Patan one year and three months after the quake

パタンダルバール広場　地震から1年3ヶ月

Complex of temples

Patan Durbar Square is a 17th century royal palace complex filled with temples and monuments. Since this World Heritage site was badly damaged by the quake on April 25th, 2015, one year and three months has past. I went back there to learn the post-quake reconstruction work under way. It has a lot of fences surrounding temples I wanted to see them closer actually.

Vishwanath Mandir

Hence a lot of travelers were walking there and you can enjoy seeing them.

Preservation

I am concerned about way to preserve. If I have world heritage sites are situated in my neighborhood, I will ride a bike there to see it sometimes. But will I park my bike in 　the site ? No...!
But here you will see many mortar bikes parked in front of monuments and temple.

 Nepali people don't mind such things seemingly. They are kind of generous??

Krishna Mandir

This Mogul-influenced Krishna Mandir survived the quake are standing still there. Even... people are relaxed and sitting on there....

Krishna Mandir

寺院が並ぶ

パタンのダルバール広場は寺院やモニュメントであふれた17世紀の王宮コンプレックスです。この世界遺産が2015年４月25日の地震で激しく傷ついてから、１年と3ヶ月経ちました。 そこを再び訪れると、まだ再建の最中でした。寺院はフェンスに囲まれてます。 もう少し近づいて見たかったな。
とはいえ、沢山の旅行者がいっぱい。観光を楽しめます。

保存

ただ保存方法が心配だ・・もし近所に世界遺産があったら、そう、自転車で見に行ったりするかもしれない。でも自転車をその中に止めるかなあ？ いやー止めないなあ。
でもここでは止められたるのです。ネパールの人、気にしてなさそう。寛容っていうのかな？

クリシュナ寺院

地震の影響を受けなかったモンゴルの影響を受けたクリシュナ寺院も、そこに静かに立っています。みんな座っちゃってたりするけど。

Old and New

新旧

Konpira Gu in the middle of buildings

As you know, Tokyo is one of the biggest city in the world.

While we see skyscrapers, we can see a plenty of old temples and shrines in Tokyo.

Sometimes they are seen at the same time as blow.

integration of a modern building and an ancient shrine 

This shrine is built in the middle of Tokyo where is near the governmental area, Sakurada-mon, Konpira Gu. The Torii of it is standing out with its unique animal statues on itself.

Zojoji Temple and Tokyo tower

Behind of the temple, we see a tall building. 

a beautiful combination of new and old things

They are Tokyo Tower standing 333 meters high and Zojoji Temple standing next to Tokyo Tower. The temple was built in the year 1393 initially. And it was moved its present location in 1598. The contrast of the modern architecture and the ancient architecture is awesome.

Prayer Wheel （Mani Wheel ）

マニ車

Prayer wheel is from Tibetan Buddhist. You would see them in Ruddiest temples in Nepal. There are some kinds of prayer wheels, hand-held small one , large one as like in the pics.

According to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition, spinning such a wheel will have much the same meritorious effect as orally reciting the prayers.

They do spin large ones. I did. I joined an uncle spinning a large one. I didn't need to push it strong because he did. If I tried to begin spinning only by myself, it would have needed me more power....

When I saw a large one for the first time, something came in my mind. Yes this.

This is bell in Japanese Buddhist temples. We don't spin it but ring it. Doesn't it similar Mani wheel?

マニ車は、チベット仏教のものです。ネパールのお寺にいくとあります。手で持つタイプもあれば、写真のような大きなものなど、いくつかの種類があります。

チベット仏教によれば、車を回転させると、回転させた数だけ経を唱えるのと同じ功徳があるとされています。
もちろん大きなマニ車も回します。回しました。先におじさんが回していたので、その勢いを借りて回しましたけど、自力だったら重たかったんじゃないだろうか・・。

初めて大きいマニ車を見たとき、或るものを思い出しました。そう、これ。
日本のお寺にある鐘です。まわすんではなく、つくんですけどね。似てますよね・・？

Swayambhunath ~ A lot of ..... in Monkey Temple

沢山の .....

small temples and statues

Swayambhunath is a religious complex consisting of stupas, small temples and monuments and images of deities. You will see many statues surrounding the most famous huge stupa after you climb up the stairs.

