The Cuba Journey

It has been a few days since my last blog.  We have been on the road.  It seems to be blending all together, but I will try and remember the highlights.

The first highlight was getting locked in the bathroom.  The bus was ready to leave and I decided that I needed to use the bathroom one last time.  I went to the grocery store and they pointed to a bathroom.  It looked a little suspicious with all the buckets inside, but, what the heck, I went in anyway.  I was in the middle of peeing, when a woman was banging on the door yelling at me.  Now, she was yelling in spanish, so I did not understand anything she said.  When I tried to leave the door was locked.  Panic set in quickly!!  I was yelling at her in English and she was yelling back in Spanish.  You really need to be there to enjoy the humor of the situation.

Finally I looked around and noticed some keys.  They unlocked to door and I ran out with her yelling at me.  Never did figure out what she was saying.  No one in the bus noticed I was gone for a long time.  So much for friends watching out for you!

We finally got to Santiago after a very long winding road.  The bus is broken and the driver, Soto, needs to turn it off and on while we are moving.  Doesn't leave me feeling safe.  He is a very fast driver and one time we almost took out a bicycle rider.  I am sitting up front and get to see all the close calls.

Santiago is a big city, so we took a tour.  Jose was a historian, so he was able to give us all the facts.  All the revolutions were fought in Santiago.  Although our room wasn't great, it had a balcony overlooking all of the city and ocean and the sunset was amazing.  We were happy to leave the the big city and go back to the more quaint cities like Baracoa. 

We stopped on our way to Baracoa and was mobbed with people selling chocolate.  The chocolate in Baracoa is excellent.  We bought many bars and Eric kept eating.  The people are pretty agressive to get their products sold, so it is really overwhelming when the attach you. 

Today we took an all day hike to the caves.  We bought more chocolate!!  It was a beautiful hike but tiring.  Afterwards, I taught a few people how to play my Nepali card game.  We sat and drank beers and played cards. 

Everyone is out in the park.  We can't figure out when people work or if they do work.  I definitely have some views on Socialism.

Sightseeing Overdose

We have been traveling across Cuba and it is getting hotter and looking the same. It has been a long week between the driving and the sightseeing. Cuba is definitely a place to bring you back to your childhood.

One thing that is so sad is how the people seem to be surviving, but just barely. It seems that everyone is trying to make some side money because they are paid so little. You constantly have to be careful about trusting them not to take advantage of you as a tourist. It makes you appreciate the things we take for granted in the US and other countries.

For example, today we went on a sightseeing tour of Santiago de Cuba, which was to be $12 per person. They took us to a restaurant that was very expensive and then asked us to pay for their lunches, including a person who did nothing on the tour but drive in the back seat with us in a very old jeep. It ended up costing us double what we were told. This seems to be standard for the people of Cuba.

The weather is getting very hot, but we are off to the beach area. I am going to be smarter and wear sunblock this time. We are anxious to be out of the big city.

We found some great ice cream last night and we have been hunting through the streets to find it again. Most of the ice cream is Nestle. The fish and lobster have been fantastic. But we are sharing meals because of our money dilema. For those not reading my blog everyday, I budgeted money for one person instead of two and we have no way of getting more money. So we have to count our money and keep within a daily budget (it gets tough when things cost more than planned like above). I guess I am so use to traveling alone, that I forget that there are two of us.

Overall it has been a great vacation and I would definitely return to Cuba.

Namaste, Paula

Camaguey

We are now in Camaguey, a very artistic community and the third largest city in Cuba. Each region is unique and we are really enjoying the quaint cities. It is difficult to imagine how Cuba has been able to stay in a time warp for so long.

It continues to be a challenge touring with a group. It is my issue because of my fast pace nature, although we have one person that continues to be a problem for everyone. It is amazing how negative some people can be. I believe it is my karma to learn how to be patient with others, so I am taking it on as a learning experience.

I really have suffered from sunburn, which is really unusual for me. I did not use sunblock on my body and sunbathed after my snorkeling adventure in Trinidad. I am paying the price. Also, my cut on my leg is not healing and I am not sure what else to do, other than go to the pharmacy. I can´t believe we were staying with a doctor in Trinidad and I never asked him. I will continue to see if I can heal it myself.

