Halloween/Winter

We dress up for Halloween and go out with friends. Peter is a 70's cross country skier and I'm a black cat(complete with claws).

We get a blizzard and the snow really drifts behind our apartment in early December.

A New Path

I feel strongly that I want to work with children. I decide that I have to give my dream a shot...to pursue employment with children.

After a couple interviews and the ups and downs associated with job hunting...things fall into place.

I land a job as a Child Development Worker with an Out of School Care program that is a 10 minute bus ride from home, 35 hours a week working with 8-9 year olds. The pay is really low but it gives me an opportunity to gain valuable experience and obtain my level one course.

It is fun but challenging as I have to learn to be firm with discipline.

Children Vote: Child Rights Hero of the Decade

Below is the website where children around the world can vote (for the individual or organization) that they wish to win the Child Rights Hero of the Decade...Maiti Nepal is one of the 2009 nominees.

Your last chance to vote is October 25, 2009; the children will announce the winner on November 20, 2009.

Any child or youth under the age of 18 can vote or schools can vote.

To vote go the website www.childrensworld.org and follow the links under Global Vote.

If you need help in voting ask an adult or your parent to help you. You can make a difference just by casting a vote for any of the worthy individuals or organizations nominated!

See post below to view a film about Maiti Nepal's work.

SnagFilms Film Widget

This is a short film about the trafficking of women and girls in Nepal. It provides information about the valuable work of Maiti Nepal to combat this issue.

Just click on the film to watch it (you may have to temporarily allow pop-ups on your computer to view the film).

Back in Canada August 2009

Peter and I arrive safely back in Calgary on August 5th, 2009. It is clean, beautiful and green but it doesn't feel like home anymore after travelling in so many small communities around the world.

Fortunately Peter's friend, Doug allows us to stay with him until we sort things out. There are so many things to sort out, where to live, whether we should cycle through BC or I should start looking for work, if I can keep the condo rented out, etc.

Although I want us to cycle through BC and check out the small communities there; with so many wildfires burning, I decide to stay put in Calgary and start focusing on a job search.

Peter and I decide to rent the suite from Doug which fortunately gives me a base to work from. Volunteer teaching in Nepal has ignited a passion to work with children so that is my initial focus.

Although Peter keeps saying that he will head out to BC to do some cycling he hasn't left yet...which suits me fine.

I catch up with a couple friends and look forward to seeing all my friends.

What can I say about our trip?

Travelling for ten months by bicycle, living in a tent, eating noodles and tuna, experiencing different cultures and teaching children in Nepal is a wonderful, challenging and extremely worthwhile experience.

It is not always fun and stress-free but I am glad that we did it and it has shown me a new path that I want to follow...

Danube Bike Path -Germany June 3-17/09

It is hot on the train to Milan and it is so full that some people are standing. In our compartment on the next train we are fortunate that Peter has a row of seats to himself so we can take turns lying down.

We arrive in Karlsruhg, Germany at 4AM. Eventually the McDonalds and a bakery open so we have something to eat. Peter is able to determine that there is a discount train at 9AM to Donaueschingen (where the Danube bike route starts). We are able to confirm with an agent that we can take our bikes.

This is an easy train to get on as we can just wheel our bikes on.


After getting groceries and having lunch in the park we check the mapboard as there are several bike routes from this point including the Danube. The Donau starts as a little trickle, to a stream and eventually as a wide expanse of water.


Along the way there are little villages (and bakeries) every few kilometers each with a church tower and red tiled roofs. I am still suprised by the lack of people that speak English.



Highlights: easy cycling, cheaper camping, picturesque villages and architecture, Donauworth

Challenges/lowlights: rainy days, rude woman at campground at Ingolstadt.



Our first day is a short cycle to a lovely campground at Pfohren under sunny blue skies. The people at the campground are very friendly. 16EU for camping.




Around 5PM it turns really cold and windy. It is not until I have on my fleece, rain jacket and fleece cap that I feel toasty.

During supper a couple pulls up in a mini car, while the woman sets up the tent, fills the air mattress with a foot pump, the fellow sits in the car and drinks beer. I feel like telling her that he should get his lazy ar.... out of the car and give her a hand.



I know why Europeans use fenders on rainy days.
The rain must bring out the snails as I have rarely seen snails and now they are all on the road slinking along.






