Gulf Air

I have concluded (after only 2 trips, so perhaps not much of a conclusion) that the flight between Kathmandu and the Gulf is an interesting, most notably because such a large proportion of people on the plane give the impression that that have never flown before. Which is indeed unusual in this day and age, in some ways its quite amusing.

• Firstly I would say that 90% of the plane are men with a few foreign ladies and even fewer foreign Nepalis. This in itself is quite weird.
• Then there is the scrum to get on the plane – boarding is called and literally all the men surge to get through the door, and then are sort of halted by a poor air hostess whop has to try and explain that they need their boarding passes…
• Once on the plane many many people don’t seem to get their head round the seat numbering system, which means the plane is constantly being rearranged, as people move around…
• The concept of stowing hand luggage in a locker near your seat also doesn’t occur to many people, this can be annoying, especially at the end of the flight when people are shoving themselves 20 seats down the isle to find their bags…
• Coming into land pretty much 80% of the plane were looking out of the window to see the sea! (not something seen in Nepal)…
• Sitting in seats during landing is also a new concept, a couple of people in the middle isle were standing up and looking out of the window as the plane was about to touch down.
• The moment the plane lands and the engines roar as they go into reverse seems to be the queue for people to stand up and get out their luggage… this seemed to draw wry smiles from air hostesses and an announcement from the pilot for everyone to get back in their seats,

Im sure on lots of flights there are people who have not travelled before, but there really were a lot on this flight and it was entertaining to watch, something that is so simple and part of life for me, must seem very bizarre to these Nepali men flying into construction jobs in the Gulf.

home

So, tomorrow will be first for me - popping home for a mini break in the middle of a long time away. I think it will be odd to come back just temporarily. I was thinking about it whilst disorganisedly trying to pack, and I thought in some ways I am going 'home', but then in other ways at the moment Kathmandu is my home, with my nice appartment, nice friends, work etc etc. so for now I guess I have 2 homes?!

Children

I thought I would put some photos up of some of the lovely munchkins we have been playing with at a local orphanage on a Saturday afternoon the last couple of months... They're such great kids, are fun to play with, and constantly remind me how amazingly lucky and privileged I am... which is a good thing! The simplest things make them smile - a big contrast to some kids at home I think.

Sex Appeal

This is classic...

'Jovan Sex Appeal'
Aftershave/cologne for men.

Sex appeal.
Now you don't have to be born with it.
This provocative,
stimulating blend of rare
spices and herbs was
created by man for the
sole purpose of attracting
woman. At will.
More than the usual
promise in a bottle.
It's more like a guarantee.
Splash it on your face,
your neck, your chest. The
more you use, the better.
Because it is truly
Sex Appeal. (And man can
never have too much.)
Sex Appeal by Jovan.
For the first time in the
history of the world...
We bottled it.


Yes this stuff is for real... Photos below to prove it :O)

a palace and a camper van

Today I went for a lunchtime walk around the edge of royal palace, it gets so dark inside the office during these power cuts that getting out into the sunshine (and traffic, pollution and horn honking chaos) is the only way to stave off depression...
The palace (perhaps soon to be known as the People's Palace if the Maoists have their way) is mostly fenced by a brick wall, but round the front there are some huge iron railings so you can catch a glimpse of the gardens (lovely) and buildings (rather crematorium-esque if you ask me). Today as I walked past there was this amazing smell - the smell of freshly mowed grass. mmmmm so green and fresh smelling now that is NOT a smell you ever smell here... it reminded me of summer in England... lovely!

Also at the weekend some friends and I went up onto the valley rim to Nagarkot where you get an amazing view of the Himalayas and can laze in peace and quiet in the sun, and most excitingly can see many many trees and other nature type things. It's perfect. Nepal really is beautiful outside of smogville. On the way back down we passed a French camper van going up. Which I can only conclude means they drove to Nepal from France. Put my mind in overdrive thinking of all the epic routes they could have possibly come... I'm guessing they did Russia, Mongolia, China, Tibet and down into Nepal... but perhaps the camper van had superdooper bullet proof lining and they came through Turkey, Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, India and then into Nepal... that would make them true legends, given the conflicts going on... either way those people have to have some epic stories!!

Pebar

Last night I went to a rather entertaining wine tasting session... much wine was tasted, and I probably learnt more than I did at Vinopolis... anyways you can imagine that I didn't want to wake up early this morning.

alas

ringringringring
argh telfy wakes up and sees it is 7.15am
she drags herself to the phone
'hello'
'hello mam it is Pebar can I come and clean?'
telfy mentally curses Pebar 'hello Pebar it is 7.15am'
'yes mam'
'isn't today a holiday for you?'
'yes mam but I dont play Holi'
curses, the I'm a nice employer letting you have a holiday line didn't work.
'can you come tomorrow?'
silence
there is only one thing for it... tell the truth.
'Pebar I went out last night I want to sleep'
'OK mam I will come at 8 o clock'

arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh so well yes, he came at 8 o clock... I seriously think sometimes its more of a pain than its worth!!

Stockpiling food and Burning tyres

I thought I would attach this exciting photo of the tyre burnage that occurred outside my office yesterday! Alas I only caught the end of it, but I think the tyres must have been spread out across the road. Why was tyre burning going on? hmm apparently cos we have water shortages... that is nothing new, I'm guessing it was a localised dispute but who knows!!

also I think I mentioned how some people are stockpiling food because of all the strikes/blockades in the south of the country stopping imports from India. I haven't really been too sure what the best policy is... I mean stockpiling seems drastic, and there are no signs of shortages yet (well aside from petrol and gas), anyways today we got an official email from the highs upon high at work recommending we get in 6-8 weeks of supplies. Crikey!

So, well better safe than sorry... I toodled to the shop on the way home and bought up a stack of rice, flour, tuna and pasta (shells, twists and bows - I resisted the children's pasta with cars, and tractor shapes... it was highly exciting, but twice the price!) Not enough food for 6-8 weeks (I don't think I could carry that much food home from the shops!) but I don't think I will starve, I mean I could always break into my earthquake preparedness kit which has even more supplies in... and I figure I'm coming home in 12 days so worst comes to worst I will export tesco pasta back here when I return!