I finished all the books on my kindle and let Eric use it to read. That was a mistake!!! He can´t put the kindle down because he is reading a Ken Follet book. He is already asking how to buy a kindle. That will teach me a lesson.

We are half way through our trip and are really enjoying Cuba. The people are wonderful. The food is so so, except for the lobster and catfish.

I am definitely feeling tired and am looking forward to being in my own house and not out of a suitcase, although I am only home for 6 weeks.

Namaste, Paula

The Cuba Coast

We have had a great time in Trinidad. Today we went to the coast.. snorkeled and enjoyed the sun. I was a real dork and wore a life vest snorkeling. But Eric had a hard time keeping the water out of his mask because of the waves and I was gliding on top of the water... who is the smart one now.

Life in Cuba is really slow paced. It is amazing how many people are in the streets during the working hours. I believe there is a high unemployment rate or people do not work the hours that we do in the States.

Everyone has side jobs in order to support themselves and the family. The typical salary is under $100 per month. On our street there are people selling goods like a flea market. This is just one example of trying to make ends meet. One of the ladies we are with received a marriage proposal. There is definitely a feeling that people would like a better life.

The food has been really good.. lobster, catfish, pizza, etc. We have been trying to keep our food intact down, so we try and split meals. Also, when I calculated the amount of money to take, I forgot that there were two of us... how bad is that.... I am so use to traveling alone, I did not double the recommended money to bring. Remember that we can not use credit cards or ATMs in Cuba. So we are on a budget per day.

Namaste, Paula

Trinidad

It has been a wonderful experience in Cuba. We are staying at different Cuban homes in the city and the families are so friendly and love to talk. Currently we are at the home of a doctor and his wife and son. The home is huge and the gardens are beautiful.

Last night we went to the Museo Romantico and listened to great bands and watched the people dance on the steps of the Plaza Mayor. It was amazing how well they can dance. If only I had continued my Fred Astaire dance lessons with our Twinkle Toes group!!!!

Traveling in a group has been very trying. I really have NO patience. Rather than staying with the group today, Eric and I went off on our own and had a great time hiking to the Parque de Cubana (around 9 miles round trip) and enjoying the waterfall. The group was going in the afternoon by Taxi, but we walked and saved some pesos. Eric is a trooper knowing that I could not handle walking at the pace of the group.

The food has been very different. The highlight is the Flan. It is amazing... I must get their recipe. Cuban food is not spicy and mostly consists of rice, potatoes, a meat (chicken or shrimp so far) and a salad of cucumbers, tomatoes, and cabbage. We did have a really good potato soup last night.

Well, tomorrow is the white sand beaches of Cuba. It should be a great time.

Namaste, Paula

Cuba

Cuba is my husbands dream vacation. It is an island still in the 50's with beautiful people, old cars, and towns that are so quaint, clean, and friendly.

We arrived in our room at a beautiful old hotel after standing in lines for immigration, money exchange, and registration. You really have to look at everything in Cuba as "part of the charm" as our guide Tony tells us.

We are amazed at how the towns have maintained the old culture. It is definitely a Socialist country with regulations on everything. Most people rely on side jobs to be able to survive, since the pay is so limited. Christina, one of our travel buddies, got a proposal in one minute last night. Some people are still looking to try and get out of Cuba to have a better (more economical) life.

The people hold no resentment towards Americans, which surprises me. I believe that, if the shoe was on the other foot, it would be different. In fact, they love to see Americans.

We are so happy that we visited Cuba before Capitalism takes over, which would happen if the US embargo was lifted. We understand that neither the US nor the Political party of Cuba want the embargo lifted. It serves a purpose for the Socialist Government of Cuba to keep the embargo in place.

We have met many Americans touring Cuba also. The people, although living at a very low standard of living, are happy as long as they have their music and dance. It definitely is a very family oriented environment.

It is one of the nicest places where I have travelled. I am looking forward to a wonderful 2 weeks of touring the island of Cuba with Eric.

Namaste, Paula

Finally Back

It has been awhile, since my last blog. It has been difficult without a computer. I have been to India and back in the US to celebrate my Dad's 90th birthday. Delhi was a whirlwind, but worth the time.

