Thirty-three cups of tea... and then some...

Here's the 'reader's digest' version of what we've experienced over the last three days. Jeep ride to start - we took a jeep from Kathmandu to Pati Bhanjang - a road that some would call an ATV trail! Who would think of driving a vehicle, let alone a bus (which we took later) along a dusty, slippery, bumpy, narrow, curvy, winding, rocky track to a place that should only be accessible by foot. The ride was a blast! From Pati Bhanjang we walked up for 2 hours until we reached the new healthpost. Furnished by a French NGO, we found 10 hospital beds (empty thank goodness), a health care assistant, and a sad examination room (photos to follow). All in all, if a villager gets sick it's better than a trip to Kathmandu. The idea is to treat nearby villagers for minor issues in a local setting.

Onward to Thakani where upon arrival we were greeted by the children of the school. They were lined up by age and height and showered us with namastes and flowers. A Canadian flag on one side, a Nepali flag on the other, we entered the village and were treated to a cola-flavoured drink and the first of many cups of tea. We played on the new playground with many of the children before a delicious dal bhat meal. We visited a house where the local women were weaving traditional Nepali bags (that we'll be selling as a fund raiser).

We spent the night, cuddled in a classroom, braving the winds that only Tanya remembers. We were fast asleep before we hit the sack... all except Tanya! It was, after all, 7:30 pm. The next morning we were on the trail by 6:30 but we were waylaid for yet another cup of tea and noodle soup for breakfast (much better than oatmeal). Caught a "bus" after only a one-hour hike for the ride to Talamarang. The road was beyond description... perhaps 'road' is not the right word. Who ever thought that making a road and taking a 2-ton ancient vehicle along a slippery dirt track would make life easier in the hills.

We spent the 5-hour layover in Talamarang visiting the school, watching the morning 'drill' and sitting in the office. Then, after cokes, teas and boiled eggs (carried from the village) our bus arrived already packed like sardines. The roof, filled with plywood and sheets of metal, seemed to be out of the question for passengers (much to Judy's chagrin). We were sucked inside and plastered into position for the 4-hour ride up to Sermathang. The ride was not pleasant... Tanya was in the fetal position wishing for the end, Mads, was dodging broken glass in the back seat of the bus bouncing uncontrollably with Tashi sleeping on her shoulder through the entire event and Jude was cursing every bag of cement (after the first 40) that were stacked in the aisle preventing any wishes of hopping off to pee.

We made it there in one piece in time for another cup of tea!