On Saturday morning, Shree, the family driver, drove Amy, Ethan, Gideon, and me through the winding back streets of Kathmandu, up into the hills to Kopan Monastery. This Buddhist monastery is perched on a high hilltop, effectively distancing it from the hustle and bustle of the crowded city below. It is peaceful and breezy, an ideal place for reflection and meditation. The monastery is home to Buddhist monks ranging in age from six or seven years old to eighty or more years old. It also serves as a Buddhist retreat center for visitors from around the globe.
The four of us had a very peaceful morning exploring the grounds of the monastery, admiring the hilltop views of the city, watching the monkeys and birds, reading the inspiring quotes posted on the walls, and observing the antics of the playful young monks.
From Kopan, we made our way back to town and met up with Mike at the U.S. embassy club and commissary. After some American-style grocery shopping, we all headed to one of the family’s favorite lunch spots, Che Caroline, a French restaurant located in Babur Mahal Revisted.
Babur Mahal Revisted is a fabulously restored series of outbuildings that once served the Rana Palace (the Ranas ruled Nepal from 1846 to 1951). It’s a ritzy little respite from the ruckus that is Kathmandu. Wandering through the narrow walkways and cozy courtyards transported me back to the time of Casablanca and old school expat society life. It was a surreal spot, so different from the Kathmandu that I’ve gotten a bit used to this past week.
We enjoyed an excellent lunch before heading over to Patan Durbar Square… coming up next.
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