Off to Chitwan

We've had trouble getting access to the computer over the last few days so haven't been able to post. Thought I'd try to squeeze in a quick note before breakfast at half eight.

We're being picked up at half ten this morning for a half twelve flight - with Yeti Airlines no less - if I can post from Chitwan I will so that you know we made it in one piece and it wasn't actually a yeti flying the plane....

It's been busier here, we went up to play with the kids on their day off and ended up spending nearly all day with them - Alison's made some good friends and we went up to help with homework a couple of days ago too. There are school holidays soon so we'll probably spend most of our time with the kids over that fortnight. In between times we're going to go to the small baby orphanage in Kathmandu (about 20 kids under 4) with one of the other volunteers here to see if we can help out. I fully expect it to be upsetting, but it feels like a good thing to at least try and Alison's up for it.

We survived our trip down to Thamel the other day. Had a good wander round and some lunch (chip butties - yummy - who said I was going to lose weight on this trip?!). We did a little bit of souvenir shopping - well, it has to be done - and managed to find a slightly quieter corner of Thamel with a small Buddhist temple and some lovely shops with good prices - less haggling and no hassle, which was a joy.

We did a walking tour yesterday afternoon with Emma, the Volunteer Manager and two of the other volunteers, Ann and Kim (from USA) from Durbar Square to Thamel through a lot of the older streets that you wouldn't normally come across. It was fascinating seeing the old squares that the town was originally built round - really quiet even though they're only a minute off the main road - and all the shops that locals use as opposed to the tourist mayhem. Then nearly all the volunteers from the house met up for dinner in a Lebanese restaurant and we sat on cushions on the floor scoffing falafel and houmous - Alison and I came home after dinner even though Jake (one of the Australian volunteers here) was trying to corrupt her and get her to go up to the pub with them and be on his pool team! The volunteers here just now are all really nice, although it's marginally depressing that just about all of them are young enough for me to be their mother - ugh! I"m amazed by how confident and brave some of them are at 19, 20 and 21 to be out here on their own and off on placements in the middle of nowhere, it's fantastic. They've all really taken Alison into the group and make her feel involved, which is lovely.

I've been making Alison earn her keep, though- she's found a liking for stomping washing in a bucket with her feet every morning, so she's become the laundry queen. I'll post a picture as soon as I can! Having found my camera cable, I've managed to lose it again, so I won't be able to post any photos till we get back from Chitwan and I can launch a full-scale search for it - there are too many pockets in rucksacks!

Anyway, breakfast calls - I've just been handed a mug of tea (black, two sugars - I"m becoming hooked) and I can hear sizzling and frying sounds from the kitchen upstairs (kitchens in Nepali houses are on the top floor - a bit inconvenient for carting things up, but cooler and with a roof terrace outside). Will post from Chitwan if we can and if not will try to get online on Tuesday night.

Bye for now,

Ann & Alison
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