Upon entering the airport the security guards blocked my entry because I didn't have a ticket. I tried to explain that they needed to let me in so that I can buy a ticket. The guard then explained to me that I needed to leave the airport compound into the city to an agency to get a ticket that I am not allowed to enter without a ticket. We went back and forth. Then finally I asked o ne of them to escort me inside to the counter so I can buy a ticket, so that I can have a ticket to be in the airport so that I can get onto a plane. After I passed the initial x-ray check, the guard did not follow or try to continue to explain how I can not enter without a ticket.
As I approached the counter lines, I was clear that I wanted to go to the right line but my body moved toward the left line with one person in line. It appear to be the shorter line and indeed it was. But it turned out to be the longer line because this person had trouble with her reservation and she was there for a long time. I moved back to the right line where there were lots of people but at least the line was actually moving.
When I approached the counter, the man told me the flight was full. My only chance was with Royal Nepal after 2:30pm for the after 5pm take off flight. I explain to him that such an arrangement was no good because I as a single female should not enter Delhi in the evening without housing arrangements etc.... He assured me that my safety was not a problem and of course I insisted it was. I told him I would appreciate it very much if he could find a way to arrange a possible seat for me that I didn't mind sitting and waiting.
So I sat opposite the counter for the next two hours and recited with my beads. All the airport security thought I was Nepalese and would approach me in Nepalese in attempt to move my bag incase it was suspiciously dangerous. As they approach they would see my Buddhist recitation beads and back away. Others would point to my clothes and show signs of approval after discovering that I was not Nepalese.
During the wait I met an Indonesian family who wanted to know how it was for me to travel alone. I responded by saying, " It can be scary at times and there would be be no one to talk things over." The reconmended that I visit Indonesia but warned me about getting kidnapped and sold as a single female traveling and no one would know you have disappeared.
Right before the counter closed I approached the counter and the man let me on with a seat. I had one hour before departure for boarding. This was new for me, usually it's twenty minutes before departure when boarding is called. I later learned why this was so. There were two other security checks after baggage check in one to enter the gate and one to board the plane. So in total there were three security check in this airport. Everytime there was a check, everything was rechecked top to bottom. The security took the battery out of my flash light but allowed me to keep my bottled water and all my lotions.
Showing posts with label Nepal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nepal. Show all posts
Mr. Gupta
Went to the tailor to pick up my outfits. The skirt was three inches too wide. The blue saraware was not cut to order. I asked for pockets but none was provided. Despite all that, it is really nice to have things tailored to my size and especially my height. Stopped at Mr. Gupta's for somosas. I really like his samosas.
Lunch it was more or less the same thing cooked by Anuja's mom. It's still the same weird feeling of full and hungry the same time. Even in my dreams I dream about being hungry. Afterwards we exchanged gifts. I handed them cards I made. Anuja gave me a friendship bracelet she made and Anar handed me beaded bracelets. Juno handed me 20 rupees just incase I needed it for the airport, I accepted it because she really wanted me to have it.
Suraj and Juno walked out to the street with me to get a cab. A cab was negotiated for me for 100 rupees. We parted for good.
Lunch it was more or less the same thing cooked by Anuja's mom. It's still the same weird feeling of full and hungry the same time. Even in my dreams I dream about being hungry. Afterwards we exchanged gifts. I handed them cards I made. Anuja gave me a friendship bracelet she made and Anar handed me beaded bracelets. Juno handed me 20 rupees just incase I needed it for the airport, I accepted it because she really wanted me to have it.
Suraj and Juno walked out to the street with me to get a cab. A cab was negotiated for me for 100 rupees. We parted for good.
Back in Chabhil
I took the a taxi back to Chabhil where the house is. I was happy and ready to go to India despite all of the missing and death stories of foreigners from Li Wei. Due to the Fog delay, I missed the option of taking the two Saturday buses to Delhi from Kathmandu, an insane ride of over 38 hours. So I think I will try for a flight out of Kathmandu into Delhi tomorrow.
Since it being a Saturday today, all the shops were closed here so I could not pick up my tailored clothes. I will wait to pick up my clothes first thing in the morning.
I took a luke warm shower and sat to wait for my hair to dry. Everyone in the house came into my room to chat with me to figure out what was going on and what my plans were. I am waiting to pick up my sarawa and then the flight. I ate three samosas, I was very hungry it was all I had all day except for tea.
I watched the "Pianist". It's just so hard to believe that was not that long ago that in our human history such suffering existed. It was such an irony, another one of life's twists. The people who killed his entire family ends up saving him in the end. The pain causer also became the pain healer. I am amazed he managed to stay sane through it all.
I think when I go home, I should really dedicate some time to learn the guqin. I really like that instrument. I feel it wakes up the different basic elements in my body.
