Arrived early am yesterday sleepless admiring sunrise over the Himalayan foothills, immense steep slopes clothed in felt - like green terraces, houses perched high on ridges and impassable looking paths wandering for miles between fields and woods and bare and barren hillsides. A bit of a hiatus at the airport with late transport resulted in me being the only entertainment for half a dozen bored taxi drivers wanting to practice their English. A lovely girl, Pratikshya met me and escorted me to my hotel; (rather striking murals in hotel).
there was certainly no chance of me finding it on my own, and subsequent experience proved emphatically that taxi drivers can not find their way round Bakhtapur either.
She walked me through the ancient centre of this historic town, purchasing the necessary permits for me as a foreigner to visit, then I was taken to Khatmandu to visit PHASE director Gerda who was working a shift in the CIWEC clinic for foreigners . This proved to be quite a smart looking facility on western lines, opposite the British Embassy and therefore in a quiet and clean part of Kathmundu. Needing to do some shopping, another GP Kiran, and his wife Maria and I ventured into Thamel and braced the endless rows of shops and shacks selling very similar items to bargain our way through transactions. Returning to my hotel in neighbouring Bathkhtapur was an experience as the taxi driver had no idea where the hotel was so it was quite an adventure getting back! However everyone I meet is very polite and try to help. Coping with the chaotic noise and terrible roads and traffic is hard work! Food has so far been fine, hot water bottle a comfort, but the frequent power cuts difficult to deal with.here is the view from the hotel on a very quiet morning at breakfast
for briefing sessions, Pratyskya thankfully came for me as I had No idea where to get the bus. As is evident the office isn't quite finished, here is how construction is done.....
I am off tomorrow to the villages, there are 2 of us going to different places with 2 PHASE staff accompanying us. Probably no wifi till 12th Feb. Till then....
She walked me through the ancient centre of this historic town, purchasing the necessary permits for me as a foreigner to visit, then I was taken to Khatmandu to visit PHASE director Gerda who was working a shift in the CIWEC clinic for foreigners . This proved to be quite a smart looking facility on western lines, opposite the British Embassy and therefore in a quiet and clean part of Kathmundu. Needing to do some shopping, another GP Kiran, and his wife Maria and I ventured into Thamel and braced the endless rows of shops and shacks selling very similar items to bargain our way through transactions. Returning to my hotel in neighbouring Bathkhtapur was an experience as the taxi driver had no idea where the hotel was so it was quite an adventure getting back! However everyone I meet is very polite and try to help. Coping with the chaotic noise and terrible roads and traffic is hard work! Food has so far been fine, hot water bottle a comfort, but the frequent power cuts difficult to deal with.here is the view from the hotel on a very quiet morning at breakfast
there is no chance of a street photo when it is busy as it takes all my energy to stay upright.
Today I saw the new office of the charity
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