Monkeys and a Lady of the Night
Ok ok, I know. I'm sorry. It's been tough you know, keeping on top of this blog. Not only have I been very busy, Nepal is slightly chaotic at the moment. For starters, there was yet another strike here which shut down everything; schools, businesses and all transportation. Luckily, it ended in Kathmandu and the airport was reopened. The Southern Terai region however, where the strike originated, seems to be going to hell just a tad. Not only is the general strike continuing, but there has also been a 20hr a day curfew imposed to try to stem the violence. It is on virtual lockdown and many of our employees and students have been stuck there for over two weeks.
Why you ask? Well, let me tell you how many strikes here develop. In this particular case, a bus hit and killed a pedestrian. In retaliation, the bus was torched. The bus drivers in Nepal then went on strike vowing not to return to work until the government replaced the bus. Seeing the bus drivers and 'anti-bus drivers' locking horns, many ethnic conflits have been reignighted and now everyone is fighting everyone. Any questions?
Anyway, generally, we are not too affected in Kathmandu anymore. I was going to go south to the jungle so that I could ride an elephant and see a rhino before all the poachers get them, but alas, it wasn't to be. Instead, I am going to rent a bike and go riding in the mountains for a couple days. I'm really looking forward to it.
In all other normal news, today I was driven off the road by a herd of water buffalo. Who else can say that, eh?? A couple of weeks ago, we took the older boys to Swayambu, the 'monkey temple'. (This is an aside for Adam: Darling, I know you really wanted a helper monkey to bring you drinks, but I don't think you really understand how sneaky those things are. I thought I loved monkeys too, but they just aren't who we think they are.) Seriously, those monkeys can not be trusted. No one can take food in with them or even smell like food or the monkeys will go to town. We had monkeys rip the bags right out of our hands. One in particular, sat on a pillar and was nano-seconds away from jumping on my back. He was bearing his teeth and screaming and everything. All because I was hiding a doughnut. Yah, the last thing I need right now is a monkey on my back.
As for home life, our dog has become quite the lady of the night. She has found a way to break out of her cage, jump over the wall and escape through the neighbour's yard. Since going MIA almost everynight, I've been noticing her middle getting a little plump. I just hope I'm gone before she poops out some puppies and we have to explain how we let her get knocked up by just some random neighbourhood scallywag.
Not sure if I mentioned it, but the kids are talking to us again. I'm glad that teenage resentment is usually pretty temporary. At least I'm getting good practice being hated, for when I'm a parent.
Oh yes, and just to add to the considerable inconviences of the strike and such, we are now on a new programme of about 6 hours of electricity a day. Since it is the dry season here, the hydro plant has been working at decreased capacity and we now lose power about 5 times a day. I suppose all in all, it is a good time to be heading home. Speaking of which, my departure to London is in six days.
I have found a tailor, about a 15 minute walk who is not only cheap, but is good and friendly. He is the only Muslim I have met in Nepal and he orders excellent tea whenever we come. Yesterday, I picked up two curtas (long blouses) that he had tailored for me. Not only did both pieces come to about $3.50, but he also insisted that he make me a blouse, on the house. Incredible. I tried very hard to give him more money but he adamantly refused. It is so nice in a place like this, to find someone who will charge a white person the same as a local and do it with a smile.
Well, this is a long entry, so I'll wrap it up. I just wanted to end with a little happy note. On my 30 second walk to Child Haven, there is a new puppy that is about the size of my hand. He loves me and I also love him very much. Everytime I walk by, I hug it and it licks my chin. That's all.
Why you ask? Well, let me tell you how many strikes here develop. In this particular case, a bus hit and killed a pedestrian. In retaliation, the bus was torched. The bus drivers in Nepal then went on strike vowing not to return to work until the government replaced the bus. Seeing the bus drivers and 'anti-bus drivers' locking horns, many ethnic conflits have been reignighted and now everyone is fighting everyone. Any questions?
Anyway, generally, we are not too affected in Kathmandu anymore. I was going to go south to the jungle so that I could ride an elephant and see a rhino before all the poachers get them, but alas, it wasn't to be. Instead, I am going to rent a bike and go riding in the mountains for a couple days. I'm really looking forward to it.
In all other normal news, today I was driven off the road by a herd of water buffalo. Who else can say that, eh?? A couple of weeks ago, we took the older boys to Swayambu, the 'monkey temple'. (This is an aside for Adam: Darling, I know you really wanted a helper monkey to bring you drinks, but I don't think you really understand how sneaky those things are. I thought I loved monkeys too, but they just aren't who we think they are.) Seriously, those monkeys can not be trusted. No one can take food in with them or even smell like food or the monkeys will go to town. We had monkeys rip the bags right out of our hands. One in particular, sat on a pillar and was nano-seconds away from jumping on my back. He was bearing his teeth and screaming and everything. All because I was hiding a doughnut. Yah, the last thing I need right now is a monkey on my back.
As for home life, our dog has become quite the lady of the night. She has found a way to break out of her cage, jump over the wall and escape through the neighbour's yard. Since going MIA almost everynight, I've been noticing her middle getting a little plump. I just hope I'm gone before she poops out some puppies and we have to explain how we let her get knocked up by just some random neighbourhood scallywag.
Not sure if I mentioned it, but the kids are talking to us again. I'm glad that teenage resentment is usually pretty temporary. At least I'm getting good practice being hated, for when I'm a parent.
Oh yes, and just to add to the considerable inconviences of the strike and such, we are now on a new programme of about 6 hours of electricity a day. Since it is the dry season here, the hydro plant has been working at decreased capacity and we now lose power about 5 times a day. I suppose all in all, it is a good time to be heading home. Speaking of which, my departure to London is in six days.
I have found a tailor, about a 15 minute walk who is not only cheap, but is good and friendly. He is the only Muslim I have met in Nepal and he orders excellent tea whenever we come. Yesterday, I picked up two curtas (long blouses) that he had tailored for me. Not only did both pieces come to about $3.50, but he also insisted that he make me a blouse, on the house. Incredible. I tried very hard to give him more money but he adamantly refused. It is so nice in a place like this, to find someone who will charge a white person the same as a local and do it with a smile.
Well, this is a long entry, so I'll wrap it up. I just wanted to end with a little happy note. On my 30 second walk to Child Haven, there is a new puppy that is about the size of my hand. He loves me and I also love him very much. Everytime I walk by, I hug it and it licks my chin. That's all.
posted by Kelly in Nepal at 3:54 AM
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