Anuja seemed to have returned to her lovely self and so did the rest of the family. Whatever that weird bug was that was going around went away. Sometime people don't know how to duck and cover and get all caught up in the wind of habits. Anuja complained of feeling physically ill. I see that she is detoxing from all the craziness that happened. She's the stress sponge for the house.
Juno had packed and taken all her things and moved into Lotus Hotel Guest House in Boudha for 275 rupees a night including a private hot shower, toilet and towel. She really likes her mentor named Chris who did not select her to go on the India pilgrimage. She looked much more stable and happy. I am glad for her.
Since it being a Saturday today, all the shops were closed here so I could not pick up my tailored clothes. I will wait to pick up my clothes first thing in the morning.
I took a luke warm shower and sat to wait for my hair to dry. Everyone in the house came into my room to chat with me to figure out what was going on and what my plans were. I am waiting to pick up my sarawa and then the flight. I ate three samosas, I was very hungry it was all I had all day except for tea.
I watched the "Pianist". It's just so hard to believe that was not that long ago that in our human history such suffering existed. It was such an irony, another one of life's twists. The people who killed his entire family ends up saving him in the end. The pain causer also became the pain healer. I am amazed he managed to stay sane through it all.
I think when I go home, I should really dedicate some time to learn the guqin. I really like that instrument. I feel it wakes up the different basic elements in my body.
Anuja seemed to have returned to her lovely self and so did the rest of the family. Whatever that weird bug was that was going around went away. Sometime people don't know how to duck and cover and get all caught up in the wind of habits. Anuja complained of feeling physically ill. I see that she is detoxing from all the craziness that happened. She's the stress sponge for the house.
Juno had packed and taken all her things and moved into Lotus Hotel Guest House in Boudha for 275 rupees a night including a private hot shower, toilet and towel. She really likes her mentor named Chris who did not select her to go on the India pilgrimage. She looked much more stable and happy. I am glad for her.
Twelve Going Onto Seventy
I woke up early and was in resistance to getting up but I was clear I had to be out of the hotel by 6:45am for the 8am flight in the airport back to Kathmandu. That I had to take the plane and not the bus. Well, I don't have a plane ticket and I decided I would just pick one up at the airport. There was no time to meet up with Li Wei, Nassir, or Shabhil to part. In fact I would be missing my day with Shabhil. Oh well, just how it goes.
I made it to the airport in a few minutes. It's a really small town. There was fog this morning. All planes were grounded until the fog lifted a few hours later. Now I understood why I had to be here at 8am. Because I didn't have a plane ticket I had to get the first flight out. When the plane was able to take off hours later in the afternoon I would be one of the first ones on. If I was in the later flight, my flight would not take off till the evening. So it goes to follow good intuition at times.
While sitting outside by the runway with tea, I met Deepitka and her husband at the aiport. I first met her husband who walked by and spot me sitting and enjoying the view of the fog. He asked me, "Do I know you?" I smiled back, replying in my mind, not yet from this life time. I waited for more response from him before I spoke. He then asked me straight out if I was born on Dec. 8th. At this time I verbally replied and said, "Yes." He asked me if I was into numerology. I told him I'm into a whole bunch of things. He gave me information on all sorts of divination friends he had who were accurate but are in the closet about it in terms of identity. That if I was to ever visit Kolcatta, I should look him up and he would connect me. He is a lawyer who works with non-profit organizations in legality of finance and endowments, etc... He has two offices, one in Kolcatta and one in Delhi.
Deepitka works for Citi Bank. While her husband took a smoke break to digest our encounter, she shared her private thoughts with me. I learned that she is a Soto Zen Student and she is actually on her way to visit a Hindu Guru in the Mountains to heal her relationship with her husband. They have been in distress over in-law issues. I see that they have a beautiful relationsip and they love each other very much, but the strains that are put in their relationship makes it very difficult to continue to stay happy together. I have a feeling that I came to Pokhara to meet them fog and to have this chat with them. By the time we were done, the fog lifted and they walked away feeling better about each other.
My affinity with Deepitka had to do with similar experiences. At age twelve, we both became our mother's mother. We took a jump from being a child to parenthood, from twelve to Seventy. There was a strong absence of nurturing and support during both our critical developmental stages. Maybe that is why I don't feel like an adult and have trouble assimilating myself. There is a whole chunck of my life missing and until it is filled, there is always going to be a kind of strange awkwardness within.
While lining up at the gate when the fog lifted, there were many tour groups present. I think people are funny at times and all deportment goes away with people during a line or traffic on the highway. The kinds of people you think wouldn't cheat and cut in line or bump you out etc... does it all. What an ugly sight.
