Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal

On January 19, 2024January 19, 2024 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Nepal2 Comments

One of the more unique experiences that we had during our trip to Kathmandu was to visit the Pashupatinath Temple, which is dedicated to Pashupati, a form of Shiva. The temple sits on the Bagmati River and one of the things that makes it unique are the Hindu cremation ceremonies, called an Antyesti, that take place along the river adjacent to the temple. For Westerners, seeing the ceremonies might seem strange, but it is an important ritual in the Hindu religion.

There are several stone platforms on either side of the temple and while we were there, most of them were being used to perform cremations. Family members that are able to make it to the ceremony gather around as the body is prepared and placed on wood that has been stacked on the platforms. The ceremony is performed soon after the family member is deceased, typically within a day, so often times not all family members are able to make it to the ceremony.

Our guide talked to us about some of the reasons behind the cremation ritual, some of it is pragmatic, but most of it is spiritual. Some who follow the Hindu religion believe that if you bury a person and create a headstone or location to visit after their passing, it keeps the living from moving on with their lives and causes them to continue grieving. The burning of the body allows their human spirit to rise to the afterlife and then the final remains are swept into the Bagmati River which is another way that allows the spirit to move on.

There are vendors selling food and other gifts in the area and it is important to remember that these are celebrations of the life of the person who passed. We also saw some cows grazing in the open areas near the temple and we learned that at times when a person was cremated their animals were released and allowed to live free. It was definitely an interesting experience and not like anything we had ever visited during our various travels.

Experiencing Local Life at the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village in Rwanda

On September 21, 2023September 21, 2023 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn Rwanda2 Comments

After trekking in the rainforest to spend time with the gorillas, we then went to visit the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village where we spent time learning all about the local life in the Rwanda countryside. It was a very interactive experience as we were given the opportunity to play drums, grind sorghum for banana beer, and test our archery skills. As we walked among the huts, our local guide explained to us all about daily lives of the people that have lived in this part of the country for hundreds of years.

From the moment that we entered the village, we were warmly greeted by the music of drums and the local villagers dancing in their authentic ceremony garments. The men wear dramatic blonde wigs, which they flip dramatically around as they dance making for quite the impression. We also had the opportunity to visit the king’s hut with its large bed and learned of the local traditions and rituals. Whether it was making banana beer, creating bee hives, or learning about the role of the medicine man, each hut that we visited was fascinating.

Quite the Performance

As with many villages that provide these types of cultural experiences, there is also the opportunity to buy handmade goods created by the villagers. The money goes towards the community, which is important as it encourages the local communities to embrace tourism and keeps them from poaching wildlife from the surrounding national park. Prior to tourists coming to Volcanoes National Park to trek to the gorillas, many of the villagers would trap gorillas to sell their hands as well as trap the mountain elephants and other animals to sell to people outside of the country. Rwanda has made great strides in reducing the number of poaching incidents and ensuring that the local people make enough money without needing to resort to trapping animals.

Wedding Ceremony Dance

Although spending time with the gorillas is clearly the highlight of going to Volcanoes National Park, visiting the Iby’Iwacu Cultural Village was certainly still a wonderful experience. Considering we did both the trekking and the village visit on our first full day in Rwanda, we were certainly off to a tremendous start to our time in this interesting country. We definitely slept very well that evening before getting up early to move on to our next adventure within Rwanda.

Seeing the Changing of the Guards at Buckingham Palace

On October 5, 2020October 5, 2020 By Isobar ExpeditionsIn England2 Comments

Seeing the changing of the Queen’s Guards at Buckingham Palace is truly a memorable experience. The iconic ceremony draws hundreds of people to see the not only the guards, but the marching band that marches its way around the Victoria Memorial to the entrance of the palace. Buckingham Palace serves as the residency of the Royal Family as well as the administrative headquarters of the monarch.

Although the ceremony has been put on hold due to the number of people that it draws to the location, when it resumes it is well worth taking the time to see if you are in London. We were fortunate enough to have a mostly sunny day to watch the guards march in front of the palace entrances. Even if you don’t make it to the changing of the guard, simply seeing the palace is worth the visit. If you do go to the changing of the guards, be sure to go early if you want to get a good view as people line up early to see the ceremony.