In Ehingen there is an impish fountain. The lepricon shoots water from his flute at a boy and then the boy shoots water back at the boy hitting the lepricon/elf in the face.














DONAUWORTH



I was here in '93 when it was just a quiet little village although I recognize the main street of buildings it has now become a trendy tourist place, with plenty of cafes, shops and attractive walkways.










WELTENBURG

The trail winds along the Danube past limestone cliffs. There is an old monestary beside the river which also houses a very big and busy biergarten.







CYCLING

Day 241 Donaueschingen to Pfohren 6 KM
Day 242 Pfohren to HausenimTal 59 KM
Day 243 H.. to Reidlingen 66 KM
Day 244 R.. to Allmendingen 53 KM
Day 245 All.. to Leipheim 59 KM
Day 246 rain day
Day 247 L.. to Dillingen 48 KM
Day 248 D... to Marxheim 54 KM (Donauworth)
Day 249 M.. to Inglostadt 62 KM
Day 250 In... to Kelheim 56 KM
Day 251 K... to Regensburg 48 KM
Day 252 R... to Straubing 60 KM
Day 253 S... to Deggendorf 39 KM
Day 254 D... to Passau 66 KM

Germany 676 KM

Venice June2-3/09

Before we leave Marotta we check on (via Internet) accomodation in Venice (close to train station and cheaper).

We have a couple hours on the train then we switch at Bologna. Fortunately we can catch the lift down with staff, along a corridor and up another lift to our platform.

A couple more hours to Venice.

Highlights: walking around Venice, St. Marks' Square
Lowlights: Currency exchange rip-off, train cost to Germany



From the train station it is very easy directions to get to Hotel Adua. As the hotel is expensive I suggest to Peter that we only stay 1 night and catch a late train tomorrow to the start of the Danube cycle route.

In Venice for 60EU/night you get a room down a narrow alleyway and up steep steps with 2 common baths down the hall. Our window opens onto a little roof patio with flowered pots. In the hall you can look out onto the street and hear the hustle and bustle below.

The woman eyes our bikes and gear when she comes down with Peter. Fortunately there is a ground level storage area where we can keep them.

With our bikes stowed we sit on the steps at the train station and people watch. There are so many different people coming and going. As there is a long line up for tickets we decide to walk around and come back later.





We walk past our hotel down narrow twisty streets across bridges spanning little canals. Along the way we pass several mask shops, jewellery shops with black and white T-shirts and straw hats like the gondoliers wear.





CURRENCY EXCHANGE RIP-OFF

I decide to convert $150US into Euros. Unfortunately I don't ask how much I will get back after fees as by the sign it appears to be just $5.40EU. The clerk hands me $75EU.

I go back and ask her if she charged me $20EU (which is almost $40Cdn!). She tells me that the machine calculates it all. There is a rate fee on top of the set fee. I am choked, I feel ripped off.

After we get groceries, we head back to the train station. Initially we line up for tickets however as our route is complicated (with the bikes) we are directed to the information office.

The agent just kind of mutters and shakes his head as it appears that it is not easily done to get to Basel or close to where we start the cycle way. The agent beside him prints out a sheet however it has several train changes.

A route is worked out -train to Milan -then change trains to Karlsruhg (Germany). The portion to Milan is inexpensive but through Switzerland to Germany is very expensive ($218EU for that portion) total $254EU.

ST. MARKS' SQUARE




We put our luggage in the store room and cross the bridge in front of the train station and follow the signs to Saint Marks Square. The route twists and turns for well over an hour before we finally reach it.

In the square it is prohibited to sit, eat and drink other than in designated places (in other words you have to pay to eat in a cafe).

As we see others breaking the law, we do the same but move so the "English" sign isn't staring us in the face as we eat peanuts and sip ice tea.





We intend to walk back along the canal but there isn't a pathway along it; fortunately we pick up signs for the train station and so make it back in less time and stop at a nice park along the way.



We hang out in the shade until it is close to our departure time.

Italy May13-Jun1/09

Gelato


The first 5 hours on the train gets us to Munich. An easy train change as we catch our next train at the same platform. We arrive in Florence around 6AM.

ITALY

Highlights: Florence, San Gimignano, gelato, Mary Sierra cabin, Venice.
Challenges: Hills, heat wave, traffic into Perugia.

Some rough camping due to lack of campgrounds.

