Aladdine,
You are -- I expect -- in the middle of somewhere, seeing great sights I hope. I wonder if that elderly 42 year old has had to carry you--if so, I hope you shared the chocolate.
Found you! Sounds like a real adventure! Please keep the blogs coming. Myk is visiting in Switzerland in a few weeks - and we have your spot all warmed up... xox. -Irena
Snacks Make sure to pack some canned sardines, cigarettes and a beer in case it starts to get cold and rainy and you want to feel completely miserable.
Baby carrots Aladdine, will you have to trek in a supply of baby carrots, or are those available at the guest houses? It sounds like you're having a wonderful adventure. Charles.
about pride, but NOT falling gee Al, that old guy-- in his 40's yet--couldn't possibly be in good enough shape to carry your bag! So looking forward to that story... Enjoy, stay warm, and love to all when you get back to Jawalkhel. Don't know if you will get this en route, but if so and you know your future route/ direction, do relay for potential monument proximity.
d
Your First Trek? If you havebeen on anything,that is not considered a trek-arduous journey,so far,as Mr. Griimwig opined,"I'll eat my head with my hat on it." Stay well.
Backpack I don't believe 42 is considered old anymore...even in the Tibetan culture. I suspect the guide could easily carry your pack, probably carries heavy burdens on a regular basis. Can't wait to hear about the trek.
What a wonderful event! Aladdine, I am so enjoying hearing about your trip! It is so extraordinary to be able to see the country so up close like that. And what you are seeing and living (aside from the cold and the balky toilet) sounds like such a new and different world. I am struck by this notion of the stone Ganesh growing out of the rock. Do you think it really does grow bigger -- perhaps erosion makes it appear bigger? Or is it just a myth?
And I am pleased to hear that you have a Kindle -- I thought, if she's carrying all those books, they must be awfully heavy and where does she have room for clothes?! Best, and waiting for the next installment -- Alice
HAH!! amulet indeed.... too bad you're feeling poorly, hope it improves soon, sounds like that amulet of yours might need a booster shot! you do indeed paint very pretty pictures of the sights you're seeing but am curious - are u picking up the language or do u always have an interpreter at your side? must be rather difficult to communicate at times or do many speak english? am eagerly awaiting next installment to see if you ever get to tibet. still missing you kid, B
glad to see there's been no more issues w/illness, blisters or sunburn - that amulet must be working, assuming you're still wearing it that is! (or you're just not sharing the other stuff any more) whichever, am still loving your stories and am eagerly awaiting the next installment. stay safe! write more! B :)
March 11th It seems as if you are having the time of your life. But,there is still much more to see. I hope you don't run out of journals. Papyrus is a laborious element,on which to write. Stay well
re: toilets you can manually flush with very little water (depending, of course, on the size of your turds, etc.) western-style flushing toilets basically use water and gravity to flush. you can accomplish the same with a small bucket/large can of water poured from a decent height. be careful of backsplash.
we're not gonna recognize u by the time u return if u continue to sit on rooftops, lolling about all day reading books, you'll be as brown as a nut. i'm now willing to lay good money down on the bet that you bought stock in suntan lotion before leaving the US. (sorry, is my jealousy showing?) u are not only edumacating me about a part of the world i have never and probably WILL never see but you write a damn good story girl!! was quite disappointed that the power was about to go down, i could read more, can't wait for the next installment. hope the cold is all better now. B
hey girl! i've just finished reading all your writings and have finally caught up w/u in nepal. my jealousy knows no bounds. am greatly relieved to hear you're eating chocolate again. i thought you had caught some strange but serious asian disease or something. will try to read more frequently so i don't get left behind in nepal. miss u kid, B
Motorbikes and chocolate And to think you are there and missing all the East Coast Snow! Mama is still visiting me. One more day. Could you not have posted the part about motorcycles for one more day? Just one? She's in a complete state of nervous collapse now and may not be able to go home. However, she seems much better upon learning that your taste for chocolate has returned. We were very worried and arranging a Red Cross Medevac for you- it was hard to explain to the insurance company: "What's the problem?" "She doesn't want chocolate!" "What?" "Hurry!!! It's serious!!!!"
National Museum Aladdine,
What a wonderful trip! So exciting. I am green with envy. The Freer and Sackler have a long-standing relationship with the National Museum and our head of conservation has helped them build their metals conservation lab. He did a slide show (well, it was probably PowerPoint, but you get the idea) about his work there and I so wanted to go see Cambodia. The trees were what impressed me the most with their big gnarly trunks and their efforts to take over the temples.
I am anxious to hear more! Best, Alice
Re: Siem Reap I can't believe you lost your taste for chocolate. That's nearly sacreligious. Totally agree, by the way, about the gorgeous faces of the Bayon. And yeah. Not drinking the 'yellow water' goes right alongside 'don't eat yellow snow.'
Mike
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Aladdine, You are -- I expect -- in the middle of somewhere, seeing great sights I hope. I wonder if that elderly 42 year old has had to carry you--if so, I hope you shared the chocolate.