nepalese craft. History and Heritage
Family Legacy: Managed across generations by the Shrestha family, preserving indigenous crafts rather than placing them behind display cases
Founded by Dwarika Das Shrestha: Started in 1952 when the founder began rescuing 13th- to 16th-century carved wooden windows, doors, and pillars that were being discarded during modernization.
Living Museum: The property is painstakingly built using this massive collection of salvaged woodwork and restored terracotta brickwork, earning a UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award.
TheHad and Unkle SeanPreserving the legacy of Nepalese wood carving.Right out of Indiana Jones.Guess what happened here?Beautiful patios everywhere.
Upon arrival, we took the Chandragiri Cable Car to the Top Station, a local mountain with amazing views of the city and the Himalayas.
Back to Dwarikias
Our favorite beer on the tripWe really loved this property. The original hotel was a two-bedroom building, which is now the bar. The boys spent a lot of time there.Water features like this everywhere. It is a magical and spiritual place.
Saturday, June 18
Monkeys everywhere.Colorful chaos.I was nicknamed The Hindu Had on this trip.Receiving my blessings.Funeral pyres on the river.
The holy men. These were the coolest guys.
Temples everywhere.Preparing a funeral pyre.Funeral ceremony.I think this is a proper way to go.
Kukuri Time
Uncle Sean found a place that made kukri knives, weapons traditionally used by the Gurkhas. These fighting forces were so fierce that the British gave up fighting them and made them their elite fighting force in Nepal and India.So many blades.The blades are made from recycled automobile leaf springs.I’ll take one of those, and one of those, and a few of these too please.The cash deposit in USD!Where the blades get hammered.The workshop.From leaf spring to blade.Its amazing hey make such amazing blades with this method.Thankas – we would end up bringing several home.My Sherpa friend Wangchhu Sherpa.Uncle Sean went to boarding school here, and a classmate was a member of the former royal family. They hosted a massive party, and we met the head general of the military, his son and daughter, who were respectively also a general and head of the medical camp at Base Camp Everest. We also met a fellow, Shameus, who worked with the US State Department and actively monitored social media propaganda from China.
Sunday, June 19
More Thankas on the property.
Rhone resting after the party.
Monday, June 20
Next, we visited the Kathmandu Durbar Square area of Kathmandu. It’s full of temples, a bazaar, and many shrines.
The Boudhanath Stupa
The Boudhanath Stupa is Nepal’s largest spherical stupa.My favorite photo of the entire trip.This is a massive spinning prayer wheel.Some locals wanted photos with the boys. I bet we were an odd sight.Singing bowl therapy.We would bring a few home.Mr. Ram befriended us.You may notice many of the wood carvings depict many sexual acts. A few hundred years ago, the population was declining, so the King ordered these wood carvings as a way to encourage people to have more sex. Wood carvings were the primary source of communication back then.Party at the Dwarkis bar.
Tuesday, June 21
Dwarkis also has a mountainside resort – we would travel about 90 minutes to this campus built into the mountain. It had many interesting areas, buildings, and rooms.
There are many of these inspirational sayings about the property.
Our lodging was rather opulent.
We all took a moma making class.
Raw spices used in the dish.Those same spices refined.Sean observing and filming. He had his daughter Ramey do the work.Rhone at work making the fillings.Finished filling.Our turn to roll the dough.Rhone plating. His true calling is cooking.Mountain top bar.Giant Crystal.Himilayan salt room.
Wednesday, June 22
Thursday, June 23
We explored a local town near thie resort. This is typical remote Himalayan village life.