It was a wonderful birthday party for my Dad. He was really happy to have all his family and friends to visit. It was one of his good days and he seemed to know everyone.

I am off to Cuba the end of the week and will have limited access to email. I will try and write a blog every few days.

Namaste, Paula

Delhi

My last evening in Paro was quiet. I was able to get my last taste of Bhutan Momo.

It was a difficult sleep knowing I was off again to India. I was ready to leave Bhutan. Although wonderful and worth the cost, I think I saw everything that there was to see. Tourism definitely is thriving and I am sure that in a few years, it will be overwhelming. Currently they control it with only one flight per day.

Once again the flight was over the Himalayan Mountains and we could see Anapurna. I really do not have any expectations for Delhi. I didn't read or surf the internet, so I am going in blind. My guide, Malagar, met me at the airport and we started our sightseeing.

I am amazed at the metropolitan city and gardens surrounding the ancient buildings. It is beautiful and clean. Much different than the stories I hear of India. I guess I am in the Capitol. so should have expected it to be really nice. We visited the President's palace and the large and beautiful government buildings.

I already started shopping and found a beautiful rug. I had to use the restroom and Malagar stopped at a great rug shop. The prices are fantastic so I will probably buy it. It doesn't take much for me to shop.

I had my first dinner and definitely overbought and overate. The three types of chicken were so delicious. No alcohol??? Apparently not all restaurants serve alcohol. Malagar is taking me to all the local places. He is great. Thanks Veronica for the recommendation.

It is morning and I have a complete day of sightseeing before going to the airport. It is definitely on the warm side. I have very few summer clothes and NO clean clothes.

Hopefully they will have internet at the airport and I can give you an update of my day.

Namaste, Paula

Paro Festival

My last day in Paro was very special. I spent the day at the festival watching all the dancers in costumes and masks. The festival was held in the Fort, which is spectacular in normal times. It is a holy festival with the monks performing the dances.

There were eight different dances with unique masks. I don't remember them all, but a few were: the black hat dance, the buffalo dance, and the skull dance. You can imagine how colorful and amazing it was to watch them.

The crowds were difficult. I had to tell one lady from the UK to chill out. She was concerned that people were going to sit in front of this one group. By the time everyone was seated, the group was 5 rows back. It was hard to fit all the people in the Fort and everyone was craming in. I guess you can always fit one more in.

Most of the locals were there to see the King and Queen. It was unusual, but they did show up for half the day. Yes, I did get to see a lot of Royalty this trip: King, Queen, Mother Queen, two princes, and one princess. I feel very special.

Everyone sat crossed legged. Most of the tourists ended up standing in back because they couldn't last with their legs like that. Interesting that it did not bother me. I guess my time at Kopan Monastery in meditation has built up my legs.

The rest of the festival is held outside, so it is not so crowded.

I sat with a group of local people and they were so sweet. The one little girl was so beautiful; I kept taking her picture. They kept offering me food. I wasn't sure what the food was so I graciously declined.

The Bhutanese people are beautiful, but their teeth are terrible. They chew this red root nut wrapped in leaves. Their teeth are always red and most have a mouth full of decayed teeth. It must be habit forming, because they were all chewing it.

Tonight was a farewell to Palden and Numgay. There were so willing to indulge me; most of you know I can be high maintenance. I probably won't ever return to Bhutan; I think it was beautiful, but not the dynamic country like Nepal.

Namaste, Paula

Paro

The last two days have been taking long steep hikes up to the most beautiful monasteries, including Tiger's nest. The first day we hiked it was so steep I did not think I would make it, but these very elderly people were ahead of me... I couldn't let them show me up. Many of the locals walk around the monastery many times as a prayer. Not sure how they do it; they are many times limping and hunched over and still walking. The monastery at the top was one of the most spiritual I have been in, even more so than Tiger's Nest.

For the hike to Tiger's Nest, my guides indulged me and we left at 7:30am to beat the crowds. Even with that there were a number of people from China at the monastery when we arrived. I am not sure how they beat me, especially since they had some elderly people with them.

But I did beat the huge crowd of tourists I saw on my way down. The Tiger's Nest is a thrilling experience and on all tourist must do lists. There are many tourists because of the festival, which begins today. Some take donkeys up the hill. It is a difficult climb for 2 hours.

