Otherworldly

The very last thing with did in Kathmandu was to visit the Hindu site where bodies are cremated on their final journey. 

There's a whole ritual associated with this, with starts with washing the body (not literally, but symbolically with holy water) at the bank of the river, then throwing into the river all the clothes of the dead person. The (covered) body is then taken by stretcher carried by the relatives to a pyre on the other side of a small bridge. 

The main relative (usually the eldest son or daughter) walks around the body three times with a lit flame in his hand, then starts the cremation in the mouth of the passed relative. The body is the covered in additional straw and wood for burning.

When the body has been fully cremated (3-4 hours), the remaining ashes and wood are tossed into the river. For Hindus, a 13-day mourning period starts; for Buddhists, it's 49 days.

I know that all sounds a bit morbid, but it was actually quite beautiful to observe, esp as night started setting. An interesting (and unexpected) note on which to close our journey...

Now some 28 hours of travel and layovers and we'll be back.  Wish we had the 'beam me up, Scottie" technology at this point....