Merry Christmas Dec /10

A Merry Christmas and good tidings are wished to all my friends and family at home.

I will try to make some phone calls although the time difference can be a challenge.
I look forward to hearing your news either when we touch base by phone or you send me an email.

Love,

Sharon

Cold in Kathmandu/Shopping Meca Dec16/10

It is cold in Kathmandu in December (especially) and January. It is not minus 30 (Canada) with wind chill cold, however, occasionally you can see your breathe outside and there is no heating inside. I don't remember it being this cold when I was here previously in January.


I break down and buy a warm hat. The morning and evenings are cold although it warms up in the daytime, such that you take off all the layers you have been wearing.



In my room or when I am eating upstairs if I am not under two heavy covers then I am wearing my hat, fleece sweather, nylon vest, my shawl and sometimes my rain jacket. A few times I have resorted to wearing my down jacket (if my fleece is being washed).

However when I see people at night that I know will be sleeping outside, perhaps without a hat or warm layers to keep them warm, it is hard to sleep at night with the thought of these poor souls outside in the cold.

I buy some children sandals that I thought were homeless as they are so dirty, but their parents work and drop off little brother, sister and the laughing toddler at Boudha to beg during the day, fortunately they have a room to sleep in at night.



Shopping Meca







In Boudha (and elsewhere in Kathmandu you can buy just about anything) it's a good place to be if you like, no love to shop! Fortunately I curbed my shopping addiction before I came here...otherwise I could be in trouble.
















Practical items (including toilet paper) and fresh local produce.

Waffles/Tempos Nov. 29/10

Waffles

We take a taxi to Mike's Restaurant (near Naxal) for waffles. I think that I am doing the treating but my friend is, fortunately, as I didn't realize how expensive it will be. They are really tasty with curd and fruit on top...yum, yum, yum.



Tempos/Micros (tuk-tuk)




Generally your choices are the 3-wheel white micro (climb in the back, bench on each side) or the blue van (climb in the side entrance-bench on each side and a little stool near side entrance). There are rails on the ceiling to hold onto.

Occasionally you can catch a large bus where if you don't get a seat you can stand and hold onto a rail near the ceiling.

Stand at the side of the road, wave your arm and ask "Gaushala janchha?" or the destination that you want to go. Chaina (pronounced "China") means no and chha means yes.

On the blue van a young man (sometimes a boy) is hanging off the side yelling out the places that they are going but it is like an auctioneer you can't really make out what he is saying.

Also on the blue van there is an amazing capacity to cram people on like "sardines in a can". I don't take the blue van unless I get a seat or at least somewhere to rest one butt cheek. Don't expect to maintain your personal space and if you are tall you may not be too confortable. Locals carry bags of produce, etc onboard but I would take a taxi if I was carrying anything bigger than a bag I can hold on my lap.




As you are travelling along the boy is calling out the names so don't get confused and think that you are already at your destination. He may also ask inside where you are going and then ask for payment which generally is before you get to your destination.

Fortunately, I can recognize some places now so if they don't call out "Ratna Park" I can still recognize that I have reached my destination. Unfortunately, they don't seem to have any buses to Thamel. So from Ratna Park I can walk north to Thamel or south to Maiti Ghar where the immigration office is, or to the inconveniently located Tourism Office.

One day I make the mistake of taking a blue van that screeches to a halt to pick me up then weaves in and out of traffic blowing his horn...is there a fire, is your wife having a baby, are you having road rage? I am concerned that he will run someone over, his driving is ridiculous, I should have just paid my 10 rupees, got off and caught another bus.

The minimum charge is 10 rupees.

I feel uncomfortable a couple times when I am wearing my kourtasurwhal and people stare at me. I ask some teachers what I should do, they offer that people are just curious, however one teacher suggests that I say (Kay Byo?- what happened?).

I decide that I should say Namaste or tell them I am a volunteer with Maiti Nepal or ask how they are(in Nepali).

2010 CNN Hero - Anuradha Koirala!

Hooray! Hooray! Hooray! There is now a utube clip on the Maiti Nepal website, so go to it to view the emotional announcement of her win. It is such exciting news for Nepal and Maiti Nepal that Anuradha has won this. I am told that she received over 200,000 votes out of 2 million votes.

November 30-December 2nd/ 2010 In preparation for when Anuradha returns the students and teachers are busy making flags and decorations to string up across the street, as well as decorating the stage.



Large archways are set up on the street leading to Maiti Nepal, at the entrance to the office and along the street in the community of Pingalstan where Maiti Nepal is located. Streamers are strung across the streets leading to the office. It looks very pretty.

I get a message from my friend in the morning that if I come to her room she can lend me a sari to wear. I wait until I get to the school to put it on as it is cold this morning. A teacher helps me to put it on. The students smile when they see me in the sari and tell me how beautiful I look.



Her plane is due to arrive at 12:30PM. The street is swept and a red carpet is laid on the street from Pingalstan to the Maiti Nepal office. People line the route holding flowers and scarves to give her their blessings.



While waiting for a couple hours we get word that she tried to leave the airport but the crowds were so great that she had to return until they arranged for her safety from the crush of people. Eventually some students come by pulling many suitcases.

Another half hour and Anuradha comes by. She is surrounded by a chain of young men that protect her from the crowds. I call her name as she goes by and she grabs my hand. On the grounds of Maiti Nepal, Anuradha makes her way to the stage.

Everyone cheers and people line up to give her their flowers, scarves and well wishes. While dancers perform a couple dances she is still receiving blessings from people.



Afterwards she gives a brief speech and thanks everyone, including the children that voted for her.

A couple of the women who can't read or write and couldn't use a computer before voted for her. Guests proceed over to the school where a boxed lunch is handed out.