For the flight, I got to sit on the left side of the plane with window seat. Ah.....once again, the views of the Himalayian Peaks. This makes the entire trip to Pokhara worth it and the plane ticket too. So majestically beautiful!
I made it to the airport in a few minutes. It's a really small town. There was fog this morning. All planes were grounded until the fog lifted a few hours later. Now I understood why I had to be here at 8am. Because I didn't have a plane ticket I had to get the first flight out. When the plane was able to take off hours later in the afternoon I would be one of the first ones on. If I was in the later flight, my flight would not take off till the evening. So it goes to follow good intuition at times.
While sitting outside by the runway with tea, I met Deepitka and her husband at the aiport. I first met her husband who walked by and spot me sitting and enjoying the view of the fog. He asked me, "Do I know you?" I smiled back, replying in my mind, not yet from this life time. I waited for more response from him before I spoke. He then asked me straight out if I was born on Dec. 8th. At this time I verbally replied and said, "Yes." He asked me if I was into numerology. I told him I'm into a whole bunch of things. He gave me information on all sorts of divination friends he had who were accurate but are in the closet about it in terms of identity. That if I was to ever visit Kolcatta, I should look him up and he would connect me. He is a lawyer who works with non-profit organizations in legality of finance and endowments, etc... He has two offices, one in Kolcatta and one in Delhi.
Deepitka works for Citi Bank. While her husband took a smoke break to digest our encounter, she shared her private thoughts with me. I learned that she is a Soto Zen Student and she is actually on her way to visit a Hindu Guru in the Mountains to heal her relationship with her husband. They have been in distress over in-law issues. I see that they have a beautiful relationsip and they love each other very much, but the strains that are put in their relationship makes it very difficult to continue to stay happy together. I have a feeling that I came to Pokhara to meet them fog and to have this chat with them. By the time we were done, the fog lifted and they walked away feeling better about each other.
My affinity with Deepitka had to do with similar experiences. At age twelve, we both became our mother's mother. We took a jump from being a child to parenthood, from twelve to Seventy. There was a strong absence of nurturing and support during both our critical developmental stages. Maybe that is why I don't feel like an adult and have trouble assimilating myself. There is a whole chunck of my life missing and until it is filled, there is always going to be a kind of strange awkwardness within.
While lining up at the gate when the fog lifted, there were many tour groups present. I think people are funny at times and all deportment goes away with people during a line or traffic on the highway. The kinds of people you think wouldn't cheat and cut in line or bump you out etc... does it all. What an ugly sight.
For the flight, I got to sit on the left side of the plane with window seat. Ah.....once again, the views of the Himalayian Peaks. This makes the entire trip to Pokhara worth it and the plane ticket too. So majestically beautiful!
The Rise of Christianity and Buddhism in China
I woke up this morning around 5:15am. I checked out the weather outside from the roof and it was foggy with no visibility. So my early morning sunrise hike to the mountains to watch the Annapurna Mountain Peaks were cancelled. I could still walk but there wouldn't be anything to look at. I could have done my tai chi set on the roof but I decided to just go back to bed. I stayed in be till 10am.
After finishing my meditation, Li Wei knocked on my door to invite me to join him on his bus tour and then boat ride. He was the only left from his tour group. The rest of the group abandoned the tour. That should have clued me in on some things. We went to check out Devi Falls, a Hindu Temple, a Tibetan monastery, another Hindu temple and then a boat ride. None of the sights were worth seeing in my opinion. The boat ride is, well on a lake with low visibility.
Li Wei was pretty into talking about business ventures. Honestly, I was pretty out of it. It's really not my field of interest even though I was able to give him plenty of good contributions to his many business ideas. But just because I can do something, it doesn't necessarily reflect where my heart is.
We also chatted about the rise of Christianity and Tibetan Buddhism in China. Li Wei said the young generation of youths like the aspect of personal connection with God, forgiveness, and grace. Pureland School of Buddhism came from Taiwan back to China and appeal to currrent population due to the similarity of idea of Heaven and prayer. He said he believes in nothing and said this is the flavor of China, to not believe in anything.
Went back to Shabhil's and hung out at his shop. He has two shops. He ordered tea and was ready to order snacks too. His hopitality was good. He insisted on paying for everything. I ended up spending another few hour there. It just ends up like that here in Nepal. Time gone by, gone no where, but gone.
Towards the end of the night, Li Wei wanted to hang out some more but I was tired and we agreed to dessert. He likes western desserts. I wasn't really all that interested in desserts that had been sitting out all day for over 12 hours. He talked more about India and the more he talked the more scared I got about travels in India. I was more than ready to call it a night.
Sleeping to Dream to Dream About Sleeping
This morning in my sleep during my dreams, I dreamed I was sleeping. It was like a Twilight Zone moment. Sleeping to dream, dreaming I was sleeping.
