Have you been to Kathmandu, Nepal? Dare I say it’s the most fun city you’ll ever visit?

Fun is somewhat of an arbitrary word, but for the most part, I’ll characterize it by this: Fun is when the people that surround you (in this instance the Nepalese) are the most hospitable, kind people you’ll ever meet; There’s plenty of hiking with lots of day trips, the food is outstanding (and extremely cheap), they have delicious pomegranate, apple, orange and banana smoothies (also extremely cheap); if that’s not enough to spur your energy to book tickets immediately to Kathmandu, they also have a monkey temple. Let’s hop in.

Monkey Temple

Up, Up, Up

Monkey Temple, or Swayambhunath in Tibetan, is a mix of temples, shrines, and a stupa that all sit atop a major hill within Kathmandu. It’ll take a couple breaths to get up this one. There is a separate entrance if you go around the side that offers a more gradual climb if that is something you’re in to. It’s a little more off the beaten path (so I suggest it), and it sure beats climbing straight up some stairs built back in the 17th century. Either way is fine though.  

Swayambhunath

The Tibetan name for Swayambhunath, is “Sublime Trees. This is due to the wide variety of trees found on top of the hill.

Surprised it’s not named for the monkeys? Don’t worry. You’ll see them shortly. As mythology goes, Manjushri, a bodhisattva associated with insight, was supposed to keep his hair short. However, he let it grow long and hair lice became attracted to him. These lice then grew to become monkeys. Now, they are holy monkeys and live along the hill of Monkey Temple!

Enlightenment

This is one of the oldest temples in Nepal dating back to the beginning of the 5th Century BCE. One of the interesting facts about this site is it is shared by both Hindus and Buddhists.

The eyes that you see atop one of the towers refers to when a person awakes into enlightenment.

Prayer wheels surround the stupa and feel free to walk (clockwise) around and spin them as you go. It is said that each spin is similar to saying a prayer out loud.

Walking to Momos

Walking around Nepal post-2015 earthquake, it’s heartbreaking seeing the destruction as the city struggles to put everything back together. It amazes you how they’re able to keep going with such a light spirit. Amazing.

The sites you see while walking around Kathmandu are colorful to say the least. Motorbikes weave in and out, temples and shrines pop out of nowhere, and the little momo shack I was talking about is right around the corner.

Intro to Momos

For those that don’t know, momos are very similar to dumplings, but not nearly as much fun to say. Momos.

With our host family, we made them from scratch.

This is me working the dough with “Mama” on the floor. Similar to dumplings, you fill the dough with whatever you want, steam them, and dip them in some kind of rich sauce.

The Best Chili Momos

When we arrived in this shack, there were two ladies eating in the corner. We saw a man behind a wok and I gestured if we could sit down. No one spoke English.

I put my hands up, pointed to the two ladies eating two plates, and put the sign for “2” in the air. He nodded in agreement and began cooking. About halfway through, he brought over some momos to the ladies. My eyes perked up.

This time I gave the sign for please with my hands together pressed as if I was praying and motioned to what he had just brought the girls. He smiled and laughed and agreed to make another batch for us.

It did not disappoint.

I’ll say it once. I’ll say it again. The experience sometimes is better than the food. A little shack, right off a busy road, just the one guy cooking, no one speaks English, and he crushes the meal. The food was fantastic. One of my favorite experiences I’ve ever had.

Monkey Temple and Chili Momos. Pow.