Thursday, December 16, 2010

Christmas wishes to all!

"What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace."

-Agnes M. Pahro

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Home again

Have been home for nearly a week now - amazing how one morning you can be in the middle of a place like Bohda - and the next morning you are looking around Ikea in Adelaide!!!! Do miss the sights and smells of Kathmandu - miss Liz and the monks, the Tibetan refugees, the beggars, the freedom! It is hard to stay in the 'zone' once arriving home and responsibility hits!!! Meals - housework - eeek. Orrid.
Managed to get everything home OK - amazing what you can fit in a rucksack - there wasn't an inch of room left. Apart from 20 shawls managed to cram in books, beads, pressies, door curtain, three paintings - and more. Visiting Dev and Nilu - friends from the Cooks we hadn't seen for 19 years was certainly special. They have such a comfortable home - with great views over Kathmandu and a warm, welcoming feeling. Nilu and I found we had so much in common and we were sorry we hadn't connected earlier in the trip as so many places Nilu offered to take me. Next time ?????
Liz and Nick took me out to a Japanese restaurant for the last evening - I was unaware that the place existed and it was beautiful food with the best company. We walked around and around the Stupha exchanging thoughts on plans for home etc.
Two great flights home - pat on the back to the Capitane! Always a relief to land safely - leaving Kathmandu had fantastic views of the snow capped Himalayas. It's great on the plane listening to 'travelers tales' of trekking, rafting etc.
Arrived home to visitors - that wasn't the easiest but we got there.
Now it's sorting work and catching up with everyone - a day sleeping, day with my dear Dad. Alice has been fabulous cooking dinner each night - helping adjust slowly!!! Russ has been very busy at work - he was hardly home the three weeks I was away so didn't have time to get lonely. Next time I'm sure we'll go together tho.
Certainly makes one feel so fortunate being able to visit a country like Nepal where there is so much poverty and come home to our wonderful country safe and sound. Met some friends from Adelaide at Singapore airport - they had been traveling Europe for six weeks and we were going home on the same plane. Amazed when we were in the same row of seats!!!! - and I was one behind them in the duty free shop when we noticed the numbers on the orders. Quite strange.