Blogs from Boudhanath, Kathmandu, Nepal, Asia

Aaaargh !! The idlis are following us !!! I thought we'd left them behind in India, but oh no. They only had to go and turn up here in Kathmandu didn't they ? OK, OK, I get the message. I'm going to have to give them a proper go. You're supposed to have them with Sambar ( mixed vegetable cooked with yellow lentil flavoured with tamarind and Indian spices ). Not my first choice for breakfast but only fair I supppose. So, what are they ? I've told you once, breast implants. No, really. Um, OK, steamed rice flour dumplings. And what do they taste like ? I've told you once, breast implants. No, really. Yes, really. Stop it. Um, OK, I find I am forced to admit, they're actually quite nice. Rather like dumplings. The ... read more

Once upon a time, there was a little boy called George. George was born in Powys, Wales in the latter part of the 18th century and, from an early age, showed a keen interest in geography. As a young man he was commissioned into the Royal Artillery and sent abroad to India to work on the Great Trigonometrical Survey of the sub-continent. He was responsible for mapping the Himarlias and became the first man to identify that one of these mountains was probably the highest in the world. As this was later proved to be true, the mountain was named after him in his honour (despite his personal objections) and this is the name we all know it as these days - Mount George. Some Facts: The south approach (from Nepal) is the "easiest" and to ... read more

Well . . . . Kathmandu, Nepal. This is a bit different. I think it’s only now that we have realized just how mad India is. The word “frenetic” comes to mind. Although it does have its own charm, it was completely bonkers. If people were cold, they just lit a fire on the pavement or in the road, if they wanted a wee, they just had a wee wherever they were, if they wanted to drive somewhere, they just pointed the car in that direction and put their foot down. In Nepal, the vibe just seems a whole lot calmer. We were met by a lovely man called Mark (traditional Nepalese name) who draped silk scarves around our necks and welcomed us to Nepal. After a (calm) drive through busy traffic he explained that Kathmandu ... read more

Um 06.00 Uhr klingelt der Wecker. Raus aus den Federn, kurze (warme) Dusche, Arbeitskleidung montieren, kurzes Fruehstueck und ich bin bereit fuer den bevorstehenden Arbeitstag. Nach einem kurzen Spaziergang zur Hauptstrasse, folgen die obligaten Preisverhandlungen mit den Taxi-Fahrern. Wird man sich einig, heisst es Einsteigen in den unsaeglich winzigen Suzuki Maruti. Atemschutzmaske montieren und los gehts durch den morgendlichen Abgas-Moloch. Nach rund 30 Minuten Fahrt komme ich in Budhilnakanta im Norden Kathamndus an, 5 Minuten Fussmarsch durch das Viertel, ein allmorgendliches "Namaste" an die Verkaeuferin des Ladens um die Ecke und ich stehe vor der Snowland School. Ich oeffne das schwere Tor und da ich die letzten Tage meist der erste Volunteer vor Ort bin, ertoent es dutzendfach aus lachenden Gesichtern "Good morning Daniel-Sir!". Ich deponiere meine Sachen im Volunteer-Room, ge... read more

Namaste, Die Fotos des letzten Blogs sind nun ersichtlich - die liebe Technik... Der Besuch des Lichterfestes in Bakthapur mit Yolanda und ihrer kleinen Tochter Jamuna war schlicht ein Traum: eine alte, urtuemliche Koenigsstadt komplett in den sanften Schein von Butterlaempchen gehuellt. Ich bin heute noch verzaubert. Heute geht es weiter nach Nagarkot, auf 2300 Meter ueber Meer. Bin mir zwar noch nicht ganz sicher wo ich schlafen werde, denn als ich beim Om Manla Resort angerufen habe, meinte der nette Mann: "Oh yes, we have a tent for you". Ein what? Ein T-E-N-T? So eines draussen, am Boden? Nun gut, dann sind wohl die dicken Socken angesagt heute Abend, denn es wird bereits empfindlich kuehl in der Nacht. Himalayische Gruesse ... read more