Visitors
There are two types of travelers to talk about here- the ones who traveled to visit me in Nepal, and me when I traveled to some fun places inside and outside of Nepal. The list of visitors is long and illustrious, starting in June with David and Mariana, from Peru but now living in Minneapolis. David is an amazing photographer, so I had the chance to watch and learn on a few journeys to some of the local sights. Here are my pictures from the visit we made to Bahktapur: http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=16nw59zt.5cdfgbbh&x=0&y=1pfb3s
Next were two quick visits from Tara, who was in from India, where she is studying with the Dalai Lama, to do some retreats and study here in Nepal. She has since gone on to new adventures in India and Pakistan. It was great to meet up and chat with her and live vicariously through her studies and retreats (don’t know that I have the patience for some of the things she has done, but it is incredibly interesting to hear about it secondhand!)
In July, Mary Elizabeth stopped in for dinner and a catch up chat on a regional tour from her posting in Peshawar, and Ninfa from the Philippines took time for a day of sightseeing and photography during the conference she attended here.
Early August was quiet, until the termite chaos began, and my sister Michelle and Canadian friend Stew showed up for fun. Stew is on a world tour, and Michelle was on her way home to the US from her time in Japan. They kept each other and me amused with their Nepal antics. October brought my “sister” Tammi for a visit, and she did a lot of exploring with my driver Chitra and housekeeper Sabina at her side while I worked (boo, poor me, but is has to fit in between the fun). What a great way to bargain- wish I had thought of it! J The constant guest room usage ended after Tammi departed, but it will be ready to go again after the start of 2006. For pictures from the visit Tammi and I made to Pokhara:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=16nw59zt.45uhhu9x&x=0&y=mb2nl4
Rajasthan India visit and other travels
September was all about Michelle and me traveling in Rajasthan India. What an incredible adventure! Michelle and I were treated like maharanis by our driver Suresh and our guides in each city, and we had the chance to explore forts, palaces and temples built during the rule of the maharajas. It is a great place to see the history of India come to life through the changing art and architecture that reflect the maharajas, the moghuls, the Brits and the independent India. We were also able to enjoy the three main animals of conveyance- the horse, the camel and the elephant- at different points in our adventure. The tour ended with a visit to the Taj Mahal, the epitome of romance and unending love, luminous even on a rainy, cloudy day.
In addition to this grand adventure, I had a few weekend adventures in Nepal, including a weekend in Nagarkot where I did some hiking with friends, a weekend in Dhulikhel with JoEllen for relaxing, and a long Dashain week in Pokhara with Tammi where the mountains came out and played with us each day.
Photo album links:
Nagarkot weekend:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=16nw59zt.af84fhct&x=0&y=-oyrxinDhulikhel weekend:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=16nw59zt.1bb82lsd&x=0&y=-78kraiRajasthan India visit:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=16nw59zt.5p8eyff9&x=0&y=q6b8c1Pokhara with Tammi:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=16nw59zt.45uhhu9x&x=0&y=mb2nl4
Dashain: a Nepali festival
Dashain is the Nepali equivalent to Christmas. It is a holiday celebrated within the family, with some unusual twists, at least from a Western point of view. As a part of Dashain, there is a special day when all "tools of your trade" are blessed. Vehicles, tools, and all forms of equipment are lined up and the puja is performed over them. The puja consists of offerings of food, drink and blood from a newly killed goat or chicken.
In the GSO section, we performed this ritual on a Sunday. The goat and chicken killing was done in a ritualistic and very speedy manner, which made it easier to observe. Being chosen as the goat or chicken to participate in this ritual is believed to be a very auspicious thing, and the goats and chickens are thought to be destined to be humans in their next lives, skipping other normal intervening steps. The goats and chickens are asked if they want to be sacrificed. Then water in sprinkled on their heads. If they bow the heads up and down, they agree to being used. If they don't bow their head, or shake it instead, they are not to be used in the ritual. Most goats and chickens bow up and down and get used.
Dashain Festival Photos:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=16nw59zt.7o144xc5&x=0&y=dbzqib
