Nepal - Our Second Week in Kathmandu

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Life is grand as our second week unfolded in Kathmandu.  By now we have become very familiar with our neighborhood.  We have our favorite street markets for fresh veggies and meat, the store to buy dry goods, we have discovered a steakhouse that serves amazingly tender and juicy Australia beef, and best of all we have been adopted!

Amrit, our talented local agent who has been helping us with both our private the group plans, invited us to meet his boss for coffee.  Apparently this isn't something they do very often but after hearing our story Surya said he wanted to meet us in person.  We walked to a local coffee shop and sat for more than an hour chatting about our life, their lives, the travel business, and honestly, just having an amazing time.  The warmth from those fellas enveloped us in such a way, it had us smiling for hours afterward.

The next day we received an invitation to join Surya for a short visit to the top of a nearby mountain to enjoy some awesome views.  We got this note from him in the morning.

 Being called Father and Mummy and being introduced to literally everyone we met as his visiting "parents" from America was so charming and kind.  This is the Nepal people talk about.

Chandragiri Hills is a private enterprise built in 2006 by local entrepreneurs.  Located on the outskirts of the city, it was a short 30 minute drive.  The cable car ride to the top was grand and we reached nearly 9,000' in minutes.

 This heart was getting a lot of attention from local folks and tourists.

 Here is our son Surya.  What an amazing fellow . His story will melt your heart.  Born in a remote village that took days to reach on foot, he exceled in school and eventually moved to Kathmandu where he attended school.  Time passed as he earned and saved enough to bring his family to the city.  Today in his 30's he owns a group of travel companies, has interest in many local businesses, assists young and not so young Nepali's to start their own small businesses, sits on the national trekking council safeguarding the mountains and insuring safe treks for all, and the best part, has built a private school educating hundreds of students to become valualbe members of society.

 It was a pretty cloudy day but the views from the top were still outstanding.

Quaint villages far below.

The local temple...built to honor Shiva.

Monument to the first king of Nepal who stood on this mountain in 500 AD and looked out over the valley below as he planned his capitol city. 

 Two local sisters having made a pilgrimage to the temple along with their family.

 We were joined in a family photo.

We took a nice hike down the mountain to a new hotel developement and then back up.  Bobbie left a Knipsuk along the way.

Back down later in the day we got a peak at Kathmandu in the clouds.

Surya took us to his school.  Amazingly impressive.

Five floors of classroom and offices.  School had just ended and the kids were on their way home.  There were a few study groups still in session.  We met with his Vice Principal and chatted with a few kids.

The senior computer lab.

The computer lab for the the little ones.  Look at the chairs!

They have a "quiet" rule in the cafeteria.  They use hand signals to ask for what they would like to eat.  Can you imagine a room full of 200+ kids. all eating their midday meal in silence and respect for the food, the people who prepared it, and reflecting on the value of an included meal in their education program!!!

Our "short" day ended up being well over 13 hours.  Surya dropped us off back in town.  At the end of the day he invited us to attend a special festival on September 1st.  It just so happens that is the day we had booked to start our mountain trek.  So he simply changed our start day over the phone so that we can join him for the celebration as well.  Sure helps to have an adopted son that owns that tour company...smile.

The next few days were for relaxing and doing a lot of nothing.  We shopped daily in the local veggie markets for supplies, bought meat at the open air butcher...that was an experience...gonna cook that buffalo for a LONG time before eating it...smile.

It rained almost every day...for about an hour here and there...but that did not stop us from getting out for a daily walk.  There was time also devoted to finishing a painting of a Tibetan man praying.  It came out so much better than I could have imagined.  Must be the good Karma we are receiving in this magical place.

On Saturday we heard from our fellow at the visa agency that our India visa had been approved!  We are another step closer to opening that door.  Just a few more weeks and the gang arrives again!