Yes I am alive (sorry to dissapoint ha!)

So the internet in Murree is well moody, has a bit of a personality issue, so this will be quick.

I am alive, yes apart from the armed guards that follow us across the road to fend off any attacks and the mountains of snow sliding off the roofs all is well.

Teaching is BUSY!! I have two science classes, one biology and one flute class, all with five classes each except for the flute. Then evening are spent either with the kids or marking/planning lessons. The snow has made life interesting, we spend the weekends playing in the snow, the snow ball/capture the flag games on Sunday after church were crazy! the students then decided to body slam us into the snow, I have a bruised nose, that is frequently bleeding and bruises scattered over my body, it was so worth it tho! The kids are lovely, fun and full of life, keeping me on my toes. I have done a few trips to Murree, one which we had to leave rather quickly as a demonstration was starting (this was on my first day), I generally just walk down to Jik with some of the gorls to do my shopping, its close and friendly.

More and more engineering jobs keep popping up, I am going to Islamabad on Sat to look at a new development for a bible school, there are concerns over the land and the buildings, the donors are from Australia so I have to write a nice report for them (fun!) I got to leave Murree and head north to the holiday spot for the school, looking at the guttering and water catchment designs, so beautiful up their. Pakistan is beautiful and apart from the fact I cant smile, laugh or look at a man in public all is well (clearly I have broken all three of those rules, I cannot not smile)

Anyways better go do some marking/be productive.

I am home in a week and a bit :( I have decided I am buying a surf board when I return, trip to the Mt anyone?

A Quick Update

Wow looking over my last posts, some interesting spelling mistakes. This will be quick as I don't have the attention span for computers right now.

Pokhara = Epic = Amazing people
Last five days = Unforgettable (in the good way) = Really bad flu (meh you get over it)
Audsley on a bike = A hazard to all on and off the road
Spicy Food = Lets not re-live those experiences, my tollerance is slightly increasing
Kathmandu = Rain = Overcast = I am going insane

In 30 hours I will be on a plane to Pakistan via Abu Dahbi, I didnt want to leave Pokhara but I am itching to get away from Kathmandu so maybe its time to move on to some peace and quite in the snowy mountains of Murree.

Being and Engineer

So I arrived in Pokhara yesturday, today is a bung day around nepal so no transport is running. The bus ride was wonderful,I sat with three Australian girls, two of whom have been working in nz the last year, we all plan on keeping in contact. I am currently working at the INF compound reviewing four buildings which are to be constructed, I work with Thomas who is from germany and Andy from Scotland. I have my own house,sharing until tomorrow with Jamita who is a physio therapist from Australia who is heading back early next week. We have a didi who comes and cleans and cooks for us. I will hopefully get to look around the hospital this afternoon,they treat leporosy and amputations making all prosthetics on site and running rehabilitation. I forgot how to ride a bike so the ride to work this morning was interesting. From the roof of the house you can see the full mountain range on a clear day like today. I could live here. I have been offered a job looking after the developmentbut will need to have a good think about it. better get back to work.

Farewell Kathmandu

A very quick post before my taxi arrives. I am off to Pokhara today, a lovely 8 hour bus trip. I didnt get much sleep last night but am surprisingly awake considering its still not 6am, maybe the cold shower this morning had some effect. I had a fun day yesturday, walked to Durbar Square through some crazy side streets, the building are an amazing fact that I cannot structural tell how some were still standing. I bumped into Saha, an Iranian brought up in London and spent the mornnig with her, Durbar Square has increased from 200 rupees to 750 rupees entrance so I decided to flag going in. We both walked back to Thamel and got a tea. The afternoon I spent wandering around the craft markets and tried my hand a bahtering, much to the surprise of some Americans in the sme stall willing to pay full price. I had dinner with Saha at my favourite local Nepali resturant.

I am quite excited about heading to Pokhara and doing some engineering work but also have some company and get to know the local Church. Saturday is the day of rest in Nepal so Nepali church is on Saturday and there is international church on Sunday. I am planning on bussing back to Kathmandu on Monday, meeting on Tuesday with the engineers in Kathmandu and local NGO co-ordinator then fly to Islamabad on Wednesday.
I am not sure if I will have internet or time to post between leaving today and Monday but will try.

Here's hoping the bus isnt too bumpy.

