The day we returned to Patan

Ah Saturday ...
Tiphaine's only day off this week, so we took full advantage! Woke up not too late, took the road to Patan for a second visit. Yes, the last time it was Wednesday, and it was such a mess (see "The day the Krishna festival came to town”) we couldn't see anything.

Once there, a good heavy monsoon downpour. A violent rain that lasts. Wearing flip-flops we gave our feet a bath by accident. We were looking for Durbar Square, but we got lost in a few of the small streets of Patan, beautiful and almost secret. Its quiet here, little traffic, so little noise. Randomly we find a Hindu temple and a beautiful statue of the Buddha. Further along, a stupa and people dressed with faithful colors coalescing under a small canopy to avoid the rain drops. This is a really nice place!

And then we arrive at Durbar Square, which was previously packed with people tough now just a few hundred. We start with the Patan Museum, one of the best in the country apparently.

Indeed, we are not disappointed! The museum is located in the former royal palace. A beautiful brick building with windows in dark carved wood. Worth the trip! And in the museum is a series of statuettes, with excellent explanations that allow (finally) to navigate a few of the thousands of Hindu deities. On the Buddhist side, we are told how to recognize this or that form of Buddha, by studying the position of the legs, hands, or special characteristics (Tara has 7 eyes, etc). For instance we learn that too sit on a chair with two legs touching the ground is called here "sitting European style." It made us smile, because for us it seems so obvious! Must say that the Nepalese have a good half a dozen ways to sit: Type lotus feet in the groin, or just crossed legs, or one leg crossed / one leg extended, or kneeling or standing diagonally...

The importance of these two religions in Nepal is also explained, as well as their birth and spread in South Asia. Note, Buddhism and Hinduism have coexisted for such a long time that for many they have merged and some practice both. Really interesting!

Upon leaving, we did a little tour of the place: there were speeches, music, songs, sellers etc. In fact, there appears to be a political event for the upcoming elections. The flags are red with a hammer and sickle. It smells like the Communist Party! A little later, a series of concerts and dances are organized to raise funds to support victims of floods in the monsoon. Anyway, it's not a mess like Wednesday, but it isn't quiet either! But without this constant agitation, day and night, I think we would eventually get severely bored...

The last photo, for those who have the courage to look at all, it is the Leaning House. It belongs to our neighbors, and we wonder how the house survived the earthquake. It's the tower of Pisa for Nepalese!