Nepal Homestay - Muna'S Family Kathmandu

... did a load more digging and ground clearing in preparation for, yet another set of stairs. Tom (my roomy) is convinced the principle of the school has the worlds largest slinky collection, on account of the amount of stairs he wants around the school!!!!!
The ground cleared we had to dig a 2 foot wide by 1 foot deep trench for the staircase footings. That done and levelled, we were told to dig the trench another foot deeper!!!! True Nepali communications at their best!!!! But ...

... stunning views of the river valley below. In the mist and silence, the trail is ours, with only a few stray porters carrying 50-pound loads with bare feet. We continue up into the clouds. Near small stone houses, frayed prayer flags snap in the wind. In the far distance, to the north, I see snow-capped peaks. Kenja is somewhere in the valley several thousand feet below, where sunlight and shadow mix in the trickle of a river.
Kathmandu, Nepal travelclubnepal

... to much to it. My birthday actually wasn't the highlight of the course, because my mind was a bit distracted. I realized I miss my friends and family and want to see them. Thank you all for the e-mails!! Now thinking back about it I will know that I will never forget that day, so it was special in that way, and I will also never forget this course. The food was good, best Dal Bhat (rice and vegetable curry) I ever had and also hot breakfasts with ...

... was very helpful. Acutally from nepalonline they also advised to get a lot of my trekking gear like rain jacket over in Kathmandu, I saved a small fortune by getting my gear over in Kathmandu, heaps cheaper.

Our trek along to Base camp was so great, everystep of the way was inspiring mountains which one day i hope to climb, trekking through the snow and know your nearly at base camp when you can see and hear massive ...

... and could probably have future careers in the Metal work industry...though with our 5 iron bars to a saw blade ratio we might not last a week, because the Nepali saw blades ARE top notch!!!! honest.
Some of us are becoming expert boulder smashers with a sledge hammer and come equipped with a whole squad of teachers/experts who come out of the wood work as soon as you strike a stone!!! Bless em.
I have just finished my week as monitor which included me doing weekly ...

... the afternoon arranging my trekking trip for the rest of my stay here. But it seems to be a really vibrant place, and I'm looking forward to exploring more tomorrow.

So far, travel has been relatively smooth. Only one minor incident - a bottle of 100% DEET that exploded inside my toiletries bag. On the plus side, my bag now carries the sweet, sweet smell of bug repellant, and I didn't like my old toothbrush anyway. Knocking on wood that that's the worst thing that happens...

... just sitting there waiting to pounce when i hear from my left "Do you need a hotel, Sir?" Bingo. Little man hooks us up with a hotel and a cab ride for 1150 rupees, about $16.

The taxi ride from the airport is totally jaw dropping. I have never seen anything like this in my life. I have never seen anything close to the poverty, mayhem, and disrepair of Kathmandu. There are people, dogs, rickshaws, motorcycles, taxis, buses ...

... d *nd S*r* *ll but kissed Nim*. We refuelled *t Tingri, since the *rmy h*d requisitioned *ll fuel *t Ny*lm* *nd further. Since Tingri is b*sic*lly Nowhere with the bonus of * t*rred ro*d, Nim* h*d to check the petrol by t*sting it, then the seller pumped it out of * c*n with * h*nd cr*nked pump. I w*s beginning to look forw*rd to going B*ck to the Future. It w*s d*rk for * few hours before we got to Ny*lm*, *nd we were st*ying in * r*ther m*nky guesthouse, but it w*s * few hundred ...

... deadline so I'm taking a break. Lol.

I have to say I'm also missing familiarity. Knowing people. Friends, family. One month and I am homesick or at least I miss a few good people. You know who you are. Yeah, maybe even YOU. :) I also miss a few odd things I cannot possibly get here, like certain foods. Canada is so diverse. You can eat any kind of food you want!

Everyone here tells me I'm working a lot. Sure, I know but if I do this fast, the ...

... purchase logs and bags of cow butter and construct a pyre. Then they carry out the body which was warped in plastic (having come from the hospital), and then wrapped in orange clothe. His young widow was crying and screaming, she could hardly stand. She took off her red bangles-- the color worn by married women-- and placed them into a plastic bag and broke them. She then put these and the rest of her jewelry onto the body, and then-- aided by others-- she walked ...