Nepalese Days

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After acclimating to the scene, we easily worked into our Nepali routine. And as it is with everything that was once different, soon becomes routine and even normal. Mornings were filled with homemade chai that made Starbucks seem like gas station chai, breakfast of rice or lentil and 8 adults and 2 children huddled around a coffee table and scouting of our upcoming day. What was once a crowded room, became a our base camp, our birthday party meeting room, or debriefing headquarters. Its amazing what you think you need, and then realizing it's that you don't need much.

And after a few days I was able to tackle the shower without even a thought. The warm shower, which was once a bit terrifying, is powered by water that was carried 5 flights to the roof and warmed with solar power. My first shower I turned the warm water and and let it run, trying to hurry, but thinking I was doing a good job at saving water. I learned that the correct way was to turn water on quickly, turn the water off, then soap and lather without the water and then end with a quick rinse. A routine I had mastered by the end of my trip.

Our days were filled with exploring the three rival Newa city-states of the Kathmandu Valley that existed in the later half of the 17th century of the Bhaktapur, Patan and Kathmandu. We dodged traffic in our specially marked "tourist van". Explored the local artisans gobbling up all the uniqueness that was Nepal. Even Maya got into the grove driving a tough bargain as she purchased purses for her classmates. Elephants for strength, rugs from Tibetan refugees, and slate namaste signs were all purchased and secured as bookmarks for each adventure.

We saw stoplights that once worked, garbage cans that were a good idea at first, until the garbage collection days never came, roads that remained unpaved. But while one can focus on what was missing, you often miss what is there. Vibrant colors, resilient, resourceful people, and remarkable adventures. One of the most important things I have learned, and need to always remember is to refrain from judging other cultures by our standards. It is only when you let go of what you expect and accept each culture with its noise for what is, can you truly be a traveler and not just a tourist.

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Photos

Nepal full of color
Orange, blue, red, color was everywhere in Nepal.

Living goddess
Up in the windows, is the Kumari, or living goddess. Pre-pubescent girls chosen through a pretty stringent process and their live while seemingly glamours, is actually quiet dull. When she finally arrived at the window, after some promise of donations, she drummed her fingertips at us for a few minutes and then disappeared back to her ipod.

Travel options.
We had our tourist mobile, but there were many options for travel.

Former Royal Palace.
Not sure if you can tell, but I appreciated the pop of color with the yellow socks.

Nepali Sky
Always changing and always beautiful.

Coca Cola poster childs.
What you don't see is the dog that just puked up what looked like liver or some other bloody animal part.

The crew.
Shrestha/Merkels.....and amanda

Breakfast
Even looking at this now, months later, makes me hungry for those Nepali breakfasts.

Tibetan refugees; hand woven rugs
I will be back.....for one of these rugs.

Garbage collection
Once the pile gets too big, they build a hindu statue. It's not our system, but it is a system.