Last day im Kathmandu

Today is my last day in Kathmandu for a week. I bus to Pokhara tomorrow, going budget so its going to be a bumpy 8 hours. I rang marleene yesturday she said I was lucky to book a ticket as my original leaving day on thursday there is a national strike so no cars and buses will be running. I had a surprie call from the girl I meet at the airport, Sabia, she managed to track me down and check to see I was doing ok in Kathmandu. The pollution is getting to me, my tonsils are swollen and with the decrease in temp my heart condition is proving to be a small issue. I went out this morning in jeans and jacket and felt really self conscience so have put on a shalwar underneith. I am in two minds about going to Durbar Square today, I will see how I feel. Will try and post this avo as I am unsure if I will have internet in Pokhara. 

An Interesting Encounter

Ok so its only 2pm and today has been weird, firstly apologies for any spelling mistakes i am writing from my kindle for the first time. So I headed to Durbar Square today didnt make it very far, i was stopped by a guide and even on decliing his services he proceeded to follow me and talk, i was weary and prayed for some protection and wohoo it started to rain,the roads are a bit of a muddy mess so i said i was going to turn back and give it another go tomorrow when it is meant to be finer. So the weather cleared up enough to venture to Thamel to find a cafe for some tea and do some work (yes i have work to do while i am away) and decided to carry on past my usual cafe for a good walk,i got lost again and i dint have my map with me and wandered around until i ended up at thahiti tole a big shrine which is on the way to durbar square and my startimg point of this morning, the same guy from this morning chased me down and insisted on showing me back to thamel,even tho i knew the way back,we got talking and turns out he is a christian, i ended up going to a cafe and having a chat with him,more on his insistance but i was a short walk from the guest house and felt safeish. I brought him a coffee and i had a masala tea,quite a strong brew which isnt quite as aromatic as the masala back home but anyways it was a brief chat,i think he realised i didnt really want to be there, i just wasnt comfortable and unsure on to trust his story,he tried to convince me to go to durbar square again, i declined as i would like the whole day to wander and take in the culture so i will most likely come across him tomorrow,im still not sure what to think. I am also reluctant to leave the guest house for the avo now until, it feels safe here. i have booked my bus a day earlier to pokhara for wednesday and am holding off buying things in the market until i am with marleene and christina. Alas i think the weather is going to turn again so i think i shall retreat to my room and put my ug boots on, the resturant behind me is playing beiber and jt too weird.

Namaste from Nepal

So I have arrived safetly in Kathmandu, I am staying at a guest house in South Thamel which is a very short walk to Thamel centre where I ventured (and got lost) yesturday. I some how made my way to South Paknajol not too far west of Thamel centre but thankfully with the help of land marks and my lonely planet I found my way back to Thamel easily. I love it here, its quite laid back, going on a hunt for breakfast at 7.30am generally results in one bakery being open, even today leaving it until 8am I found things were just beginning for the day. My room is prettybasic but I am cherishing the hot water in the shower/bath, the walls are thin and from 3am the neighbours tend to yell and make a fair amount of noise, the rooster (still yet to locate it) crows at 5.30am on the dot. Yesturday was pretty relaxed, I went for a few walks, the polution in Kathmandu is horrific so I am getting used to day long migraines, I ended up sleeping for 4 hours yesturday afternoon as my vision was gone from the migraine(and due to jet lag). I found a local Nepali resturant just down the road, I had chicken momo's last night for dinner, they are chicken dumplings with a spicy tomato relish, the relish is very hot and I looked like a bit of a nueb cutting the momo's in half, eacting the chicken with relish then cooling the mouth with the dumpling casing. Nepali tea is pretty awesome, its made with milk so its great to have with dinner, its not up to the standards I have had at Jo and Ians but its still relaxing.

The plan today is to walk to Durbar Square and have a look on Freak Street (which was the tourist street until the 1934 earthquake), depending on how over temples and shrines I am I may venture further into central Kathmandu, the weather may determine this for me.

My shalwar and dupattas (long tops and shawls) are coming in handy, I have been mistaken as a local twice, gets a little interesting when people start talking in nepali too you. I may head to Pokhara a day earlier than plan, Marleene (who I rang yesturday) said I can turn up earlier if I would like, there is a lot of work at the hospital for me (structural assessments etc), I am actually really looking forward to the company in Pokhara, Kathmandu is lovely but I can't stay out late as it is unsafe to be walking aorund after dark by myself.

I have been very blessed so far on each leg of the journey, finding friends along the way, I bumped into a girl who works for INF at the visa line in Kathmandu area, it was nice talking to her as she knew the people I was meeting with and also helped me find my ride safetly.

Anyway time to check the weather, read some more of Jane Eyre then head out on my adventure for the day.