Temple Mania: Nepal Edition: Swayambhunath

I have a love hate relationship with monkeys.  On one hand they are probably one of the most interesting creatures to watch and interact with and they are always up to wacky hijinks, but on the other hand they are always  up to wacky hijinks and may actually be ta manifestation of pure evil keeping check on those holy monks inhabiting these temples.  Hold on to your sunglasses, leave your valuables in the car, and watch your back because the next stop is the monkey temple, Swayambhunath, overlooking all of Kathmandu on its highest peak.

People of Kolkata

Many many people... the very young, the very old, the very healty, the very sick.

Borneo hustle and bustle

On the coast of this jungle land lies Kota Kinabalu, with all of the fixin's of any other East Asian city. The pubs and restaurants, the music and sports cars, as well as the malls and markets sporting everything from Polo to Burger King. It represents a very interesting convergence of the agrarian culture that supports the majority of the populace and the prosperity found in many larger Malaysian cities. You can buy conch shells and stinky fruit; in one market stand and Timberland boots and a Spears CD in the next (not that I was looking).

Life along the Nam Song

After exiting the Laos capital of Vientiane, we headed a few hours north to a riverside town called Vang Vieng.  An awesome little town set against the backdrop of some amazing pinnacles that rise behind the Nam Song River.  It is really a majestic mountainous scene reminding me of a tropical version of any of the settings you might find along rivers of Montana or maybe Argentina.  Very cool vibe here with lots of outdoor adventures to help you risk your life if you are into that kinda thing.

This one is for the kids

Lots and lots o' kids in Cambodia. So many. Everywhere. They love to ride bikes, love to wave at barang, love to smile, and love to run around butt naked and as free as a Jay bird. Kinda cute, kinda creepy. Fortunately for them, there has been a lot done to help provide improved education and medical assistance over the last decade. Unfortunately for them, they still need more.

500 Cambodians per year

...die from landmines left over from previous decades of war. There are an estimated 2 - 5 million undetonated explosives in Cambodia. This is the reason for a traveler will see so many Cambodians missing a leg, hand, or other appendage and also the reason there are so many orphaned children struggling to survive in this land. There are many governmental organizations and NGOs trying to help those affected as well as those trying to de-mine the land. The Cambodian Land Mine Museum is an awesome example of what can be done as shown through the work of Aki-Ra, a former child Khmer Rouge soldier.  The anti-mine NGO he works with employs 17 Cambodians full time and operates on an annual budget, including salaries, office expenses, rent, and vehicle related costs of less than $3,900.

Nobody sleeps like the Japanese

In general the Japanese seem to be a very pleasant people... industrious, orderly, and conservative.  However, it appears to be common to fall asleep wherever and whenever the mood may strike.  Maybe this characteristic is a function of the exhausting hours people work or perhaps due to a penchant for large bottles of cheap rice wine.  Probably also a reason for the many hostess bars, french maid cafes, love hotels, and fantasy lounges must, for what I can only imagine as a means of release from the strict and rigorous daily grind in this country.