shiva's birthday and a wedding

I can't believe it's been almost 2 weeks since i've written.. shiva only knows where the time as gone.
Ok Shiva's birthday was March 6th.. and it was amazing.. krishna brought me to the temple in kathmandu.. Pashupati which is the largest shiva temple in the world and devout Hindus pilgrimage from all over to come here for his birthday.. the Sadus' are given bus tickets from India to attend.. and are they a sight.. i'll get sending pics later.. everyone is smoking pot and hash.. god what a trip.. we went to the temple for 2 days before the big party and actually i liked the days before better as it wasn't insanely crowded.. and everyone wants money.. the sadu's the beggars it's unreal.. it's like an Ingmar Bergman movie.. smoke and fire everywhere.. they burn wood in honor of Shiva.. also this is the crematorium.. and it's quite a blessing to be burned on shiva's birthday.. well the day of this birthday.. we brought the kids.. rama, jaya, Bj and umanga who is krishna's nephew and me, krishna, umanga's mom and krishna's mom.. all got in a cab the size of my little car or smaller.. it's a vision.. and off we went.. well the line to get into the temple on that day was over a 4 hour wait.. but before that.. the cab could only go so far as the streets were closed off so people could pilgrimage on foot.. a long way.. and there we all were ,, in throngs of people wandering down the street towards the temple..there were all kinds of street vendors hawking their wares, cotton candy. hand made flutes,, you name it..it was for sale somewhere on that street along with street food.. lots of little wagons that cook beans and popcorn.. quite clever how they do that actually. we finally got there.. sorry for digressing.. and as i said people had been on the line to get in for over 4 hours and it would be another 4 for us.. forget it.. i said and kirshna being the trekking guide that he is.. had us doing the anapurna trail, kathmandu style.. we were humping it over and around.. one place we had to hold on to a fence to stay on the little road way.. krishna's mom and myself.. it was unreal.. but we made it in there and it was crazy full of people.
we checke out all the sadus'.. and have lots of pictures to share.. people were high on pot everywhere.. the whole place was a smoke den.. what a trip.. but then we tried to leave and there's a bit of a trick some of the pick pockets pull.. when you head towards the bridge to get out.. they push the crowd so people are squished and scarey really.. and pick pockets.. well a police man tried to help us across the bridge.. he took my hand and we all made a bit of a trail toward the bridge with tons of other people.. and then the surge came and we had to go back as we were crushed an it wasnt' t worth it.. krishn's sister and son made it across.. but w went the other way so some japanese tourist behind us got pick pocketed.. bummer..
i had my money in my bra.. that would've been over the top..
so i'll write a bit about the wedding and then i promised to cook some momo's for the kids..
i went to Kamala's sister, Gonga's wedding today.. i had a modern sari made for the occasion and Kamala took me shopping for shoes.. they are something else.. anyway.
it was beautiful and so different.. really steeped in ritual.. so colorful ..i used up a whole photo card taking pictures and there are a few really great ones.. like Gonga's hands with Bindi.. they call Mindi on them. gorgeous.. she was so beautiful. all in red.. and i'll describe more later.. but the most touching part.. well one of the most touching parts was when her family turned her ove to her husband..he had his arms around her and her family had their hands together with their palms out and someone was pouring water over them.. this was letting her go to her husbands family.. and then the end when she was getting into the car with her husband and parents.. her family,, the sisters were crying as she was no longer in their family.. i was starting to cry as well as the bride was crying as she was going to miss them.. she lived with her older brother..
but,, the couple will live together in kathmandu and see her family all the time.. but it was so sweet.
ok.. got to go.. love you all, miss you very much and i start classes with AAma Bombo this week.. she is wonderful. went to her village with her and her sister and a translator yesterday..
the days are filled.. more webpage work.. and on and on..
love you,
shoshana