Up on the roof...

We are writing to you from the rooftop of the Padma Hotel, with a view of the stupa while sipping an Everest Beer. First full day in Kathmandu and lots to talk about already. Arrived in KTM on time and were greeted by Karma's smiling face and a lei of marigolds. Drove through the craziness that we've come to love to arrive at the Padma hotel in Boudhanath.

Exhausted but feeling completely relaxed, in a zen-like state we had a big pot of Nepali tea with Karma, Nyima, Pemba, Neema, Lhakpa Yangzum, Tashi and Tashi! We faded during dinner but not before we secured our plans for the next 3 days.

Day 1: loooooooooooong breakfast with lots of tea, local bus adventure ride to Thamel to Neema and Karma's place for more tea. This, according to Tanya, has been the best tea (cinnamon leaf and masala) ever. En route Tanya jumped out of the way of another pedestrian on a narrow precipice and landed her left foot in a giant pile of mud/who knows what that claimed her shoe... the first casualty of the trip. Tashi, her now knight in shining armor, first rescued and then resurrected her shoe. Not only did he scoop it out of the mud but he then washed (cleaner now than the other) and hung it to dry in the sun. After a satisfying dal bhat. with more refills than we cared for, we set off on a mini shopping adventure.

Souvenirs now in hand we headed to Ratna Park for a microbus trip home. Squeezed, and I mean sqeeezed, into the back (picture face plastered on the glass) of the microbus we had an amusing ride back. Then, off to our favourite Garden Kitchen for chili fried momos and paneer tikka masala with garlic naan. We met computer/director/magic/banner Tashi who gave us a sim card that we put in Mads spare device and we now have a phone! That's a first!

Plans are...breakfast with Chaudhary Sir and Roshan, then Bhaktapur by motorbike. Thursday, Pati Banjang by jeep and a 2-hour walk to the village of Thakani to visit the school and the health post. Next day off to Sermathang... walk, bus, walk for 2 more nights to visit Yangrima school.

More tomorrow.... Namaste and goodnight.