Went to a lovely italian restaurant called fire and ice, with Elaine last night which was nice to have company while eating!. She told me that in 2001 the roya family here were all murdered by the prince because the queen didn't approve of his girlfriend and was told to 'dump' her. The 2 of them apparently used to go to this restaurant in secret and occupy the table in the corner opposite us.
Elaine and I shared a huge salad and vegetarian lasagne which tasted divine - best meal i've had since I arrived.
Forgot to mention yesterday the on my visit to one of the Patan temples, as I entered the courtyard there was a huge rat in the gully that surrounded the shrine. Then as I walked back to the main square I saw several dead rats on the road - YUK.
Sorry this is short but I'm so ahead of myself today. I'd better get out there so that I have some more stories to tell.
Thanks again for all your comments and on the photos too.
Thanks to Karen for putting the Montage together - it took a while to load but we got there in the end. I didn't have sound on the pc but ceri told me it was done to the tune of Bon Jovi so I hummed along
Love from Sue.xx
Thursday, 17 July 2008
Thursday 17th - now I'm up to date
What is it with people in Nepal? - Was woken at 6 by someones TV and chanting!! - does no sleep here??
Had eggs and toast for breakfast which was enough to feed the 5000. I got chatting to a woman called Elaine who's from Mill Valley San Francisco(near Tiburon) - small world hey Karen.
I then took a taxi to Durbar square in Patan on the outskirts of the city. It's got loads of temples and the streets are hundreds of years old. Everyone wants to be my guide (at a cost of course) but I insisted on 'going it alone' and I enjoyed the leisurely stroll through the old parts of the city. There were some amazing buildings there which you had to really search to find.
Apparently Patan is the home of many famous artists and I stopped at an artist called andy's shop and made an impulse buy of an oil painting of the Annapurna range. God knows how I'm going to carry this with me as it's not a small painting. But he was a very nice person and I'll load the photo next time I'm online.
Got a taxi back and the traffic was horrendous as there has been a petrol shortage for weeks and the queues for petrol stretch for miles. The queues cause massive congestion on the roads as the people just park their cars and motor bikes overnight just waiting for the delivery of petrol to arrive.
Well that's my day so far and I'm finally up to date.
i may go and visit a small village which is on the way to Pokhara and stay one night or I may just chill here for a few days - go learn meditation or have a massage - we'll see !!
Keep reading. Love Sue.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Had eggs and toast for breakfast which was enough to feed the 5000. I got chatting to a woman called Elaine who's from Mill Valley San Francisco(near Tiburon) - small world hey Karen.
I then took a taxi to Durbar square in Patan on the outskirts of the city. It's got loads of temples and the streets are hundreds of years old. Everyone wants to be my guide (at a cost of course) but I insisted on 'going it alone' and I enjoyed the leisurely stroll through the old parts of the city. There were some amazing buildings there which you had to really search to find.
Apparently Patan is the home of many famous artists and I stopped at an artist called andy's shop and made an impulse buy of an oil painting of the Annapurna range. God knows how I'm going to carry this with me as it's not a small painting. But he was a very nice person and I'll load the photo next time I'm online.
Got a taxi back and the traffic was horrendous as there has been a petrol shortage for weeks and the queues for petrol stretch for miles. The queues cause massive congestion on the roads as the people just park their cars and motor bikes overnight just waiting for the delivery of petrol to arrive.
Well that's my day so far and I'm finally up to date.
i may go and visit a small village which is on the way to Pokhara and stay one night or I may just chill here for a few days - go learn meditation or have a massage - we'll see !!
Keep reading. Love Sue.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Wednesday 16th - still catching up
Had a good sleep last night - still awake early but at least I don't have to rush anywhere. Have taken all my washing to the laundrette but it's still seems to be taking ages to bring my blog up to date - I'll have to stop doing things.
Today I took a 5 minute stroll outside of the Thamel districe to the 'Garden of Dreams' It's hard to believe that this oasis of beauty and tranquility exists so close to the hustle and bustle of Thamel. I spent 3 hours just wandering round the gardens, sat and read by the lily pond full of huge fish and then had a spot of lunch in the Pavilion restaurant which overlooked the gardens. i ordered a meditteranean salad which was aubergines, mushrooms and peppers fried in olive oil and garlic and served on a bed of spinach - it was 'mito chaa' - very tasty. It was also served with petit pain and garlic breadsticks - yummy!
