Back in the Valley

Hello Friends,

So we have been back in Kathmandu for the past week.  When we first got here we both got a bit sick from the pollution.  Rughaa lagyo.  But now we are both feeling better.  We got some magic potion called "Sancho" (health) which is available at every corner store.  It works wonders.  It's a mixture of eucalyptus oil, mint oil, camphor, cinnamon oil, and lemongrass oil. "For cold, cough, rheumatism, stuffy nose, fatigue, bodyache, muscular ache, neuralgia, sprain, and itching."  Really works like a charm.  You can put it on bites and they stop itching, or a couple drops under the nose before bed to cure a rughaa.  Awesome. 

We also met Ben, my boss and friend.  I am super excited to work with him and he is a very inspiring guy.  Speaking of inspiring people, I also met Madan Rai, the man whose home I will be staying in.  He is really incredible.  A man who started life as a child porter, never had a pair of shoes until he was 18.  Now he is a Thulo Manche, very highly respected and well to do.  He spouts philosophy of life most of the time too, so I think I will learn a lot living with him.  Another cool person that I met was Pawan Rana, a friend of a friend.  He was really cool and he also lives in Patan, so we will have to hang out later too.

We also went to Bhaktapur because we wanted to get out of the pollution a little. That was really nice.  We stayed at a guest house up on a hill and out of the noise and smoke of the city.  Tonight we are back in Thamel because we are heading to the Chitwan tomorrow.  We will wake up early for a raft trip tomorrow, spend the night on the river and then continue south to see the elephants and rhinos and look for tigers.  So that's what's up!  Leave me a comment if you love me, hahahaha...

Take care,
love,
Hailey