FLORENCE




We wait for the tourist info to open and then make our way to the campground up a long hill. The campground is amongst an olive grove overlooking the city. After freshening up I walk up to the Piazza Michaelangelo which overlooks Florence and see the same view of the Cathedral of S. Maria del Fiore as on my vision board.


We walk into the city across the Ponte Vecchio bridge. There are many expensive looking jewellry shops. An old fragile woman in black is holding out a cup to passerbys begging.



The Cathedral is huge - although it is free to enter the line up is too long to wait.



Florence is hot. I'm tempted to try to see the Uffizi Museum as it has an extensive art collection including some famous artists, but I'm tired from the heat and figure the line up is too long to wait.








Tuscany impression: stone buildings, potted flowers, green fields of olive groves and vinyards making a patchwork in the fields.



Even though I saw a slide show of a friend's cycle trip through Italy, it doesn't register with me until we are there that you have to generally go through lots of little villages and each one is perched on a big ...... hill and that you have to climb up to the village, descend and then do it all over again for the next village.



Maybe this along with the heat wave plays a part in my decision that we will shorten our stay in Italy. Essentially after heading south from Florence we cross the country to the other coast. We have a good map, it shows the quieter secondary roads and the steepness of the hills.



SAN GIMIGNANO



This village is known for its towers, 7 in total?

It is very hot and fairly steep going up to San G., by the time we reach the campground my legs feel like jello.

We end up staying two nights and take turns doing a walking tour around San G.


CYCLING

Day 221 Florence to Greve 40KM
Day 222 Greve to Siena 60KM
Day 223 rest day
Day 224 Siena to San Gimignano 57KM
Day 225 rest day
Day 226 San G. to Belforte 52KM
Day 227 Belforte to L'Aratrice 57KM
Day 228 L'Aratrice to Amiata 37KM
Day 229 Amiata to Bagnolo (past Santa Flora) 46KM
Day 230 Bagnolo to Sarteano 49KM
Day 231 Sarteano to Perugia 65KM
Day 232 Perugia to Umbertide 60KM
Day 233 Umbertide to Pianello 34KM
Day 234 rest day
Day 235 Pianello to o/s Marotta 82KM (Mary Sierra cabin)
Day 236-238 rest days
Day 238 to Marotta 11KM

Italy 650KM

Frankfurt May 6-12/09

Leaving Nepal was uneventful, fortunately no "bandh" (strike).

After a 3 hour hop to Bankok, 5 hour wait in airport (chatting with an older woman from Copenhagen) and a long flight to Frankfurt I arrive around 6AM. I catch the train to the hostel (historic old building)which is conveniently located across the street from the train station.






In the afternoon I sign up for the free city tour. Along the way there are historic buildings, sculpture and the river. Peter arrives safely the next day. I meet him at the aiport and cry when I see him.







Getting my bike is an all day affair. First waiting for it to arrive, then finding out that we have to pick it up at the cargo depot instead of at the airport...taking the train then a couple buses. Unexpectedly I have to pay 19 EU (Customs Clearance). From the cargo office we walk close to a kilometer to Customs fortunately they don't inspect it which would cost 53EU.

We walk back to the cargo office then over to the warehouse. The fellows look at us when we tell them we don't have a car as the box weighs 45kg (approximately 100lbs). We think that we have to wait 2 hours for the next bus, we start carrying the box however one of the fellows takes the box via a forklift to the bus stop and tells us that the bus is in 3 minutes.

The hardest part is carrying and dragging the box across the street from the train station to the hostel...we stop several times to rest. I put my bike together (while Peter naps) and spend about an hour scraping tar off my rear wheel (from New Zealand).

We look into options to get to Italy. Ryanair is cheap but with the bikes and our luggage we expect that it won't be so cheap. Although expennsive, we end up booking the train to Munich then overnight to Florence for 238EU ($380Cdn).

Although the hostel includes a breakfast which sometimes includes museli, yogurt, toast or buns, coffee or tea and boiled eggs and cold cuts cheese, it is expensive 20EU ($32Cdn) (dorm) and 48EU ($76Cdn)(private)(compared to Nepal) for our budget.




The art museum in Frankfurt has some portraits from the 16th century with amazing skin tones. Peter picks up a couple maps and a guide book for Italy.

