
Text and Photos /Liu Sixiling
The 7.9-magnitude earthquake in Kathmandu — watching the continuously updated casualty reports, I was shocked and saddened, and kept praying for more miracles to rescue more trapped victims. I haven’t yet calmed down enough to write this article well, but I want to use my small effort to help everyone get to know and care about that city, and to rally more support in solidarity.
I’d like to start with an apology. It’s been several months since I got back, but I still haven’t managed to write the article about Nepal. I didn’t have the time to properly depict your beauty, so I can only gaze at your splendor through the painful glow of memory.


Maybe it’s this very fate that allowed me to truly understand that city.
In July 2014, we rode our bikes over the Himalayas from Tibet and spent 11 days in Nepal.
Because it was inconvenient to move our luggage around, we mostly wandered the urban area of Kathmandu.
We had toast for breakfast at the Buddha Land Hotel for ten days.
Latest update >>
I went through the photos from last year’s trip and made before-and-after comparison images of the earthquake. The contrast really shows the terrifying power of the quake. The earthquake images are sourced from online news outlets: CNN, ThinkProgress, Ultimas Noticias, Global Voices, Al Jazeera English, The Indian Express, and Quartz.
Nepal earthquake comparison pictures. The images are from CNN, ThinkProgress, Ultimas Noticias, Global Voices, Al Jazeera English, The Indian Express, and Quartz.
● Durbar Square

Nepal earthquake compares picture. The pictures by CNN、ThinkProgress.
● Patan

Nepal earthquake compares picture. The pictures by Global Voices.
● Patan

Nepal earthquake compares picture. The pictures by Ultimas Noticias.
● Bhaktapur

Nepal earthquake compares picture. The pictures by Al Jazeera English.
● Swayambhunath

Nepal earthquake compares picture. The pictures by The Indian Express.
● Bhimsen Tower

Nepal earthquake compares picture. The pictures by Quartz.
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Nepal and India share too many similarities, with occasional remnants of Tibet.
In Nepal, I loved the comfortable summers, the simple happiness of the people, and the brief pauses in life.

The most profound symbol of Nepal is this pair of Buddha eyes.
Our first encounter with them at Boudhanath filled me with awe.
In front of them, there are no lies.
It felt as if they could see through all aspects of human life and peer into the past and future.

%The most magnificent architectural %

We found a restaurant nearby and just stared at those eyes for a long, long time.
As if seeing through the weakness and determination within,
I also hope to have these wise and mysterious eyes,
that will help me maintain insight and read life with a serene heart.

The image of the Buddha's eyes at Swayambhunath Temple becomes even more profound,
with eagles circling tirelessly in the sky, gazing down with even wiser eyes.



After the earthquake >>

(Photo Credit: Ultimas Noticias)

(Photo Credit: Ultimas Noticias)
There are many lively monkeys on the mountain, performing acrobatics on the stupas,
and they are also called the "Monkey Temple" by tourists.


I visited Nepal in July, trudging through the muddy roads of the rainy season for days,
at one point feeling so stifled I thought I might rust.

Wandering into the alleys of the ancient city area, stepping into the lives of residents,
you encounter ancient relics every few steps.

Durbar Square is the first stop for travelers to get to know Kathmandu,
serving as the political and economic center of Nepal’s dynasties throughout history,
and was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979.
The magnificent and spectacular palace complex is like an architectural museum of Nepal, worthy of careful appreciation.



After the earthquake >>

(Photo Credit: Ultimas Noticias)
(Photo Credit: Ultimas Noticias)
Having suffered damage from a major earthquake in 1934, many buildings were once again ravaged, making the road to recovery and reconstruction a difficult one. Wishing you strength to rise again.

After the earthquake >>

(Photo Credit: Ultimas Noticias)
We ventured from the bustling city center into the quiet old neighborhoods, strolling through Patan Old City,
when suddenly a heavy and sudden afternoon rain poured down,
and I took shelter from the rain under the eaves with children and elders,
a peaceful and tranquil clarity, as pure as water — finally, I felt a sense of truly living in Nepal,
as if that single “rain” revealed the comfort of this serene, untroubled place.




That’s when I noticed the difference between Nepalese and Indian historical architecture,
Windows are the soul of Nepalese architecture,
every building facade is lined with rows of windows, each intricately carved,
the window frames soften the rigid structures, embodying the diverse expressions of life.


Bhaktapur is the most well-preserved cultural center in Nepal,
as if stepping into a medieval living scene.
Nyatapola Temple is the tallest temple in Kathmandu,
featuring five-tiered plinths and five-tiered roofs.

That day, we dined at a third-floor restaurant near the square,
overlooking the ancient city’s scenery from the third floor,
feeling the bustling crowds and timeless charm that has lasted for millennia.
Many stories may not make sense at the moment, but one day you will understand that everything happens for a reason.
%Jagat Narayan Temple? The 55 Window Palace

%Siddhi Lakshmi Temple

I love the quiet Changu Narayan,
the oldest temple in the Kathmandu Valley, like a forgotten town on the mountain,
with an ancient temple exuding a strong vintage charm,
its golden eaves shining brilliantly in the sunlight, perfect for satisfying the adventurous spirit of travelers.


We had pretty much covered the World Heritage Sites around Kathmandu by then, and the sense of fulfillment back then now brings nothing but reluctance and sorrow.

One day, the long-awaited blue sky finally appeared, so we went to the upscale Garden of Dreams to soak up the sun. We stumbled into a local dating hotspot — every seat and corner was filled with couples. Singles, please go sunbathe on the lawn.

We hadn’t originally planned to visit Bhimsen Tower,
but just as we entered the city area, I spotted the nine-story tower and took a photo of it.
On an unbearably idle afternoon, relying on the photo in my camera,
I invited everyone to go check it out. It’s a bustling local area, with a constant stream of visitors.
%The view from above is breathtaking

%And the surrounding architecture is stunning


Bhimsen Tower was built in 1832, damaged in the 1934 earthquake, rebuilt afterward, and then collapsed in this recent major quake, becoming one of the hardest-hit sites. Praying for a miracle to rescue more trapped people.

After the earthquake >>

(Photo Credit: Quartz)

(Photo Credit: Quartz)
All the current news focus is on the capital, Kathmandu, but I can’t help but worry about Pokhara, the epicenter of this major earthquake — is everything okay there?


We lived a tranquil life by the lake under the perennially snow-capped Machhapuchhre Peak, rowing our boat and swaying in the lake’s center as the sun set.

%季?纤?粒?┥轿???僖?肟?哪翘炜醇?阄卜辶恕</strong>

Life always calls for some time away in the distance,
living slow days, a slow life,
until the deep melancholy dries up under the warm sun,
the heavy panting eases in the gentle breeze,
and the fighting spirit ignites amidst the drizzle.
Rest well before setting off again, continuing the journey to the next stop.

%冀?醒肫?缶值拇灯?尥蓿?透?钡氐暮⒆樱?⒔痰妓?瞧?虻闹杏⑽牡プ帧</p>


A traveler turns around, and a lifetime passes.
Cherish every minute and second of the journey.
Many people, things, and moments, once gone, may never be found again in this lifetime.
I deeply treasure these out-of-print memories.


God bless Nepal!Prayers for Nepal!
This article is excerpted from“A Childlike Heart Venturing into the World”blog post. Please do not reproduce without permission.
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