Korean Christian Ministry in Chitwan National Park
I came across two Korean Christian Ministry volunteer workers at the shop. They told me about their group of young adults who volunteered a week in Nepal at an orphanage in Chitwan National Park. Their ministry trip included the volunteer work for 5 days, a safari at the park, then a trekking expedition from Pokhara to Annapurna to see the Himalyan Peaks. They gave me the card of contact if I wanted to go and volunteer their. Chitwan National Park charged western tourist price for the entrance fee and everything else. It's quite the safari of the east there. They invited me to gather at their hotel to meet with their group and chat some more.
I met the gourp at Blue Heaven Hotel and there were 30 young koreans gathered there. Everyone had heard about me by then. They were very delighted to meet me. I me with their group leader Joseph who is also very young and he told me about volunteering in Kolcatta, India at the Mother Theresa House. He gave me instructions on which train station to take and where to get off and what street to go to for the tourist volunteer housing. It was all very exciting to me.
The group was heading to a private dinner party set up for them by their tour group. When we arrived at the doors of the restaurant the group was nice to ask me if I had eaten. I don't think they were going to include me if I could avoid it because everything we set up and paid in a package already. I don't my vegetarian diet would fly well with their pre-arranged nonvegetarian meals. Anyways, it was nice to think of me and be considerate.
I walked around the street that is set up like a fair for this week that proceeds the new years. It's a big deal. For me it wasn't that festive or interesting. I decided to head back to my room and do artwork instead.
I met the gourp at Blue Heaven Hotel and there were 30 young koreans gathered there. Everyone had heard about me by then. They were very delighted to meet me. I me with their group leader Joseph who is also very young and he told me about volunteering in Kolcatta, India at the Mother Theresa House. He gave me instructions on which train station to take and where to get off and what street to go to for the tourist volunteer housing. It was all very exciting to me.
The group was heading to a private dinner party set up for them by their tour group. When we arrived at the doors of the restaurant the group was nice to ask me if I had eaten. I don't think they were going to include me if I could avoid it because everything we set up and paid in a package already. I don't my vegetarian diet would fly well with their pre-arranged nonvegetarian meals. Anyways, it was nice to think of me and be considerate.
I walked around the street that is set up like a fair for this week that proceeds the new years. It's a big deal. For me it wasn't that festive or interesting. I decided to head back to my room and do artwork instead.
Pashmina, Pashmina, and More Pashmina
During lunch break I met Nadine from England who has been traveling in India on her own for a few months and said I could join her on her train ride to Mumbai when we head back to Kathmandu via Darjeerling, where the tea is well known for.
Nassar helped me to search for a hotel room within 200-300 rupee range. I settled for 250 rupees a night. It's a room with two full size beds and a private shower bath in the room at Hotel Advocado. It's pretty bare in the room but it had the essentials and the price is good. I checked out Li Wei's place at Basecamp Resort. It is much nicer for sure but it was much more expensive and the hotel manager wasn't willing to negotiate for a lower price. I was willing to pay $10. a night, the local price but the manager wanted to charge me the tourist price of $30. per night. I didn't even want to fork out $30. in Phuket for a posh place with pools and jets, why would I here for less than that.
I then hung out at Nassir's friend's Pashmina Shop for 2 hours. I learned a lot about quality of pashmina. I felt after two hours I was well trained and qualified for the business. I learned that the machine manufactured ones were all from China. There are differences between 100% wool and mixed cotton and synthetic ratios. The machine sown ones have bigger loops than hand hand ones. Then there was the test on how the real wool burned, no fumes while the other ones had plastic smoky fumes.
Pashmina comes from mountain goats who live fourteen thousand feet above sea level. I saw photos of goats in a chain and I didn't want to buy any pashmina from that point on. Then I also learned the process to create wearable and desirable pashmina some how included the process of boiling the pashmina with an egg. The more I learn, the more I feel this is really not made for vegans to wear. It is not cruelty friendly.
I really like the needle work and artistry of the designs and really wanted to bring some home. He shop keeper insisting that he would give me a good exchange ratio of 71 rupees to a US dollar. While hanging out at the shop I met lots of tourists. I think I can get a part time job here translating and selling the products here. I also like some of the stone jewelry here. The price is also reasonable. Most people do not come here to buy jewelry here, it's more about Pashmina so the price for the gems are good and also not top rate quality.
Nassar helped me to search for a hotel room within 200-300 rupee range. I settled for 250 rupees a night. It's a room with two full size beds and a private shower bath in the room at Hotel Advocado. It's pretty bare in the room but it had the essentials and the price is good. I checked out Li Wei's place at Basecamp Resort. It is much nicer for sure but it was much more expensive and the hotel manager wasn't willing to negotiate for a lower price. I was willing to pay $10. a night, the local price but the manager wanted to charge me the tourist price of $30. per night. I didn't even want to fork out $30. in Phuket for a posh place with pools and jets, why would I here for less than that.
