I was quite nervous about going to Nepal this time. You may not be aware I had an issue leaving the last time, there was a problem with my visa apparently and I was stung for 100 dollars. When I got home I complained to the Nepali embassy and the embassy wrote to the Immigration for an explanation. And so it went on with no resolution! I wish I had never complained because then I wondered if they could arbitrarily refuse me entry.
I flew to Delhi then to Nepal. I remembered the last time the smell of pollution hit me when I arrived on the runway but this time the air was clear, I even checked it in IQAir and it was good! It was hot but not too humid. As there were not too many people the whole experience was calm. At immigration I was held up for a few minutes, clearly there is something in my profile because the officer was reading for a while. I was just getting a tremour in my leg Then he waved me through, what a relief! I was so happy!
The next day or so I visited friends and bought myself some lightweight hiking boots. It’s difficult not to get ‘knock offs” here however, I was given the name of two good shops and one had a sale on so I got lightweight trousers too!
Being in Kathamandhu after Japan is something of a culture shock! It’s noisy, busy, motorbikes everywhere, no road crossings and even if there were no one would take notice. AND the toilets don’t have loo paper! OMG how did I forget all that!
Kathamandhu looked cleaner though and it is! Well at least the areas tourists visit are even the airport), the Mayor Balendra Shah who had just arrived the last time I was here has been doing amazing stuff. He seems really well liked too!
I surprised my Nepali Tutor by turning up at her office! She wasn’t there so a shop keeper phoned her for me. She came rushing in not realising who was waiting. It was so lovely to see her and get a lesson in! Well I say lesson, I think we just nattered for a few hours and drank tea!
Then I made my way to the Dragon Homestay in Bhaktupur by taxi, it took ages, everyone vying for a space!
It felt like coming home, Raj, Kriti and their children were so welcoming.
I didn’t really have a plan, primarily because I was worried I wouldn’t get here. I asked Raj if there was a chance of a short trek, I knew I didn’t have time for a mountain trip but foothills would be fine. He came up with a cunning plan.
Before that though I had a day with another family that Clare and I met when we were here before. I had been communicating with them occasionally and they knew I was coming. Rajendra and Shova live in Kirtipur with a teenage son and adult daughter (one daughter is in Abu Dhabi working). I managed to find the house and was pleased to see that they no longer shared it with other families, because before the toilet was awful. They have moved up a door and the rooms they had before are now a church meeting room so they have a little more space to move in when it’s not in use.
Shova and her daughter Luna cooked a lovely meal. Last time I was here Clare went native and ate like a local with her fingers, I didn’t although I have had practice now, but I still tip it over myself. I noticed Raj had a spoon too! Phew!
We chatted about everything including Kathmandu’s Mayor and the fact the Mayor of Kirtipur has also decided to clean up his town too! We chatted about world politics and lots of different things, it was very good to see them.
We had a walk towards the hills and fields that surround Kirtipur. I helped Shova collect Broad leaf Ribwort that she makes medicine from. I think Raj was a little embarrassed that I was getting my hands dirty too! Shova is a country girl at heart I can see that, she knows all kinds of local medicines although I might draw the line at the preparation made of slugs that she was telling me about!
Next short treks, goats and cheese!
The Travelling Bee 