I found a real coffee shop in town and really enjoyed filter coffee. They even had peach cake... delicious. The dessert in Bhutan is typically bananas or apples. Still don't think I have lost weight.

I had another stone bath in a very old rustic farm house last night. Quite the experience.
All in all I am ready to leave. I still don't feel the energy of Nepal. The monasteries are beautiful, but very similar to the ones in Nepal, except for a few very old ones.

Today is the festival and I am not sure what I will see other than more tourists. I have met a lot of people on my journey and we all said we would see each other again at the festival. I am still excited to go and will give you a summary tomorrow.

Namaste, Paula

Beautiful Monasteries

A couple observations about Bhutan. First, the women are beautiful. I think they are the most beautiful of any other Asian country that I have been to. Second, English is a very common language and taught from primary school on. Therefore, it is easy to get around. The kids are so cute; they all want to say hello and ask how I am doing.

Third, Bhutan royalty is honored everywhere. There are few rooms that don't have huge pictures of the King and Queen and the Royal Family. My guide wears a button on his Gho, the traditional dress for me, of the King and Queen. I have never seen anything like it. There are no pictures of the President or any other government official.

Last night was a real treat. There were some Australians working with Bhutan on the democratic election and they were being entertained with the traditional Bhutanese Dance. I was able to enjoy the dancing during dinner.

The hotel is very nice but on the runway... the first flight leaves at 6am.. am I glad I do not live anywhere near a runway path at home.

Today we started out on a 3 hour hike to the White Cliff, where there is a very old and beautiful monastery hanging over the cliff. It was a very strenuous hike uphill but worth the effort. I told Palden that I wanted to hike and he came through.

Everyone in town is getting ready for the festival. They are setting up booths and all the villagers are washing their clothes. I hope it is as exciting as I think. Apparently, most of the locals come on the last two days... I will be long gone by then... so I may get to see a bunch of tourists attending the festival.

We spent the remainder of the afternoon visiting the Museum and Monastery in Paro. I am winding down to just two more days and off to India and to my dad's 90Th birthday party. I am anxious to see my family.

I finally found a real coffee shop and bought my guide and driver real coffee and peach cake. It was a very special occasion. Nescafe is really bad but I have been desperate.

Namaste, Paula

Arrived in Paro

After I finally arrived at the hotel, I took a shower to relax after 8 hours of travel. My guide called me. Apparently they did not have a room and he suggested that we drive to Paro that evening. I immediately asked how long that would take. His response was 2 hours.

Now Palden has a history of being off on travel time by 100%, so I assumed it was 4 hours. Not something I would like to do, especially on windy roads at night. I said to look for other options and if all else fails, I would go. Thanks goodness they found a room in town. It turned out to be a 5 1/2 hour drive.... I am not sure if he is lying or is just clueless. I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

Before we started our journey the next day, we hiked to the monastery above the town. I wanted to beat the tourists, as usual, so we started out at 7:15am. It was a beautiful hike and the monastery was spectacular. On our way down we met a guy, who laughed and said I must of caught the worm (the early bird catches the worm). I just feel that crowds at the monastery take away from the spiritual and peaceful feeling you get when you walk in the door.

After another exhausting travel day, I have changed my plans about driving to Haa Valley. There is no way I will get into that car for another drive. Yesterday I was on the brink of getting sick with the bumps and turns. Numga (I have been calling him Numgi for a week before I realized I was wrong) is a very slow driver. I am not sure if that helps or hurts. You definitely feel every bump. I was watching the speedometer and he was driving 25 miles per hour. I wanted to put my foot on the gas pedal for him.

I will visit the monasteries and take a hike tomorrow. I am excited about the next two days of the Tiger's Nest and another Hot Bath and the festival. I am glad to be at the tail end of the trip and ready to move on to India for two busy days of sightseeing.

Namaste, Paula

8 Hours on the Road

We started out at 8:30am and finally reached our destination at 4pm. It was a very long and difficult drive. It is windy and bumpy and I am in the backseat. I am actually surprised that I am not getting car sick.

