Hotel Potala Kathmandu

... and in true Nepali style we had to dig back a further foot to fit in the steps, due to us using the beauties of a tape measure!!!! Bless em!!!!
Jan (a german volunteer) and I did an immense amount of rock breaking this week, clearing a good 5 boulders in one day and clearing most of the work site and school area in general, we did ofcourse have to hand over to our resident teacher/experts as usual!!!! But credit where its due they played their part and helped us alot, although ...

... made it as high as the North Col, at 22,700 feet, whetting their appetite for the higher reaches of the mountain.

We climb higher still, and the latticed farmlands are replaced by thick forests of blue pine, fir, and juniper — flowers the Sherpas burn in ceremonies, much like Native American tribes used sage. The rhododendrons are in bloom: big, full trees blossoming red and pink and white. They sweeten the air ...

... least... I am quite a skeptical person as it comes to these non-scientific things (as most of you know...), but I am convinced that it did something with me. Tonight some celebration with my mates-of-silence at a good pizza place and perhaps even a beer (ok, I haven't changed that much of course...)

My plan is to stay about 2 weeks more in Nepal and then head back to India to seek some warmth in the south, because here it is also getting colder...

... and I could walk at our own pace and not be in a group environment where there were very slow ppl which makes you slow down. We came across this group who were freezing and waiting in the snow for the slow ppl in there group to arrive. I was so glad we decided to go independantly and with our own guide.

any questions please feel free to contact me, ill be going back to nepal soon for another adventure.

cheers

... 1493;תי על כל מה שקורה בקאטמ 88;נדו, והכיר 92; לי את ה"טמל", רובע התייר 97;ם בעיר. במלון שלה לא היה מ ...

... hotel Sir" Fists unclenched... We actually got a pretty sweet spot, right in Thamel Square, which is the main tourist section (In a place like Kathmandu, you WANT to be in the tourist section) and down a side alley so it is quiet.

We go check out the area and it is just total madness. Is it a 1 way street, is it even a streeet? is there parking allowed? who has the right of way between a rickshaw and a 125cc motorcycle ...

... t * cow e*ting out of * g*rb*ge c*n, but *ttr*cted * dog with ticks *ll over his re*r end b*ck to the bus, *nd he wouldn't let *nyone else get on. R*lph tried to shoo him off, but the dog cle*rly didn't underst*nd either Germ*n or English, *nd Nigel ended up pulling him off by the scruff off the neck, before *mput*ting his *rms to cle*n them. I'm joking of course, but the dog w*s pretty disgusting.

Zh*ngmu w*sn't f*r, but we h*d to time our drive precisely to coincide with ...

... a lot later but for now let him have a blast while I go slightly mad. He promised to pour me a good drink when I finally get there. I'll need it by then and more than one I'm sure. Blah blah. I'll stop whining now. I am in beautiful Nepal and will be going to the famous Chitwan National Wildlife Reserve and Pokhara soon.

Birds & Stuff
There are so many bird species here. I have no idea what they are, only that we do not have them. Perhaps a bird ...

... burning logs and ash into the river. The whole thing takes about 30 minutes. And the ghat is quickly occupied with the next body.

On the left side of the river are ghats for royalty and the hospice. When a person goes to the hospice and it seems death is very near, they are laid out by the river for some ceremonies that I don't know too much about. But, if you happen to die during these ceremonies, it is considered very lucky for you and for your ...