Well it's the weekend, at that can mean one thing and one thing only.... parties in Thamel!!!! For thsoe of you that don't know, Thamel is the tourist district in Kathmandu. It's the most expensive place in Nepal and is full of good times around every corner. Basically you can buy anything here that you need, for example, yesterday I broke my sunglasses and bought a pair of Oakleys (fake) for 500 Rs (roughly $7 CDN).
This week was rather interesting. Bus strikes and road blocks caused grief for me most days this week. As I've said before, I live in a little town called Banepa and work in another town called Bhaktapur which is comparable to the distance between Coquitlam and Pitt Meadows. I ride the bus in every day sitting on the roof because I can't fit inside the buses in this country. Anyhow, on Wednesday there was a college student protest and my bus was forced to take a different route and I got lost.... I got on the bus around 9:30am and arrived at work at 1:45pm after walking around hell's half acre. Thursday was the worst because the bus system worked perfectly in the morning.... but in the afternoon there was a total strike going on. I left my work in Bhaktapur at 2:00pm and had to walk uphill all the way back to Banepa in the glaring sun (pretty bad sunburn). I got home around 5:30pm, but halfway there I was invited into this little old women's cafe for a drink. I had a coke (soft drinks here are always clean and harmless) but I was very embarrassed when she offered me water, because I didn't know if it was filtered or not. I closed my eyes, took a risk, and took a gulp.... it was cold and satisfying. It's been two days now and I'm just as strong as ever, so I figure I got lucky.
I'm heading to the Durbar square here in Kathmandu in an hour and then watching the Dark Knight with the other volunteers tonight.... should be a good day. Keep on making posts everyone, I love reading them all.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
Chitwan National Park
Okay.... this was an amazing weekend. So amazing, I'm not even sure where to begin....
It started of Thursday night with me and a few other volunteers heading into Kathmandu. We just relaxed in town that evening, hanging out at the hotel.
Friday morning, we got up at 6:00am and hopped on a bus towards Chitwan. It's a six hour drive if you go all the way, but we only went three hours. At this point, we got out of the bus and hopped into a raft. My first even white water rafting experience included a two minute instructional pep talk that I didn't understand and then being thrown into a stage 4 rapid (stage 5 is the highest).... due to it being monsoon season here, the water levels were really high and thus the river was rough. Fortunately nobody was thrown out of the raft (although we did come close a few times) but to say the least, it was rather exhilarating. After three hours on the river, we got out and bussed down to the lodge. It was then the late afternoon and we just relaxed around the lodge for the rest of the evening, enjoying the ridiculous heat that occurs south of Kathmandu.
On Saturday morning, we got up early once more and elephants picked us up at the lodge. Four people were place in a little box on top of each elephant and we went trekking through the Chitwan National Park. Unfortunately we didn't see the Rhinos that are native to those parts, but we did see some dear. Later after lunch that day an elephant and his trainer were washing in the river and for 100 rupees ($1.50 CDN) each, we were allowed to ride on the back of it in the water. When it came time for me to go on, I got to see at the front and hold onto the reigns while the trainer and another volunteer were sitting behind me. I suppose the elephant had had enough of this at this point and decided to go crazy.... he managed to throw the trainer and the other volunteer off his back and with me on his back by myself, he decided to go out into the middle of the river and dive under the water. Somehow I managed to hold on and was still there in my position when he resurfaced.... I pulled the trainer up and we made it back to the shore. After that we went on a canoe ride down that river and saw Crocodiles and Monkeys, but again.... no Rhino. We capped off a busy day by seeing a cultural show where local Nepali boys danced to the Hindu gots with a very intense beat and at times fire!!!! This day was long and tiring.... but a heck of a day it was.
Sunday we got up and headed back to Kathmandu. A six hour journey non stop left us all too tired to head back to Banepa, so once again we partied in Kathmandu. Three clubs led to a very entertaining evening with the other volunteers.
This morning we just hopped on a bus back to Banepa and that is where I am now.... writing in my blog, contemplating life as it unfolds infront of me every minute that I am here.
It started of Thursday night with me and a few other volunteers heading into Kathmandu. We just relaxed in town that evening, hanging out at the hotel.
Friday morning, we got up at 6:00am and hopped on a bus towards Chitwan. It's a six hour drive if you go all the way, but we only went three hours. At this point, we got out of the bus and hopped into a raft. My first even white water rafting experience included a two minute instructional pep talk that I didn't understand and then being thrown into a stage 4 rapid (stage 5 is the highest).... due to it being monsoon season here, the water levels were really high and thus the river was rough. Fortunately nobody was thrown out of the raft (although we did come close a few times) but to say the least, it was rather exhilarating. After three hours on the river, we got out and bussed down to the lodge. It was then the late afternoon and we just relaxed around the lodge for the rest of the evening, enjoying the ridiculous heat that occurs south of Kathmandu.