We did make a few stops and saw two Fortresses. They were something to see. I arrived in time to join the chanting, which is so peaceful. The overall scenery was breathtaking, so I am definitely glad we did the trip to the central area of Bhutan.

I met a few people from CA. It as nice to talk, although I am really glad I am not with a group. I customized my tour and listening to their itinerary, I am glad I did.

I am learning a lot about Bhutan. There was a very ecentric Llama, who used sexual conduct to make a point about attachment. Based on that, many of the buildings have penises on them. They are not just penises, they are hairy penises. Need I say more.

Not much more to say other than I finished my bottle of wine when I arrived. It was a long day and tomorrow we hike to the stuppa.

Namaste, Paula

On the Road Again

Last night I met a couple women that work for the queen mother. They really helped in understanding the history of the Monarchy. They work with a non-profit against abuse in Bhutan. Apparently it does exist and it is only recently that something is being done about it. They have opened one safe house and it is filled up with mostly children. I guess even Buddhists stray, even though they fear the bad karma.

We started out early for the drive back to Trongsa. It is a beautiful drive through the villages. It only took 1/2 of the day; there were less road closures. I have checked into the hotel and I have a fantastic view of the forest and Fort. It is a really nice hotel. They even have computers, which is why this blog is so long.

We visited the Fort and Museum in the area, which are spectacular. We were lucky and arrived at one of the monasteries in the Fort while they were doing their musical chant. Apparently there are no words, just all the instruments are playing: many types of horns, drums, sea shell, etc.. It was something to see.

Palden and I walked from the Fort to the Museum and back to the hotel. It was a steep walk up but a pleasant walk back. I am really working on my steps, since I have really been lazy this trip.

Tonight my plan is to finish my bottle of wine and enjoy the view. This is such a nice hotel to relax. Tomorrow is another 1/2 day drive.

Namaste, Paula

Walking to Monasteries

The day ended with a very costly mistake. I broke my computer. I am typing this on my iPhone. I haven't finished paying for my computer yet;think I may cry . As my guide said, I have used up some negative karma;that has to be good. It is going to be a short blog.

We spent the day walking from monastery to monastery it was an easy walk and the monasteries are beautiful. I will say that I am a little bored with Bhutan. It is too organized for me. Everyone wears the same clothes,the houses are alike,and not much energy.
I think I would leave if I could but it would cost a fortune. Besides, I still have the 12 hour drive back to Paro.
The mother queen was at the hotel again for a meeting and the whole hotel was focused on the event. Guests were sent to our rooms. Good thing we had stopped at a brewery. I was set with my bottle of beer.
We did go to the burning lake and it was very peaceful. There was a Llama from Taiwan chanting and it was beautiful.
Don't get me wrong Bhutan is wonderful and I am glad I came. I guess 7 days would have been ok.
Tomorrow is more driving. Hope I can find a computer.
Namaste. Paula

busy busy

It has been a couple days because I did not have access to Internet. I was in a beautiful valley at a hotel with hot water bottles and wood fireplaces. It was beautiful, although the 8-hour drive on very windy, bumpy and one-lane roads was a bit tiring.

The valley is where the black neck cranes, an endangered species live. This is the off-season, so I was very lucky to see them close up. We had to hike to see them and we ran across the Road Scholars group and we had to try and pass them. We were lucky we did because by the time they got to the spot, the cranes had moved.

My guide keeps telling everyone that I walk so fast; he can’t keep up. My driver was just starting to take a nap, when we returned from our hike to the monastery. He was startled, because he thought we would be a couple hours. They are just starting to get to know me…..

I did get a chance to meet some people on my journey. The Road Scholars group is from all over US and Canada. They are 60 to 80 years in age and mostly women. I think at 75 I may decide to use this group when I want to travel. What do you guys think??

Besides seeing all the monasteries and hiking through beautiful farmland, we really relaxed. I am trying to get my 10000 steps in to prepare for the big hike later in the week. I feel very lazy these days. I used my exercise bands once. So glad I am carrying them all over with me.

Today is another travel day of 8 hours and the only thing keeping me going is that the hotel, where we are staying, has a hot stone bath. We finally arrived at 4pm and just after we arrived the Queen Mother arrived. You can imagine the uproar, when she arrived unannounced. Apparently she owns the hotel and she is checking it out. It is a really nice place out in the rural area.