Swayambhunath complex

monkeys

And you will see a lot of monkeys... of course.

stealing foods offered....

houses

You will see the overwhelming scenery of residential areas from the top.

 a lot of houses are spreading out

小さい仏堂と像

スワヤンプナートは、ストゥーパや小さい仏堂やモニュメント、像の宗教的な複合施設です。階段を上りきると、有名な大きなストゥーパを取り囲む沢山の像が目に入ります。

おサルさん

もちろんさるたちも沢山・・・

住宅

頂上からは圧倒される住宅地の風景が目に入ります。

Swayambhunath ~Vajra or Dorje in the Monkey Temple

モンキーテンプルのドルジェ（金剛杵）

on the top

You will see the big Vajra or Dorje (in Tibetan) at the top after you manage to climb up so many steps reaching the main entrance.

Varja or Dorje is a ritual Tibetan esoteric Buddhist object that represents a thunderbolt and spiritual power.

Vajra or Dorje 

When I visited this Monkey Temple, the weather was so nice and actually so hot that I managed to climb up steps. When I reached the top, I was already exhausted and overlooked this giant thing. I realized it was there and took pics of it. It is more likely "Golden"!!.

Vajra or Dorje 

頂上に

沢山の階段をなんとか登り切ると、頂上には、大きなヴァジュラまたはドルジェ（チベットではこう呼ばれる）が見えます。

ヴァジュラまたはドルジェは、チベット密教の法具で、雷と霊力の象徴らしいです。


わたしがモンキーテンプルにいったときは、すごい良いお天気で、暑すぎて、なんとかやっと階段を上がりきりました。頂上についたときには、疲れきっていて、ヴァジュラまたはドルジェを見逃しちゃったんですが、後で気づいて写真を撮り。ゴールド！って感じですね。

Swayambhunath ~ Monkey Temple

スワヤンプナート

eyes

Swayambhunath is definitely one of the must-see when you visit Kathmandu. You may have seen this. There are two eyes painted on the stupa.

Swayambhunath　stupa

Monkey Temple

First you need to climb up 365 stone steps reaching the temple complex.

stone steps 

While you walking up there, someone would be welcome to you. Yes, they are monkeys. This temple is called Monkey Temple.

a relaxed monkey

You must be careful to them. In my case, I happened to see a monkey's eye to eye. The monkey was sitting on the handrail and staring at me. Once I had eye contact with it, I could not take my eyes off it that looked as if it was going to attack me.

Scary!

I took off my eyes so carefully and slowly passing by it.

モンキーテンプル

スワヤンプナートはカトマンズにいったら、訪れるべき場所の一つ。これみtことあるのではないでしょうか。ストゥーパに描かれた目。

まずは、365の石段を登らなくてはなりません。上がっている間、お迎えしてくれる人がいます。ハイ、猿たち。このお寺、俗にモンキーテンプルと呼ばれています。

猿には気を付けないといけないです。私の場合、ふと目が合ってしまいました。猿は階段の手すりにすわって、わたしを凝視してたんです。ひとたび目があったら、襲ってきそうな猿から、視線を外すことができなくなりました。
こわかった！
そっとゆっくり視線を外して、通り過ぎましたが。

Golden Temple in Nepal(Patan) and Japan(Kyoto)

"Golden temple" Kwa Bahal 

Kwa Bahal which is so called "Golden Temple". We also have "Golden Temple". Both are beautiful in Japan. Japanese one is called "Kinkaku-ji". It is situated in Kyoto which is one of the most popular places to visit among travelers.

Golden temple in Patan

Kinkaku Temple in Japan

Guarding inner shrine 

 I liked a pairs of these statues in both sides at the entrance They are like Komainu in Japanese shrines maybe. But another statues are sitting on their heads. Japanese Komainu doesn't have anyone on their heads, sitting on elephants. My picture doesn't cover entire elephants....

I didnt notice someone working inside when I took this picutre....