Back to the chaos of Thamel where I collected my laundry, did some shopping, was hassled as usual by the rickshaw drivers and the street sellers and children who beg for food and money.
Had dinner at the guest house and was thinking how strange it was to be 'on my own' when I was joined by a man named Ian who had been travelling through India for 6 months and is now in Nepal for as long as he can stay. He was pleasant to chat to and it made the evening a little more interesting.
Over and out for today.
Sue.xxx
Today I took a 5 minute stroll outside of the Thamel districe to the 'Garden of Dreams' It's hard to believe that this oasis of beauty and tranquility exists so close to the hustle and bustle of Thamel. I spent 3 hours just wandering round the gardens, sat and read by the lily pond full of huge fish and then had a spot of lunch in the Pavilion restaurant which overlooked the gardens. i ordered a meditteranean salad which was aubergines, mushrooms and peppers fried in olive oil and garlic and served on a bed of spinach - it was 'mito chaa' - very tasty. It was also served with petit pain and garlic breadsticks - yummy!
Back to the chaos of Thamel where I collected my laundry, did some shopping, was hassled as usual by the rickshaw drivers and the street sellers and children who beg for food and money.
Had dinner at the guest house and was thinking how strange it was to be 'on my own' when I was joined by a man named Ian who had been travelling through India for 6 months and is now in Nepal for as long as he can stay. He was pleasant to chat to and it made the evening a little more interesting.
Over and out for today.
Sue.xxx
Tuesday 15th - Me Time
Was going to leave the 'Happy home' at 10am when they take the volunteers into the office but their car had no petrol and so Mike from Limerick (lovely young lad) offered to walk to the main road with my rucksack and we caught a taxi into Thamel. Have now checked into the guest house and have spend today bringing nmy blog up to date - I hadn't realised I'd done so much or had so much to say as it's 3 days later that I'm writing this blog.
Have had a hot shower and washed my hair, watched TV and just wandered round the masses of tourist shops buying comfort food and drinks. It's so nice jsut to relax and have some 'Me time'
I managed to speak to our mam but couldn't get hold of Ceri - just her ansaphone - the time difference here makes it difficult
Short blog today - as you can tell - I'm slowing down with the typing
Love you. Sue. xx
Have had a hot shower and washed my hair, watched TV and just wandered round the masses of tourist shops buying comfort food and drinks. It's so nice jsut to relax and have some 'Me time'
I managed to speak to our mam but couldn't get hold of Ceri - just her ansaphone - the time difference here makes it difficult
Short blog today - as you can tell - I'm slowing down with the typing
Love you. Sue. xx
Monday 14th - Chitwan to Kathmandu - long day
Up at 5.30, showered, packed so that I could go on the visit to the elephant breeding centre at 6.30 before having to catch the 9.30 tourist bus to Kathmandu.
Elephant visit was only about half an hour and then they took us on an unexpected walk through the jungle. Had I known I'd have dressed for the occassion. It was a hot sunny morning and I was wearing track bottoms and a long sleeved white t-shirt. We walked aimlessly through loss grass and soggy mud (from the rains)- I think he was trying to find a rhino but by the time we got back I was hot and sweaty and irritable because we were late and no time for a shower again as I has to rush for the bus. My sandals were wet and muddy, my trousers had those bits of grass seed stuck to them and I was lucky not to have picked up any leeches. i did restrain myself and didn't swear at the guide.
The bus ride was long and we stopped a couple of times to wait half an hour for no apparent reason and after 5 hours we arrived in Kathmandu.
Back at the 'Happy home' amd Daal/Baht for tea, but had a glass of wine with Asim and his wife Namrada to wash it down which was really nice. Chatted to them for a while and I think his company 'Info Nepal' is doing quite nicely - thank you.
Early to bed as it's been such a long day but am looking forward to ,my stay in the Kathmandu Guest house in the centre of Thamel (tourist district of Kathmandu). Apparently it's where the Beatles wrote a few of their songs (or have I told you that before - I'm getting old!!)
Elephant visit was only about half an hour and then they took us on an unexpected walk through the jungle. Had I known I'd have dressed for the occassion. It was a hot sunny morning and I was wearing track bottoms and a long sleeved white t-shirt. We walked aimlessly through loss grass and soggy mud (from the rains)- I think he was trying to find a rhino but by the time we got back I was hot and sweaty and irritable because we were late and no time for a shower again as I has to rush for the bus. My sandals were wet and muddy, my trousers had those bits of grass seed stuck to them and I was lucky not to have picked up any leeches. i did restrain myself and didn't swear at the guide.
