We have had two packed days in Katmandu, packed with Pagodas, Stupas, narrow streets, people and processions and a couple of "burials" - but we will get to that. At the end of our whirlwind visit the impression I will take away is that of a village that has grown into a city way too fast. With a population of around 4 million the roads and other infrastructure seem totally inadequate. But never the less the place is fascinating. Many of the historic and religious buildings are situated in "squares" that are still part of the public life of the city. So for example while standing looking at a particularly impressive Pagoda one can be passed by a tractor pulling vegetables.

The streets are chaotic places full of activity, people, dogs, cows and even in places monkeys all striving to go about their business. I should not forget the motor bikes, scooters, peddle bikes, cars, tractors, and carts that certainly add to the mix.

On the morning of the second day we went to Pashupatinath Temple on the banks of the Bagmati River and saw preparations underway for a number of cremations. Initially the only sign of the coming activity were the platforms of logs that would eventually be the funeral pyres. But in time groups turned up carry a deceased and proceeded to place the deceased body on a ramp on the river edge where various relatives of the deceased splashed water from the river on the feet and face of the deceased, wrapped the body in white linen and then a saffron cover before moving the body to one of the funeral pyres. It seems that the burning takes about 3 hours and after the fire is finished the ashes are pushed into the river thereby returning the "elements" of the body whence they came.