The Streets of Kathmandu

The moment you step into the streets of Kathmandu, the sights, sounds, and smells overwhelm your senses. The air is thick with dust and humidity, and it's not surprising to find that this city is one of the most polluted in the world. Depending on the wind, you may catch the scent of incense or tea, or sweat and garbage. That variability fits in with a city that is both vibrant and full of life, yet desperate and frenzied at the same time.

Navigating the streets here is an elaborate game that requires heightened senses. There is plenty to watch out for. Avoid the taxis, motorcycles, and bicycle rickshaws that compete for space on the narrow roads. Ignore the promises of the salesmen and the pleas of the beggars, no matter how badly you want to try to lift these people out of poverty. Be aware of the skinny, flea-bitten dogs and their waste left on the side of the road. At the same time, do not neglect the life and joy around you. See the bright colors that fill the pashmina shops and decorate the tiny houses. Notice the children happily splashing in the remnants of the last monsoon shower. Watch the devout circle the temples that are interspersed among grocery stores and homes, as a reminder of how important religion remains to these people. Kathmandu does not merely let you visit; you must become a temporary part of the chaos that characterizes life here. 

These are just a few of my first impressions of Kathmandu. I am sure that every day will continue to surprise me. The highlight of our second day in the city was a visit to Monkey Temple, a Buddhist holy site famous for its- you guessed it- monkeys! They wander around the hundreds of steps leading up to the top of the hill, where a collection of temples overlooks the city. 

The view is stunning, with the urban sprawl of Kathmandu fading into the smog when it reaches the mountains in the distance. 

One of the aims of the preterm team is to look into adoption of Kangaroo Mother Care, which emphasizes skin-to-skin contact between mothers and newborns as a way to keep babies warm and promote bonding. Although we do not start our clinical visits until Monday, we saw a shinning example of Kangaroo Mother Care in this monkey and her baby!

We spent the rest of the day exploring the city, including the famous tourist destination, Garden of Dreams. After a few successful ventures into Nepali dining, we decided to try Kathmandu's take on Italian by ordering a few pizzas, and they were pretty good! We have one more free day before we start our field work in the hospitals, and with how our trip has gone so far, we're sure to have a good time.