On Saturday morning, we got up early once more and elephants picked us up at the lodge. Four people were place in a little box on top of each elephant and we went trekking through the Chitwan National Park. Unfortunately we didn't see the Rhinos that are native to those parts, but we did see some dear. Later after lunch that day an elephant and his trainer were washing in the river and for 100 rupees ($1.50 CDN) each, we were allowed to ride on the back of it in the water. When it came time for me to go on, I got to see at the front and hold onto the reigns while the trainer and another volunteer were sitting behind me. I suppose the elephant had had enough of this at this point and decided to go crazy.... he managed to throw the trainer and the other volunteer off his back and with me on his back by myself, he decided to go out into the middle of the river and dive under the water. Somehow I managed to hold on and was still there in my position when he resurfaced.... I pulled the trainer up and we made it back to the shore. After that we went on a canoe ride down that river and saw Crocodiles and Monkeys, but again.... no Rhino. We capped off a busy day by seeing a cultural show where local Nepali boys danced to the Hindu gots with a very intense beat and at times fire!!!! This day was long and tiring.... but a heck of a day it was.
Sunday we got up and headed back to Kathmandu. A six hour journey non stop left us all too tired to head back to Banepa, so once again we partied in Kathmandu. Three clubs led to a very entertaining evening with the other volunteers.
This morning we just hopped on a bus back to Banepa and that is where I am now.... writing in my blog, contemplating life as it unfolds infront of me every minute that I am here.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
A Taste of Canada?
So I introduced the game of hockey to the kids at the MD centre.... We played games of 2 on 2 yesterday using cricket bats for sticks, a tennis ball for a puck and walking frames for goals. They actually seemed to really enjoy it and got a lot of exercise out of it, so all in all.... success!
Not much goes on here during the week, Banepa can be a little dull and most volunteers find that they tend to read a lot in their spare time (I've already cleaned up three novels and three magazines). I guess it makes the weekend adventures all the more enjoyable. Tomorrow I am heading back into Kathmandu and then Friday morning I'm heading to Chitwa National Park where I will get to ride an elephant, go rafting and trek through the countryside (while getting to see rhinos, tigers and crocs!). This weekend is going to be amazing....
Not much goes on here during the week, Banepa can be a little dull and most volunteers find that they tend to read a lot in their spare time (I've already cleaned up three novels and three magazines). I guess it makes the weekend adventures all the more enjoyable. Tomorrow I am heading back into Kathmandu and then Friday morning I'm heading to Chitwa National Park where I will get to ride an elephant, go rafting and trek through the countryside (while getting to see rhinos, tigers and crocs!). This weekend is going to be amazing....
Monday, July 14, 2008
It's Official: This Place Rules
Seriously, I don't want to come home. This past weekend in Kathmandu was amazing, everything about Nepal (volunteering, my placement and the partying) is awesome. I met most of the other Projects Abroad volunteers who are from different places around the world. They are all truly all incredible people who are a lot of fun to hang out with. There's even another guy from Vancouver who studies Human Kinetics at UBC!
Friday night was redneck night, I wore a sweaty old stinky shirt I had.... which is about as redneck as I get. The fun started when people wanted fake tattoos and asked if anyone could draw.... well as it turned out, I wound up being a fake tattoo artist that night. We wound up at three different pubs and a really nice restaurant and it was just good times all around. Saturday was pretty relaxed, I just hung out in and around our hotel's neighborhood (or on the rooftop of the hotel) all day with other volunteers. The liquor store up the street received a fair amount of our business that day.... Sunday just involved having breakfast and then catching a bus back to Banepa. I really don't feel uncomfortable here at all anymore unless I'm crossing the street.
Well I've been here for just over a week now.... So far this has been incredible. I can't wait to see what's in store for me this week!
Friday night was redneck night, I wore a sweaty old stinky shirt I had.... which is about as redneck as I get. The fun started when people wanted fake tattoos and asked if anyone could draw.... well as it turned out, I wound up being a fake tattoo artist that night. We wound up at three different pubs and a really nice restaurant and it was just good times all around. Saturday was pretty relaxed, I just hung out in and around our hotel's neighborhood (or on the rooftop of the hotel) all day with other volunteers. The liquor store up the street received a fair amount of our business that day.... Sunday just involved having breakfast and then catching a bus back to Banepa. I really don't feel uncomfortable here at all anymore unless I'm crossing the street.