I then hung out at Nassir's friend's Pashmina Shop for 2 hours. I learned a lot about quality of pashmina. I felt after two hours I was well trained and qualified for the business. I learned that the machine manufactured ones were all from China. There are differences between 100% wool and mixed cotton and synthetic ratios. The machine sown ones have bigger loops than hand hand ones. Then there was the test on how the real wool burned, no fumes while the other ones had plastic smoky fumes.
Pashmina comes from mountain goats who live fourteen thousand feet above sea level. I saw photos of goats in a chain and I didn't want to buy any pashmina from that point on. Then I also learned the process to create wearable and desirable pashmina some how included the process of boiling the pashmina with an egg. The more I learn, the more I feel this is really not made for vegans to wear. It is not cruelty friendly.
I really like the needle work and artistry of the designs and really wanted to bring some home. He shop keeper insisting that he would give me a good exchange ratio of 71 rupees to a US dollar. While hanging out at the shop I met lots of tourists. I think I can get a part time job here translating and selling the products here. I also like some of the stone jewelry here. The price is also reasonable. Most people do not come here to buy jewelry here, it's more about Pashmina so the price for the gems are good and also not top rate quality.
Single Females Traveling in Foreign Lands
Li Wei also told me of another story as if the last one wasn't scary enough. He said a Taiwanese lady who was found dead by a crocodile place. It is unkown if the crocodiles got her or she was fed to the crocodiles.
Another one, as if the other two wasn't scary enough. A lady traveling by herself got off the wrong part of the town on the bus. She walked into a restricted area. She was told to stop but she didn't. It was possible she didn't understand the language and so she did not know she was asked to stop and she was shot dead on the spot.
I don't have the stomach for such stories. I can't even watch scary movies. I'm a whimp when it comes down to things like this. I don't even watch the news except to catch the weather. I don't even read the news except to look at pictures in the arts and entertainment section.
Another one, as if the other two wasn't scary enough. A lady traveling by herself got off the wrong part of the town on the bus. She walked into a restricted area. She was told to stop but she didn't. It was possible she didn't understand the language and so she did not know she was asked to stop and she was shot dead on the spot.
I don't have the stomach for such stories. I can't even watch scary movies. I'm a whimp when it comes down to things like this. I don't even watch the news except to catch the weather. I don't even read the news except to look at pictures in the arts and entertainment section.
Did He or Didn't He?
With plenty of time on the bus to work on, Li Wei told me many stories from India. He said at least one foreigner is discovered in mysterious death or missing in India each week. A japanese 21 year old man who was a foreing exchange student was missing. He went on a trip with a tour group. People from the tour group saw him check out at the hotel during check out time but he never showed up at the meeting spot after that. And when people went to track him down, his hotel room door was found open with his things laid out. The seach went on for 2 months. The hotel insisted that he didn't check out.
When ever I hear stories like this, I count my blessings and all those who have been watching over me. Anything can go wrong traveling by myself, much the less traveling in an official tour group staying at a legitimate hotel.
When ever I hear stories like this, I count my blessings and all those who have been watching over me. Anything can go wrong traveling by myself, much the less traveling in an official tour group staying at a legitimate hotel.
Back Row Bus Seat Karma Again
Anar made me tea this morning and walked me out to the street to flag down a cab. It's amazing how busy the streets are this early in the morning. It wasn't easy getting a cab. There was also a lot of traffic. The cab driver drove fast and got me to exactly where I needed to go to for the bus.
It took me awhile to figure out which bus was mine, I kept walking back and forth. And when I did, the bus driver told me to sit in the back row on the right by the window. I guess this bus seat karma didn't end in China. I keep getting the same seat even though this ticket in my hand did not have seat numbers assigned to it. I really didn't want to sit in that seat again. I attempted to switch seats on my own and demanded the bus driver to show me the seat number and the seating chart.
To my left was Nassar a Kashimri business man who is taking shipments of shaws etc.. to Pokhara, a tourist destination. He is a distributor. To the left of Nassar is Li Wei from Shanghai who is doing graduate work in Agra, India and studying Hindi. He is a software engineer, IT web designer. He had tips on where to stay for cheap in Agra in case I wanted to visit the Taj Mahal. He invited me to visit his friends in Mumbai. So I guess my seat karma was relavant to these two people who I was suppose to meet and hang out with otherwise our paths would have crossed and we would have missed each other if I had gotten my way with a different seat.