Leaving Nepal May4/09

Tomorrow I fly to Frankfurt, Germany. I will meet Peter there on May 7th.

Nepal is a wonderful experience. I have some good friends here and when I finish school before treking the Anapurna Base Camp, my heart is aching at the thought of leaving my students. I do not realize how strong the emotion is until it hits me one day. I love these children and hope that I will get to see them again.


Maiti Nepal is a wonderful organization, and if you are coming to Nepal and have room in your luggage, please bring clothes for the children from tiny tots to children (boys and girls (mostly) up to 18 years old) or consider sponsoring a child as your dollars can go a long way here.

Back in Kathmandu/Goodbyes

The couple weeks before I leave Kathmandu are busy with visiting with friends, buying gifts and making arrangements for my bicycle.

I buy more scarves from Soru and am talked into going with her to visit her family in their village for one night. Soru wears a T-shirt and jeans and I wear my kourtasulwall.

It is a long bumpy ride to her village (Partiso?) after leaving Banepa. From the small village we climb a steep path winding up to her grandfather's house. We stop a couple times to catch our breathe.





Her sister, Sharmila prepares dhal bhat and tea for us. Although I start to eat it with my fingers thankfully Soru offers me a spoon.



Afterwards we walk down a steep pathway to her other grandfather's house. Initially we sit out on a mat on the veranduh until I find it too hot. Inside her grandfather makes roti rolling out the dough, heating it on a stone over the fire then placing it near the fire to brown it.

Everywhere we go someone offers us food, I try to refuse as I am full but feel obligated to eat some.

We sit outside in the dark until supper is ready as the house is very smokey from the fire. Upstairs by flashlight I see the uncle's wedding photos.

At night I hear a mouse or rat in the walls or on the floor (its' nails scratching around) - I shine my flashlight around periodically to scare it away. The pillow is very hard so I use some clothes for my pillow.

In the morning we have tea. The goat is plaintively crying to be fed from her stall near the kitchen.

Soru's family is very nice, they ask if I can stay another day...I likely would say yes if I hadn't arranged to phone Buddha.



Sending my bicycle

I end up sending my bicycle by cargo as the overweight charge on the airlines is very expensive $35/kg/lb? and I am unable to find out about sending it as accompanied cargo (on my flight).

Bishnu makes the arrangements for me, I just ask him to ensure that "no drugs are sent with my bike". I take the bike by taxi but have to carry it to the office by myself from the main gate as the roads are blocked. After waiting an hour the men from the cargo company arrive. They tell me that to protect my bike it requires a wooden box and if it weighs 45kg it will cost less per kg then the actual weight of my bike...it still costs a couple hundred US. The cargo company will have the box made for me.

On another date, I return to go by taxi with the cargo fello to the cargo depot near the airport to complete the paperwork and provide a copy of my passport. On the way back there is a blockade so I pay the taxi driver half fare then walk back to Boudha.

Nepali flick

One night Buddha, Padam and I go to see a Nepali movie, it is an action flick with karate or Tai Kwando. I can follow the gist of the story as the acting is so over the top...I find it funny.

Tiebetan doctor

Ghandruk to Naya Pul -Pokara

The pace is quick so I am soon left behind. We see a last glimpse of the snow capped mountains. It is mostly downhill and not too steep.

Eventually we get to the road, it is dull after being on the trail but it does pass through a village where the children ask for sweets. I see a man plowing a field with 2 oxen (water buffalos?).



We end up at the lunchspot where we started. I pick up 3 envelopes to give a tip to the guide/porters as I am not sure how I would have made out finding my way on my own.

Lost

The group is out of sight when I leave the permit office. I take a lower trail following a group of hikers across a bridge and up a steep hill to all the little shops where the taxis and buses are waiting...I walk up and down but don't see our group.

Ok I think, maybe I should have taken the road from the checkpoint office instead of the trail so I go back down the hill...I head back down the street of shops where we saw the packhorses when we started but I don't see our group so I turn around and go back to the checkpoint office. I start up the road but realize that it isn't the right way either.

By this point I feel very stressed as it is past the time that the van was to pick us up...my throat is dry and I feel overheated as I have been racing back and forth trying to locate the group. I head back down to the bridge intending to go back up to the shops and wait when I see Renuka and Danu waiting for me. They didn't wait for me as they thought that I knew the way.

