Nepal

I went to Kathmandu, the capital, on little more than a whim. People from work recommended it and I found reasonable flights and a hostel room. For a holiday, I found it to be disappointingly like Delhi – dirty, crowded, and loud. With a little more research I would have chosen Pokara, the second most popular destination in Nepal, known for its peaceful lakes and towering mountain views.

It all worked out okay. I negotiated with the hotel and stayed in a decent room with a big bed, warm comforter, and private bathroom with a working, HOT shower. It was my first hot shower from a showerhead instead of a bucket in a month.

I made it to 9am Christmas services at Assumption Church in Patan. The mass was part in English, part in Nepali, and I could sing along to Gloria in Excelsis Deo and O Come Let Us Adore Him. We ended on Joy to the World, something my mom’s choir at Ascension in Bowie always did, and it was the perfect start to my vacation.

I was driven around to the main tourist sites in Kathmandu (Durbar Square, Pashupatinath Temple, and Bodhnath), and later took a scooter ride to the Monkey Temple. I have a lot more pictures, and I apologize for not editing and posting more, but this is the quickest way to get pictures on the blog. If I start using photoshop, I will never upload anything.

First time on a scooter - I was a little scared!

I spent days 3 and 4 going on hikes, about 10k/6 miles each day, and getting to see the Himalayas.

On my last morning we woke up at 4:30 am to go see the sun rise over the mountains, and then I was dropped at the airport.