I have been saying Im going to do this for days, and if I dont start now I will never catch up. Always better to write when things are fresh in your heart.
So, may I just say that this really is just a journal for myself to reflect upon and remember those special moments,people,and Nepal. But also when family and friends have a fleeting thought of "I wonder what Deborahs up to" you know where to look!
My adventure started with Susannah taking me to the airport in her new car, how lovely I thought that my daughter is doing this for me. They are growing up. Which of course is why I find myself able to embark on this trip.
Massively overweight on the baggage, rather a tense momemt as the girl informs me I am 12 kilos over, she calls her manager. I explain that I have lots of childrens books and that I had understood that if you were working for a charity the airline was fairly leanient. At that moment "wheels on the bus" rang out from one of my bags. Thankyou Morag, that little book probably saved me around £200.
On to Kathmandu. Dear Deepak,met me at the airport along with Kaman the chap who is going to be my companion/helper for the next 8 weeks. Wonderful to see a familiar face smiling at me through the crowd.
We drive to the Vajra Hotel,that had been recommended to me by a friend of Mick Coopers. Very Nepalese,quite basic by our standards,but middle of the road for Nepal. Full of character and charming staff.Didnt want to have to have too much contrast to where I am going. The hotel is situated at the foot of the hill where the Swayambhunath Temple sits It is the oldest buddhist temple in Nepal. The whole sight is full of atmosphere, it is mobbed by monkeys, and soars above the city. There are Thousands of Prayer flags with mantras fluttering above the stuppa (temple) supposedly carrying all prayers to heaven on the wind. I visited here last October and wanted to stay close by this time, to soak up the atmosphere.
Kathmandus traffic problems dont go away, its hot, smelly, noisey, bustling, and all that, and its just wonderful.
Deepak insists I come to stay at his house the next day. It is new years day in Nepal, just to complicate matters they are in the year 2067,(havent worked out how or why) and the start of the year is always around middle of April. Today is a public holiday and also Mothers Day. His wife and child have gone back to her village,about 150km away to see her mother, and Deepak is spending the day with his parents who live just up the road in a quieter spot of Kathmandu.
After depositing all my stuff at Deepaks house we walk to his families house. We are met by mum Dad,Grandma, sister and aunty. Father and sister both speak good english and are desperate for news of Roshan who works for Navin at the Royal Oak and is studying in England. He has been to my house a couple of times for tea and calls me his Thulo mummy which means Big mummy a kind of respect for someone outside the family.
Deepaks mother cooks lunch for Deepak and myself, and then stands over us while we eat. Navins words ring in my ears "do not eat in peoples homes" I just hoped that that did not include Deepaks family. I was fine! After lunch Surakshya Deepaks 17 year old sister is delighted to take me down town Kathmandu to visit the Durbar square which was one of the royal residences when Kathmandu was divided into principalities. Beautiful buildings with spectacular wood carvings. We also visited the home of the living Goddess, she did not show herself today. Although 22 years ago when Jason and I visited Kathmandu the then living goddess did come to her window.
Whilst we are "down town" I discover my visa card does not work..declined three times! also my phone has packed up, both informed I was going abroad........what the hell... Im in Nepal! and it all gets sorted.
Stayed at Deepaks house that night. Not coping very well with crouching loos, terrible on the knees! and how on earth are you supposed to relax?
Up early, all the family arrive to watch me have breakfast and say their farewell. But not before Deepaks father insists I take a spare mobile telephone. What a delightful family they are.
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