During the first hour the bus went all over the place in attempt to pick up more passangers to fill up all the empty seats. It was going very slow at different stoppin points while the 2nd driver hung out the door to call out for passangers. The entire bus was full by 8am. The bus stopped for 2 breaks for breakfast and lunch. Toilet break stops are only when called for and it's just a pull over to the side of the road. There really isn't any toilets. It's really inconvenient for women in my case but I guess women don't really travel either. I am a minority here on buses.
It took me awhile to figure out which bus was mine, I kept walking back and forth. And when I did, the bus driver told me to sit in the back row on the right by the window. I guess this bus seat karma didn't end in China. I keep getting the same seat even though this ticket in my hand did not have seat numbers assigned to it. I really didn't want to sit in that seat again. I attempted to switch seats on my own and demanded the bus driver to show me the seat number and the seating chart.
To my left was Nassar a Kashimri business man who is taking shipments of shaws etc.. to Pokhara, a tourist destination. He is a distributor. To the left of Nassar is Li Wei from Shanghai who is doing graduate work in Agra, India and studying Hindi. He is a software engineer, IT web designer. He had tips on where to stay for cheap in Agra in case I wanted to visit the Taj Mahal. He invited me to visit his friends in Mumbai. So I guess my seat karma was relavant to these two people who I was suppose to meet and hang out with otherwise our paths would have crossed and we would have missed each other if I had gotten my way with a different seat.
During the first hour the bus went all over the place in attempt to pick up more passangers to fill up all the empty seats. It was going very slow at different stoppin points while the 2nd driver hung out the door to call out for passangers. The entire bus was full by 8am. The bus stopped for 2 breaks for breakfast and lunch. Toilet break stops are only when called for and it's just a pull over to the side of the road. There really isn't any toilets. It's really inconvenient for women in my case but I guess women don't really travel either. I am a minority here on buses.
Day Time Soap
Last night I found a way to keep my kidneys warm. I layered up and rolled up my sarongs to create extra padding between my back and the cold floor. It worked well, I slept well and stayed warm.
I tell the dirty, malnurished, sick looking sad dogs in the yard, "I'm just passing through, I'm just passing through." I was not interested in petting them or playing with them, but I do sympathize them.
Anar took me to brunch at an Indian restaurant. I really like the food we had. Some how she needed someone to talk to and she poured her heart out and cried at the restaurant. Anar comes from and upper caste. She is educated and earned her own house. During expansion of her house Peace Corp pulled out of Nepal due to political unrest. She expressed the trauma of it all because no one would help her including her family. A friend helped her figure out how to finish the construction of her house. Anar said none of the workers in the construction industry wanted to work with her because she was female and this male friend of a lower caste taught her how to not get cheated and what she needed to do to complete her house. They were very much in love with each other. Her father, along with her sister who is Anuja's mom, and Suraj all disapproved of this relationship. They did not want the house to leave the family and go to the lower caste man. They conspired together and threatened to send the police after the man and put him in jail for loving someone higher than his caste. I guess in Nepal you can get imprisoned for it. Out of grief, Anar attempted suicide. Anuja found her and saved her. She was hopitalized for 19 days. She did not speak to Suraj for a year and they all continued to live with her till this day. Anar said to me that she would rather the building go to a charity organization than to pass it on to her relatives. She insists that Suraj is sent to Kathmandu from her father as a spy. His mother who is wife of three only visits from time to time.
Well, that was a lot of "Days of Our Lives" day time soap drama for me over lunch. I guess this is also why everyone here loves "Titanic".
When I returned to the house I packed for my trip to Pokhara and took a double shower. I can't seem to get clean enough. When I eat, I can't seem to get full. I am hungry all the time. It is such a weird sensation.
After dinner it was more DVDs. I was not interested and really wanted to get some rest because I would have to get up at 5am to catch my bus for Pokhara.
I tell the dirty, malnurished, sick looking sad dogs in the yard, "I'm just passing through, I'm just passing through." I was not interested in petting them or playing with them, but I do sympathize them.
Anar took me to brunch at an Indian restaurant. I really like the food we had. Some how she needed someone to talk to and she poured her heart out and cried at the restaurant. Anar comes from and upper caste. She is educated and earned her own house. During expansion of her house Peace Corp pulled out of Nepal due to political unrest. She expressed the trauma of it all because no one would help her including her family. A friend helped her figure out how to finish the construction of her house. Anar said none of the workers in the construction industry wanted to work with her because she was female and this male friend of a lower caste taught her how to not get cheated and what she needed to do to complete her house. They were very much in love with each other. Her father, along with her sister who is Anuja's mom, and Suraj all disapproved of this relationship. They did not want the house to leave the family and go to the lower caste man. They conspired together and threatened to send the police after the man and put him in jail for loving someone higher than his caste. I guess in Nepal you can get imprisoned for it. Out of grief, Anar attempted suicide. Anuja found her and saved her. She was hopitalized for 19 days. She did not speak to Suraj for a year and they all continued to live with her till this day. Anar said to me that she would rather the building go to a charity organization than to pass it on to her relatives. She insists that Suraj is sent to Kathmandu from her father as a spy. His mother who is wife of three only visits from time to time.