It is 1:50PM when I reach the van. I appologize and lean my head back with my eyes closed and drink my water. They ask me what happened. I tell them that I crossed the bridge 3 times.


Pokara

It pours just as we get unloaded at the Three Sisters. I give my envelopes to the guides, porters.

I borrow Matt's guidebook to see about arranging a hotel. I noticed the Snowline on the way in, so I phone there and get a room for the night. It is higher than expected but I agree as I just want to have something arranged.

Verena leaves her luggage at Three Sisters until she finds a hotel. She accompanies me in the taxi and as my hotel has a TV she opts to stay here as well. The room is fine except for the huge spider that I get a staff to kill.

At night I walk down to the lake. Pokara is pretty but very hot. The next day I want to sketch at the lake but it is too hot even in the shade.

I switch to a cheaper hotel off the main drag, send emails, phone the Dragon to confirm a room and arrange a bus to Kathmandu the next day and meet the gang for supper. The chicken in white wine is excellent.








Although I am tensed about catching my bus the next morning, all goes smoothly. The road winds around a deep ravine with a rushing torrent of water and big rocks. The road climbs very high then drops down again and climbs steeply again before we reach Kathmandu. At times the bus passes where I think it is not wise to do so. Instead of being petrified for the whole journey I decide to accept that my fate is either to survive the ride or not and that worrying about it won't change my fate, so I enjoy the ride.

It is interesting passing through the rural communities, farms, terraced lands bypassing long suspension bridges and towns and shops that line the highway.

When I get off in Kathmandu I do not know where I am in relation to Boudha, when I am pointed in what I hope is the right direction I start walking and eventually give in to catching a taxi.

ABC Day 7-10 Deurali to ABC to Ghandruk

I decide to go and turn back if I have any concern. Sunita the guide says that it is safer to go early in the morning. We leave at 7:20AM and it is around 11:30AM by the time we reach MBC and beyond the avalanche zones.



I debated staying at MBC as I feel some pressure in my head however I carry on as I am told that if I develop a problem I can go back to MBC and sleep in the dining room.

It is a slow climb up the snow slopes; as a mist or fog rolls in the big rocks look like a house until you get close enough to distinquish them. Finally we reach base camp after an hour or so climbing.







Verena, Valentina, Marion and I share the last available room.

After a snack, I walk above base camp, past a shrine with prayer flags and plagues...there is a very steep drop on the other side. There are tent groupings past the guesthouse (I assume the true mountainers).



I have a slight headache. As it is cold I get ready for bed early. We sit in the dining room enjoying the heater (as everyone has agreed to pay for it).

The next day we rise early to see the sunrise. After breakfast I start down by myself early as I wish to get past the avalanche slopes...I'm past them by 10:30AM.





At Deurali we have lunch.

On the way down it spits a little. I am really tired, the back of my right calf is quite sore. I would have liked to stop at Devon instead of going the extra hour down to Bamboo however arrangements have already been made for us at Bamboo. We arrive at 5PM.



Verena & I sleep in a storeroom where staff walks through to carry things from the kitchen to the dining hall, leave the door open and reach over my bed to take supplies from the shelves. The hot water to wash with feels so good.



The next day I hike more on my own, listening to the birds as the trail meanders through the trees.

On the way we meet a Hari Krishna dressed all in orange. I thought he was joking when he said "Hari Krishna". Verena stops to have a talk with him.

It is a long long climb up to Chhomrong.

Overlooking the guesthouses at Jhin....we see a rooftop with tables and umbrellas-it looks so civilized. We skip the hot pool as it is a half hour walk downhill and it starts to rain.

The next day we have breakfast outside. I buy a thin bright scarf as I've been admiring how handy Verena's scarf is for shading her from the sun.



It is a very long steep walk down, then through some trees and up again. As it is hot and muggy I put on my wet top. Ghandruk appears to be a good size village...I wonder what the population is? It is very neat with a labrinth of stone buildings and alleyways.

The Hotel Trekkers Inn is very nice-3 levels with pots of flowers, geraniums, etc.
Minutes after sitting down outside it starts to rain, first big drops then it pours and hails...talk about fortunate to have finished trekking for the day!

When the rain lets up some we take a walk through the village to the museum (interesting) and to a monestary. I feel that I want to see more of this village. The view of the village was more attractive on the way to our guesthouse.