"ゴールデンテンプル"

クワ・バハール寺院はゴールデンテンプルと俗に呼ばれてます。日本にもゴールデンテンプルあります、そう、金閣寺。金閣寺は、観光客に人気のスポットの一つ京都にあります。

狛犬？

この像たちが気に入りました。日本の狛犬みたいなのかな。でも頭の上に別の像がいて、蔵の上に座ってますね。写真切れちゃってるけど、、。

English ability and Sightseeing in Japan ~ Visiting Yugawara

日本の観光と英語　湯河原編

Visit Yugawara

Today I visited Yugawara where one hour and thirty mins away from Tokyo. Yugawada is famous with its Onsens(Hot-springs).

manyou park(万葉公園）

Pigeons in Kathmandu’s Durbar Square

ダルバール広場の鳩

Kathmandu

I want to write about Kathmandu’s Durbar Square today. And before it, first I should learn about Kathmandu.

Kathmandu is located in the northwestern part of the Kathmandu Valley whose size is almost same as the Kofu valley in Japan. Five mountains surround this valley and the average elevation is 1,400 meters above sea level. The valley is bounded by Patan, Lalitpur & Bhaktapur. Patan is a beautiful city which deserve to visit!

The adorable destroyer in Kathmandu Durbar Square

The cute destroyer in the Durbar Square

ダルバール広場のかわいい破壊王

Kala Bhairava

At the first sihgt, I didn't think it is a diety. Because it has somehow a humorous appearance. It has big eyes and big accessories, big stomach.
This is a Hindu deity, Kala Bhairava. Kala Bhairava is a fierce manifestation of Lord Shiva. Shiva is the third god in the Hindu triumvirate and the destroyer. The triumvirate consists of three gods(The other two are Brahma and Vishnu) who are responsible for the creation, maintain and destruction of the world. He is standing on the northern corner in the Durbar Square, Kathmandu

The Swayambhunath and one temple, monkeys

スワヤンブナート寺院とあるお寺と猿

Dogs are everywhere

One of the most memorable things that happened in Nepal is.. seeing many dogs and monkeys.

You see street dogs waking and sleeping everywhere specially in Kathmandu. Dogs are believed to be messengers of Lord Yamaraj. Even there is a festival day celebrated the worship of dogs.
Really they are everywhere and I am afraid that one day I would step on them...

Monkeys monkey around

And monkey.Actually where I saw them was only two places in Nepal. One is in the Swayambhunath which is called "Monkey Temple" and another is a small temple which is located at the bottom of the hill where The Swayambhunath is located.
You may know the Swayambhunath is famous with its monkeys living there( there are dogs too but dogs are everywhere in Kathmandu).

But really the most unforgettable scene of monkeys to me was seen in the small temple. I saw one monkey snaked up on a bag of a monk while he left it for mins and looked into it to steal something from it!

Torii of Japanese Shrine

日本の神社　鳥居

Yasukuni Shrine

Today I walked back to my place for 40 mins, from meeting a friend of mine over dinner. On my way I walked through Yasukuni shrine which may be the most famous temple in Japan.
It is located in Kudanshita of Tokyo and there is a huge Torii at the entrance. The height is 25 meters. This temple is also famous with its cherry blossom trees. There are a plenty of Sakura trees pleasing our eyes if you visit there when it is the peak bloom of cherry blossoms.

the Seto Machhendranath and the Swayambhunath vs Japanese shrines

スワヤンブナートとセト マチェンドラナート

Eyes on four sides of Swayambhunath 

Speaking of Nepali temples, this eyes painted on the four sides of the spire of stupa may be famous.This is the Swayambhunath in Kathmandu and the eyes are Buddha's eyes.
We also have Buddhist temples and shrines here in Japan but it is not common for them to have eyes. And the eyes are actually like cartoons and even they have eyebrows too. They look funny a bit.... But these Buddha's eyes mean a lot. Question-marks between each pairs of eyes is the Nepali character for the number 1. They lead us to one way to reach enlightenment or became awakened.
Anyway this style is pretty different from our temples and shrines.