Well, that was a lot of "Days of Our Lives" day time soap drama for me over lunch. I guess this is also why everyone here loves "Titanic".
When I returned to the house I packed for my trip to Pokhara and took a double shower. I can't seem to get clean enough. When I eat, I can't seem to get full. I am hungry all the time. It is such a weird sensation.
After dinner it was more DVDs. I was not interested and really wanted to get some rest because I would have to get up at 5am to catch my bus for Pokhara.
Ex-Communicated
Juno wanted to go to a Tibetan Monastery outside of town, Souymbu. I sat quietly and recited all the way on the bus. i felt something was going and I didn't want to be pulled by them. There were many steps to climb before reaching to the gates of the monastery. I was climbing with them at their pace until Anuja came across her friends and she only introduced Juno and left me out and gave me the silent treatment. In fact they both did. It was weird. So I decided to walk in my own pace which was quicker than both of them. I have been hiking the mountains of China 8 to 10 hours a day. I have built strength. I wanted to separate from whatever was going on with them because I don't want to become that. I was pretty upset at this.
Juno was not in shape to do this and she trailed far behind. At one point, someone out of no where demanded to collect money from her because she was a tourist. I passed as Nepalese and I smiled back and kept silent when I passed by the same extortion person. This person was just extorting money from every tourist. He was not an official collector. There was no fee actually but none of the tourist knew. They just handed money over when asked. Juno didn't pay she argued back.
Well the very weird the ex-communication continued through out the day. Finally her friends introduced themselves to me at the end of the day. We all went out for Pizza and some how Juno got me to split the bill with her. It was her idea, it was her thank you to Anjua. It ended up being expensive. I have no idea why it was like this and why she was demanding this from me. She's showing herself as a gracious giver and yet behind closed doors she was fighting pennies with me. It's just odd. I just went along with it because I didnt' want to fight and catch her disease. My body ached from all of this and it took me awhile to clear all of this out of my system.
We went to the internet cafe together. I was put off by the events of the day and really wanted time alone. Juno left quite early. I spent 2 hours and it costed me 50 cents.
Just Pennies,..... Really!
I really like having tea brought to my bed before I even get out in the morning. I like to drink hot water or tea when I get up in the morning. Then Juno and I had a discussion in the room. She was agitated and had issues on money. She wanted to know if I would pay for my stay there. I told her I was and I knew she wasn't. I was basically paying for the both of us. Why was that? I don't know but her distress was over money. I reminded her that I have been paying every time we share cost at things together. And really in Nepal, it comes down to US pennies. I didn't remind her that she didn't not have the proper understanding of what equal half is. That my half has been greater than her not so equal half. It was an excuse to be afflicted, fight, unhappy, and whatever else. Well, not a chance on my part. No way! It's not worth it. I like being happy and having fun to much to spoil it for myself or let others do it.
Center Stage
I dreamed this morning that I went to visit many people and hung out with them. It was fun. I even did a dance performance. My partner wanted to shove us in a corner but I was the show case peice and show case peices are not for the corner but center. I so split from him and did ended up doing solo in the center where the spot light was properly light for the show case performer, me. It was better this way anyways. He was messing up the performance all together.
Bollywood
When I returned to the house, I was informed by Juno that Anuja was upset that I left the heater on all night. Actually if I had done so I wouldn't be cold but I was so I didn't. Juno blamed me and I asked her to translate and clarify. Somehow that did not carry across and Anuja looked at me like I was a criminal. No one seemed to care for the truth. It has only been four days and things are falling apart here. It was too good to be true. The politeness is evaporating and the competitiveness is showing up and destructiveness is surfacing. I don't want to be apart of this drama. Ah...... professional lodging would be better. I would be warmer and eat whatever I want, when I want, how I want, etc... Oh yes, access to hot water.
After dinner we watched "Himalya" but there was DVD problems so we watched Dhoom II. It's a Bollywood film in Hindi. It was cheezy for me. I wasn't all that interested in it. Glad I was able to get to bed early. It was a rough and very weird day for me.
After dinner we watched "Himalya" but there was DVD problems so we watched Dhoom II. It's a Bollywood film in Hindi. It was cheezy for me. I wasn't all that interested in it. Glad I was able to get to bed early. It was a rough and very weird day for me.
Christmas in Nepal
Merry Christmas.