My guide made sure I stood when she passed and she kept telling me to sit; I did not know what to do since it is my first time in front of royalty. She is one of the four wives of the 4^th King. She seems pretty businesslike and she is very beautiful.

She asked me how I liked Bhutan and I talked about her textile museum, which is really beautiful. I think I made a good impression for the USA.

I almost didn’t get my hot stone bath because of the commotion. I now understand that my guide, although a great guy, is not aggressive enough. He definitely is learning from me (or embarrassed by me). I asked again and now my bath is at 8:30pm this evening. Perfect timing to take a bath and go to bed.

Tomorrow is visiting all the monasteries and forts. It should be a great day.

Namaste, Paula

A Packed Day

It was a busy day today. I finally had a good nights sleep. I seem to be recuperating from the smog in Kathmandu. The bed is so comfortable compared to the normal Nepali beds.

We had a major sightseeing day. Bhutan is beautiful, but full of tourists. I guess I had assumed that there would not be a lot of tourists and was I ever wrong. I am trying to beat the big tourist bus so I can enjoy the scenery.

Interesting facts about Bhutan: Since the population is all Buddhist, they have little theft and really no killings. There is a speed limit, but there is no police monitoring it because everyone follows it. I guess we could learn something from the Bhutan society.

We started out at a beautiful old monastery. Apparently you can roll the dice to see if you are lucky. I hit 13, which is very lucky and happens to be my lucky number. What a great start to the day.

In each monastery they have you take some healing water. You drink some and put the rest over your head. It is to heal you inside and out. I think I am starting to feel better and I am assuming the water is healing me.

After we left there we visited a nunnery. The girls were practicing their Mantras. The Mantras are very long and most monks or nuns know them by heart. They were printing mantras on handmade paper on to but in the statues.

Next we visited a paper mill, a textile museum, market, and an art school. The art school is amazing. The kids learn painting, sculpture, embroidery, woodwork, etc. We were able to visit all the classrooms.

The market was something to see. I bought pepper (red and black) and incense. The incense is sold in large bags because they put it in their special fireplace. The produce was amazing. The only non-vegetable was dried fish, although many eat meat.

Prices in general are much higher than Nepal. I doubt that I will be buying too much, but I do hope to get some weaving.

All this sightseeing was before lunch!!!

After lunch we went out to one of the oldest monasteries up in the hillside. It was a steep one-hour walk up, but worth the effort. There are about 30 select monks that live and go to school up there. The area is very holy. You can see caves in the hillside where the monks meditate. You can see all of Thimphu from the top.

I was lucky and caught an archery contest when I returned. The prince was in the competition. I finally realized that all these pictures around town are not models for a certain product; they are the King and Queen. A really good looking couple.

Last and definitely not least was my massage. Two women worked on me at the same time. I guess it would be a guys dream. They used this great lotion. When they were done, they sent me to the sauna, steam room, and shower. It was one of the best overall massages I have had. Not deep tissue, but definitely relaxing.

Tonight is hair night. Definitely see the grey. It is real easy to do it myself, especially since I have light.

I will sleep like a baby tonight.

Namaste, Paula

Let me introduce Palden, my guide, and Numguy, my driver. They are wonderful and I am confident I will see everything there is to see in Bhutan.

Yesterday was a terrific day. We were able to see most of Thimbu, the capitol of Bhutan. It is amazing how small it is. I am not sure of the exact population but it must be very small.

Everything is so clean in Bhutan compared to Nepal. Apparently the entire population of Bhutan is Buddhist and is governed by a President and King. A few years ago Bhutan became a democratic society based on the King wanting what is best for the people. They truly practice the Buddha Way.

Note:

I put a number of pictures on facebook of Nepal, including:

The Kopan Monastery

The Orphanage

My place at Tara's

And more

Hope you enjoy them.

Namaste, Paula

Goodbye Nepal and Hello Bhutan

I spent my last night at a dinner for the Tewa staff and board. It is difficult to say goodbye to everyone, but I have a lot of visitors from Nepal during May. The President of Tewa, Sadhana, and Razeena are coming. For those that don’t remember Razeena, she was my friend last year and she recently married and moved to the states. I get to meet her husband, Subir, who is Sadhana’s son. Ok, if you are not confused by now, you are really sharp.