The bus ride was long and we stopped a couple of times to wait half an hour for no apparent reason and after 5 hours we arrived in Kathmandu.
Back at the 'Happy home' amd Daal/Baht for tea, but had a glass of wine with Asim and his wife Namrada to wash it down which was really nice. Chatted to them for a while and I think his company 'Info Nepal' is doing quite nicely - thank you.
Early to bed as it's been such a long day but am looking forward to ,my stay in the Kathmandu Guest house in the centre of Thamel (tourist district of Kathmandu). Apparently it's where the Beatles wrote a few of their songs (or have I told you that before - I'm getting old!!)
Sunday 13th - Elephant Safari and Bath
5.30 start again for elephant safari through the jungle. At least it stopped raining long enough to 'enjoy' the ride. The elephant (called Moti) trampled through the jungle and we got a little wet from the overhanging trees as they brushed over us. Marianna and I were more concerned about the spiders webs, bugs and leeches that may drop on us rather than the wet. We saw a few wild boar and a rhino with her baby which was nice and then as we got back the heavens opened again. On the way back to the hotel, the van blew a tyre so more delay and Marianna needed to get back to catch the bus back to Kathmandu at 9.30. All ended well, we got back in time for her to have a quick shower, breakfast and then 'goodbyes'.
Sat on the veranda and just wrote my journal and enjoyed the view while listening to the pouring rain, there's something quite tranquil and soothing about it all. There is a spot in the middle of the garden with chairs and a hammock where you can watch the wildlife that visit the river. The 'male' staff come and chat and the conversation always leads to 'are you married?' and how they'd like to visit the UK or have friends that have married English girls.
The meals they give you here are huge and so wasted on me- Yas you'd do fine!!
After lunch the Saraha (owner of the lodge) picked a mango from the tree for me - it was gorgeous.
the mosquitos here are vicious little buggers and they've had a right old go at me.
Sat on the veranda and just wrote my journal and enjoyed the view while listening to the pouring rain, there's something quite tranquil and soothing about it all. There is a spot in the middle of the garden with chairs and a hammock where you can watch the wildlife that visit the river. The 'male' staff come and chat and the conversation always leads to 'are you married?' and how they'd like to visit the UK or have friends that have married English girls.
The meals they give you here are huge and so wasted on me- Yas you'd do fine!!
After lunch the Saraha (owner of the lodge) picked a mango from the tree for me - it was gorgeous.
the mosquitos here are vicious little buggers and they've had a right old go at me.
Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Saturday 12th - Nepali transport
Up at 6am to be ready to catch the 7.30 'local' bus to Chitwan. Usually we catch the tourist bus but as there were not enough tourists (monsoon season) the local bus was the only option. It took 6 hours instead of 3 and half as we stopped to pick up and drop off the locals all the way to Chitwan.
Today you can see the bruises on my back and arms that I acquired from yesterday's fight down the mountain.
On arrival we were unexpectedly given lunch of vegetabe soup and cheese spaghetti then taken to see the local museum and a walk round the village. However this is the first time the monsoon season has really affected my day - it poured and poured with rain and my waterproof jacket kept the top of me dry but my trousers absorbed so much water it went into my boots and crept all the way up to my knickers. There was no where in the lodge to dry clothers and as it rained the rest of the day and night it was all still wet the next morning.
In the evening Marianna and I met up with 2 girls called Annie and Nil who are working in the orphanage in Chitwan. I had a large rum and coke and we chatted all evening - it was a really good time. More tomorrow!
Love Sue xxx
Today you can see the bruises on my back and arms that I acquired from yesterday's fight down the mountain.
On arrival we were unexpectedly given lunch of vegetabe soup and cheese spaghetti then taken to see the local museum and a walk round the village. However this is the first time the monsoon season has really affected my day - it poured and poured with rain and my waterproof jacket kept the top of me dry but my trousers absorbed so much water it went into my boots and crept all the way up to my knickers. There was no where in the lodge to dry clothers and as it rained the rest of the day and night it was all still wet the next morning.
In the evening Marianna and I met up with 2 girls called Annie and Nil who are working in the orphanage in Chitwan. I had a large rum and coke and we chatted all evening - it was a really good time. More tomorrow!
Love Sue xxx
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