My back was cold last night and I shivered the whole night. It made me very tired this morning. I did not feel rested. I stayed in bed till 9am. Anar treated us to butter sugar biscuits that Juno brought from the US and tea. We watched the film "The Caravan".
Juno, Anuja and I left for Christmas shopping at 10:20am. Juno has interest in a male friend here and we went shopping. She also got bangles for his parents who are visiting him in Nepal. We went to check out fabrics to see what things we could get custom tailored. I finally got samosas and pokras. It was delicious samosas. This one sells the best samosas. The crust is perfectly spiced and so was the stuffing. I have decided that I am going to have samosas every day from this particular stand. They are cheap too.
I came back to Dalba at the house at 12pm I knew Anar would be waiting to eat together. I went for a hot shower at 1:30pm. The water is solar powered here so there is only hot water during high noon. I was so happy to wash in hot water. Past few days I have been washing in cold, cold, coooooooooooooold water because I didn't know about how the system worked. I gave myself a double shower in attempt to clean myself out of all the pollution etc...
I watched Anuja cook and she used tumeric, mehti, cumin powder, salt for all her dishes every meal. I did laundry and followed everyone in hang drying. I just don't see how it will get clean blowing in the smogy wind. I'm like,... I just washed this and by the time it dries, it will be all dirty again before I wear it.
In the afternoon I went shopping for tailers to make a few sets of sarawas. These are are modern saris. I actually find it more conservative than classical saris, more skin is covered. But somehow modern to some people means bad so they don't agree with this attire. Weird.
I bought color pencils and white spiral pad. I miss doing art. I can't believe I went so long without doing art other than photography. Then Juno and I met up late afternoon to get together to make Christmas dinner for everyone. Everyone was excited about it. I made basil eggplant and fried king oyster mushroom. Since people here are used to using their hands to eat, and my cooking was made to be eaten with utensil, they really had a hard time picking up the food. The normal mashing, slushing, and running the food all over the plate didn't work. The hit was the fried mushrooms. They all commmented on how it doesnt' taste vegetarian, it's more like fried chicken to them.
Since it was a holiday, Anar had the BBQ grill used for our bon fire to keep us warm.
Old Wood Carvings
I was invited by Anar to go with her on her errands but I was also invited by Suraj and Anuja to Durba Ma, New Road, and Themel. I wanted to go into town and try to venture on my own so I ended up choosing to team up with the siblings. I enjoy their company.
We went to an area where there were lots of tourist agencies. Anuja has an uncle who is a manager at Royal Nepal Airlines and she was hoping to get a job at the agency. I went to check out prices and options for going to India incase I decide to go. I was also reconmended to go to Pokara to check out the Annanpurna view of the Himalayian Mountain Ridges.
Afterwards we went to Themel to do the tourist shopping. I was given the tourist price on everything and I didn't buy anything. We walked by the Royal Palace and I didn't think much of it. I really came to Nepal in a good time. The civil unrest all over the county had been going on for years with the Maos until mid November. I checked out where I could of end up staying if I had not been taken in by Juno's host family.
New Road area had lots of old buildings with beautiful wood carvings. This area is where the locals go for tailering and vegetable market. I saw beautiful King Oyster mushrooms and all sorts of other mushrooms that I liked. I miss my own cooking. I love to work with small farm grown produce. They are usually beautiful and delicious. It's just so much better than Safeway and even Berkeley Bowl. It was just like when I was in Italy and there were people on the street with a basket selling only amazinly beautiful fresh giant size Procinis for cheap. And Italian tomatos are delicious and sweet, it's why pasta tasts better in Italy with just plain tomato sauce.
Boudha
I still haven't figured out the bus system here. I actually feel better about venturing out on my own even though I have yet to. Going to Pokhara will be a learning experience. But here anyone who is a bit educated are all trilingual in English and Nepalese and Hindi. The school are bilingual with English and Nepalese.
Suraj took me to Bouda while Anuja went home to prepare dinner. We walked around the historical stupa and watched the sunset from the top of the stupa. There were Tibetan monks there, I actually don't know what to make of them.
Juno had returned when we arrived back at the house. She was a bit disturbed and uncomfortable like she has yet to fart or exhale. She wanted to know how long I was staying. I sensed competitiveness from her. It was interesting to watch. I just stepped back and gave her lots of space because I knew she was a highly capable person who is a sophmore at Sara Lawrence University who was more inexperienced with life. I also knew that she has yet to recover from not being selected to go with her Dharma teacher on the Indian Pilgrimage.
Gotta Look Good
I find it interesting here that regardless if you clean the toilets, haul trash, sell roasted legumes, or a royalty, all the women are dressed in amazingly beautiful clean, colorful saris full of golden jewlries.
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