I will be hosting a high tea for the Nepali group that live in LA to help generate donations, while Sadhana is here. Anyone that would like to attend from the OC group is more than welcome. It will be a great event. Obviously, the goal is to generate funds for grants to rural women’s groups.

Also Tara, the lady I stayed with in Nepal, will be visiting the end of May. It will be a hectic month, but I am really excited to have them visit.

I had to get up early to catch the flight to Paro, Bhutan. It was an amazing flight with spectacular views of the Himalayans including Mount Everest. The plane did a dive into Bhutan, because it is in a valley. The flight is an event in itself.

Everyone was taking pictures of the airport; it was so pretty. All the buildings are decorated in a similar manner. The traditional outfits that the main wear are their suits and the women have beautiful dresses.

All my concern is gone. I have a great guide and driver and Bhutan is beautiful. I am anxious to see as much as possible in the 13 days. The guide, Palden, speaks perfect English, so I am learning a lot about the people. My next blog will include pictures of Palden and my driver, Numguy.

Some interesting tidbit: the women and men are treated as equal. There is no difference in how they are treated.

I am tired, so I will close now and write more tomorrow.

Namaste, Paula

Last Days in Nepal

My dinner was somewhat of a success, since the group had nothing to compare my gnocchi against…. It is a win / win until they get to taste someone else’s. The difficulty was the lumps of potato. Since there is no mixer, the potatoes are mixed by hand and there is no way to get them totally smooth. I preferred fresh potatoes over boxed.

All in all they were light and my sauce must have really been good, since they were licking their plates. It was a lot of fun.

I actually found all the ingredients I wanted except for good Parmesan cheese. The super grocery store is really fun. I am tempted to buy but realize I leave in 1 ½ days. Too bad I did not find this place when I arrived.

I met with Mike Wallam and his associate from the National Democratic Institute. I would really like to work with them, so next year I will give them plenty of notice. I may be able to do some consulting for them with Nepali government. They are working with the Nepali Parliament to understand how to work in a democratic society. Perhaps we could use this consulting in America??

Janaki and I are going to Kopan Monastery today because she has never been there. It is a great place and I am anxious for her to see it, although she is Hindu and not Buddhist. I really don’t think it matters.

There is a big dinner tonight for all of Tewa and I am trying to get all the washing and packing done before I leave. I really want to give gifts to everyone, but it is really a large group and I would not know where to start.

There is so much need in Nepal. Today on my way to the European bakery there was a man going through the garbage and collecting all the food particles including the maggots. I am just so thankful for what I have and wish I could do more to stop the suffering in Nepal. I must have good Karma.

Namaste, Paula

Typhoid Scare

The day was a very interesting one. First off, I was informed that there was a breakout of Typhoid Fever at the Orphanage where I have been going on Saturdays. I opted out of the Typhoid shot when preparing for the trip, so I am on my own .

I spent the day with the photographer trying to get good shots for the brochure at Tewa. The internet is really bad, so I was ready to come home early. Sita was going down the hill and offered me a ride on her scooter. There was already a passenger so I had my first three-person scooter ride. It was a little hairy. NO HELMET and the traffic is amazing. All I could think of was how I could be helicoptered out if I was really hurt bad. I survived!!

That evening I learned how to make Momos. It is the food of Nepal. They are like pot stickers, but slightly different shape. The shape is a killer. You could definitely tell mine from the others. It was a lot of fun and the girls were so helpful and had a lot of patience.

It is now morning and I am at my usual morning spot, Mike’s Breakfast, having eggs (my only protein for the day). They have great coffee and the people are so nice. Actually everyone in Nepal is nice until they get behind a steering wheel or motorbike or have to wait in line. There is no such thing as taking your turn.

I am making spaghetti sauce and gnocchi for dinner tonight for the group at Tara’s home. It is my way of saying thanks to everyone. So I have to go to the super grocery store and attempt to find the ingredients. Not sure how everything will work out but it is the thought that counts.

I can’t believe I only have a couple days left before my trip to Bhutan. I am already counting on my trip back in March. Sorry Eric, I am really hooked on this place.

Namaste, Paula