Hotel Summit Kathmandu

... beginner's eye the 5-6 foot waves were...ahem... "intimidating?". Oh, since this "heroic" cat's cover is out of the bag already - it's fair to say – they scared the **** out of me! It was the last, biggest and longest rapid stretch of the day. As luck, misfortune, or plain ol' lack of ability had it, I capsize before I even hit the first big wave! No problem! Escaping from the kayak I could do. However, my guide's well-intended rescue meant to keep me afloat soon became the antithesis ...

So our 2nd week of work on the Project site and its now really starting to get going, we have done an immense amount more ground clearing, dug 3 foot foundations for the staircase to the 2nd floor of the learning centre, cut and bent a load of steel bars into rectangles for supports in the concrete, started making cement and laying bricks (with the aid of skilled workers) for the staircase and cleared all the iron and bricks from the school playground....so an ...

... called the Maya Bar and get a couple rum and cokes. After about 20 minutes, someone decided to put on Pearl Jam Ten Album and I knew instantly that things were going to be OK. How weird or dangerous of a place could you possibly be in if there is Pearl Jam and Rum, I'm in my element. Ended up getting a full on Indian dinner for a bout $8, i always wanted to try Indian food, so now seemed like a good time, until 3 hours later.<br><br>

... nd, h*ppily, we m*de it to the P*god* on the top. Which m*de being p*ssed out by old l*dies, in b*re feet, sting slightly less. The following d*y, Th*nh *nd I got lost in the b*ck streets of the town, which w*s much more fun th*n continuous sc*rf shopping with Ey*l, *nd we *lso climbed Lion Hill, which w*s * cinch *fter Eleph*nt Hill. I *lso got to we*r * red p*nd* on my he*d, which thrilled *nd disturbed me in equ*l p*rts.<br><br>We got *nother bus to Zhongdi*n, which Chin* h*s ...

... at every angle.<br>In the afternoon we had our relaxing dug out canoe ride down the river. We had to be careful to not lean too much one way or another or we would have all been in the water. We saw three crocodiles so that was great incentive to stay very still!<br>Unfortunately my health took a turn for the worst on Sunday and I couldn't go to school or the orphanage and have since come down with a very nasty cold and cough. Greg left monday morning to go trekking so have ...

... this point we were just in shock! <br><br>The hostel is ok, although we haven't actually stayed were we are supposed to, we have switched rooms twice to different hotels near to the hostel we are meant to be staying! the rooms are very basic and bathrooms rank but bearable. We spent our first evening walking around Thamel, which is the backpackers district of Kathmandu where we are staying. Thamel is a really bustling place, people everywhere, everything ...

... away from Surya's home and from the hospital which is great since he can check in on it, and if anything happens medical care is close by. <br><br>And did I mention how peaceful, serene, and idyllic it is here? Perfect environment for abandoned and orphaned kids to grow up in, I think.<br><br>Not surprisingly, I have no headaches here and my voice is coming back. It better stay when I go back to Ktm. <br><br>After the orphanage site visit, we visited people from ...

... clipped to the side of his short hair. We all laugh as she continues her hair styling. Contrast...<br> <br> Later on we go to the living room, Kp invites the other volunteers and serves his home made rice beer and Kusi starts us off dancing to Nepali music as she laughs and prances around. Such a happy and loved child. Her father and Arnej soon join her while Suni and I laugh at how the men dance. Kind of like animated chickens. Bok, bok, Bok-kah!<br> <br> In madness and ...

We started our trekking in Dhunche after a 6 hour jeep ride from Kathmandu. We stopped in Trisuli Bazar for dal bhat lunch and continued the altitude climb arriving in Dhunche late afternoon. After a reasonable sleep, we walked down the switchback roads to Syabrubesi, essentially the end of the road, although the Chinese are building a road from the north from the Tibetan border. Why are the Chinese building roads into Nepal, one may ask??<br ...

... went to a couple of the local sites. We went to Durbar Square, Pashupatinath, Monkey temple and Bodhnath.<br>At Durbar Square we had a guide show us around all the temples. The most interesting thing we learnt was that the people worship a living godess who happens to be a 3 year old little girl!!! She is only aloud out of the temple three times a year and thats only for festivals. The funniest thing we ...