Nepal

September 19th

     The five of us arrived in Kathmandu, Nepal mid morning. We were picked up by Puron, good friend of Russ, and Pastor of Kathmandu Capitol Church; both his smile and laugh are contagious, and his big heart and personality seem to change the atmosphere.  Although Nepalese, Puron spent some years in Mussoorie (remember the mountain station in India?), but has lived in Kathmandu with his wife Rebekah and their two sons since 2007. His fluency in Hindi, Nepalese, and English prove to be a tremendous asset in this place.

At about 9 million people strong, there are many scenes and scenarios on the streets of Kathmandu that resemble those we experience in New Delhi, although on a smaller scale. The monsoon season has ended, so although quite humid, it is quite cool in the evening. Puron directed our taxis to our hotel, which was very obviously in a tourist "pocket" of Kathmandu; think "all things Everest."  A barrage of shops sell all kinds of trekking gear and apparel. All along the tiny, winding streets, companies sell varying trekking packages to adventurers clambering to explore the magnificent Himalayas.  We eyed up a helicopter company who for $5000 dollars, will give you and four others a chopper ride to Mt Everest base camp, where you will got spend a hefty thirty minutes. Maybe next year.

    While eating lunch with Puron, the clouds darkened, and the sky opened up, pouring down heavy sheets of rain through the thatched roof (remember how monsoon season is supposed to over?). Within minutes, we were up to our ankles in water which was steadily rising.  Fellow lunch goers snapped pictures of the servers who had exchanged their shoes for flip flops and were now wading through the restaurant.  Our plan to "wait out the rain" before braving the streets to walk to our hotel proved futile. 

standing under cover watching the rain fall all around us

     How quickly the streets had completely flooded was unbelievable; cars continued to stubbornly push through the streets, even with water up to their bumpers. A motorcycle forced it's way through water up to the rider's seat, to which a plastic bag full of freshly plucked chickens was hanging & and being dragged through the flood waters. Chicken momos anyone? After a variety of ingenious tactics (shoe removal, stealth ledge balancing, & spontaneous Sherpa designation), our entire company made it to the hotel.

making waves

check out how deep it is on the guy across the street