Well I've been here for just over a week now.... So far this has been incredible. I can't wait to see what's in store for me this week!
Friday, July 11, 2008
Just Call Me Dahsin-a-ma
Today was.... interesting. It started with me catching my bus, but since it was full I had to ride on the roof! I wish I had a picture of that. Things got more interesting when we reached a police blockade and were forced to empty the bus. Nick (my coworker) and I then had to walk two hours into Bhaktapur where we had to walk through a protest of sorts involving bus drivers. There was an absolute gridlock that had fortunately not turned violent yet, as they have a history of getting ugly. To make matters worse, a monsoon hit once we got through the protest.... we arrived at the Muscular Dystrophy Centre soaking wet and exhausted.
The boys were hilarious today, they have some hindi song with a word in the chorus that goes "Dahsin-a-ma" so whenever that comes up, they all chant it at me. It's rather hilarious. We got three of the boys standing today which is awesome because when they're stuck in a wheelchair all day, their muscles reach a point where they can't elongate. Their hips and knees are in constant flexion and their ankles are in constant plantar flexion.... we passively stretch the appropriate muscles to reverse this somewhat, but it's futile at best. We're just trying to slow down the progression that goes along with MD.
I'm on my way into Kathmandu now for the weekend, should be a good time!
The boys were hilarious today, they have some hindi song with a word in the chorus that goes "Dahsin-a-ma" so whenever that comes up, they all chant it at me. It's rather hilarious. We got three of the boys standing today which is awesome because when they're stuck in a wheelchair all day, their muscles reach a point where they can't elongate. Their hips and knees are in constant flexion and their ankles are in constant plantar flexion.... we passively stretch the appropriate muscles to reverse this somewhat, but it's futile at best. We're just trying to slow down the progression that goes along with MD.
I'm on my way into Kathmandu now for the weekend, should be a good time!
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Greetings from Bhaktapur!
Well I've been here three or four days now.... I'm living in a little town called Banepa which is an hour outside Kathmandu. It's kind of like the "Coquitlam" of Kathmandu. I've begun working in Bhaktapur at the Muscular Dystrophy Centre. I can't even begin to describe these kids, through all their tough times they seem to care about nothing more than having fun (Cricket, Basketball and Spiderman).
I still haven't quite adjusted to the culture shock here.... today I saw some guy toss a dead dog out of a moving vehicle where it landed in a mass of garbage on the side of the road. I suppose eventually this will seem more and more like commonplace.... hopefully?
It's great here though, my host family and the other volunteers are great. On Friday we're going into Kathmandu for "Red Neck Friday" which is some sort of clubbing theme I think. It'll probably be a good time.
I still haven't quite adjusted to the culture shock here.... today I saw some guy toss a dead dog out of a moving vehicle where it landed in a mass of garbage on the side of the road. I suppose eventually this will seem more and more like commonplace.... hopefully?
It's great here though, my host family and the other volunteers are great. On Friday we're going into Kathmandu for "Red Neck Friday" which is some sort of clubbing theme I think. It'll probably be a good time.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
My First Day
Well.... here I am! After 28 hours of flying around the world, I finally arrived in Kathmandu.
I figured I had read a lot about this place and that I would be prepared, however.... I had no idea what it was going to be like. This is a very busy city, everyone is constantly on the go and has something to do. The beggers coming out of the airport caught me off guard and I'm pretty sure I gave them too much money. Everyone is very nice though and I even met a friend (Diep) on the flight, he immigrated to Canada from Nepal ten years ago and is on his way back to visit his friends and family.
My hotel is very nice, everyone is pleasant and is willing to answer all my questions about Nepal. The food is unbelievable, I'm not sure what I just ate but it was delicious! For now, I can here some music out of the window and I think I may go for a walk and try to find out where it's coming from.
I figured I had read a lot about this place and that I would be prepared, however.... I had no idea what it was going to be like. This is a very busy city, everyone is constantly on the go and has something to do. The beggers coming out of the airport caught me off guard and I'm pretty sure I gave them too much money. Everyone is very nice though and I even met a friend (Diep) on the flight, he immigrated to Canada from Nepal ten years ago and is on his way back to visit his friends and family.
My hotel is very nice, everyone is pleasant and is willing to answer all my questions about Nepal. The food is unbelievable, I'm not sure what I just ate but it was delicious! For now, I can here some music out of the window and I think I may go for a walk and try to find out where it's coming from.
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