With the aid of advanced technology such as fancy touchscreens and Madagascar 2, my final flight from Incheon International Airport in South Korea passed largely without a hitch.
Descending into the Seattle area at around noon, I was staggered. I could see the ground, there was water (and it was blue), there were real cloud formations, and 'mountains' (large hills now) miles and miles away that I could see just as clearly as if I was on them.
As I was checking my tire pressure yesterday, it started raining, and I didn't care in the slightest. It was fantastic.
My cough is subsiding. I took a hot shower. There was electricity all day. My cell phone works beautifully.
To all of my Nepali comrades reading this, my point is not to 'rub it in.' It's just that the people in Seattle take things like clean air, and above all, rain, for granted. And rain is wonderful.
I'll never forget this trip, nor the friends I've made. I hope to go back again someday soon.
//SHAMELESS PLUG//
If you enjoyed reading this blog at least a little bit, then you might enjoy what I'm planning next. This summer, I'm planning on taking a road trip across much of the USA, and spending as little money as possible. I'll be taking a fancy camera with me, seeing sights, camping, and hopefully encountering silly things to write about.
Look for signs of it around June and July.
//END SHAMELESS PLUG//
Until then, thank you all so much for joining my dad and I on our journey.
All the best,
Carey Rose
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
The Last Day in Kathmandu
...was extremely busy.
Itinerary:
-Massage
-Haircut
-Pick up photos
-Pick up Jamuna
-Independent Living Center
-DHRC (I don't remember what it stands for)
-Hopeful Home Orphanage
-Say our goodbyes at DNC
-Drop Jamuna off
-Get lost on the way back to Sanepa
-Go out to dinner
-Pack
-Update the blog
Right now, I'm uploading photos. The upload speed is reading in Bps (Bytes per Second). That means I'm uploading at less than one kilobyte per second. *sigh*
I don't think I have the energy to post details. But look at the photos, they're alright. And they have captions.
-Carey
Itinerary:
-Massage
-Haircut
-Pick up photos
-Pick up Jamuna
-Independent Living Center
-DHRC (I don't remember what it stands for)
-Hopeful Home Orphanage
-Say our goodbyes at DNC
-Drop Jamuna off
-Get lost on the way back to Sanepa
-Go out to dinner
-Pack
-Update the blog
Right now, I'm uploading photos. The upload speed is reading in Bps (Bytes per Second). That means I'm uploading at less than one kilobyte per second. *sigh*
I don't think I have the energy to post details. But look at the photos, they're alright. And they have captions.
 |
| Bagamati and Hopeful Home |
-Carey
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Odds and Ends
 |
| From The Humble Taxi, and Good Times |
The humble Maruti 800 is as ubiquitous in Kathmandu as Starbucks cups are in Seattle. They also, I'd wager, match up nicely in regards to build quality / sturdiness.
The Maruti 800 has been manufactured since the mid 1980s (still manufactured today), and has remained largely unchanged since that time. Each is equipped with an 0.8 liter 3-cylinder engine that puts out 37 horsepower, although with the average cab driver's propensity for lugging the little engine, most probably see around 15 horses at any given time.
The best way I can think of to describe this vehicle to the average American is as a Geo Metro 'Lite.' Its diminutive exterior dimensions hide away a remarkable ability to comfortably seat four adults (and uncomfortably seat many more). The interior of most cabs lacks carpeting, and they all share a similar aversion to proper idle (or idling at all) and also exhibit rather intrusive and troubling transmission noise.
Also, it seems that a cab driver's worth is largely measured in gauche, gaudy and inaccurate decals that coat the vehicle both inside and out. Many are harmless - a mural of a cheetah chasing its prey running across both doors, or perhaps the understated (and hilariously false) "Sports" running a similar span in loopy lettering. However, every so often, you'll find large '4WD' and 'Toyota' stickers adorning the cabs as well, which seems silly. It's rather like tattooing a six-pack over your beer gut.
I think it's fairly remarkable that most of them are still running. My only explanation for this is some sort of voodoo / black magic, or perhaps they've simply been modified to run on dirt.
If they could sufficiently woo the government, some combination of Maruti 800, Kathmandu traffic and the highway to Pokhara would make an excellent episode of Top Gear.
/end taxi story
As I mentioned previously, the guitar at DNC is of the brand 'Happy.' It made me even more UNhappy today when I was playing it normally and one of the brand new strings snapped. *sigh*
Last night, I had a jam session to prepare for a band performance tonight at a restaurant. After the jam session, Sachin asked if I wanted a beer or a glass of wine, so I said yes, and we crossed the street to Chopstix. We had a fantastic time, though, mostly discussing the ins and outs of Nepali and American culture.
My dad and I and a wonderful man named Michael (who helps support DNC as well) had lunch with Shanti at her home. Shanti acts as surrogate mother for the 30-odd children at DNC, and lives there 6 days out of the week, and rarely gets a moment's peace. She is a truly remarkable woman with a heart of pure gold. And the lunch was delicious as well.
I performed with Sachin and the rest of the Nepali Blues Society at the Ambience restaurant in Patan Durbar Square. It was a ton of fun! I posted a couple of pictures.
Well, I'm exhausted from my lack of sleep last night due to drunken escapades, and shall now go to bed.
 |
| The Humble Taxi, and Good Times |
-Carey
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Priveledged
Anecdote:
My dad met today with the president of Bakery Cafe, Shyan Khakshupati. Bakery Cafe's are plentiful around Kathmandu, and have become successful on the basis of good, consistent food and youthful atmosphere. Shyam is also responsible for the large proportion of deaf individuals working as wait staff in his restaurants.
Shaym mentioned that his daughter recently hosted a couple of American friends. One morning, the Americans wished (understandably) to take a shower, but were informed that there was no water.
"But...how can that be? How is that possible?" they asked.
They then learned of the electricity situation here as well, and I can only guess that armed with this further knowledge, they sunk further into confusion and vague despair.
It's cliche and unfair to say that, as Americans, we are spoiled, and take far too much for granted. After all, if things like running water and electricity are plentiful and serve to ease and enhance our lives, why should we not take advantage of them?
That said, the disparity between societies that are granted this freedom of resources and those that are not is stark, though sometimes it is difficult to see.
Today, my dad and I traveled with Sita and Nirmala out to Banepa to visit the deaf school there. Rotary had provided funds to the school very recently, and already the school has gone out and purchased two brand new computers (the first computers the school has ever seen), as well as some proper kitchen equipment, so that the staff may cook lunch for 40 children on more than one kerosene-pump burner.
As computers are largely a visual medium, they are perfectly suited for use by those with hearing impairment, and yet, there are few deaf schools with adequate facilities for computer training. I won't extol upon the virtues of computer usage here, for those are tired words.
But on the other hand, seeing the light and joy in the faces of the children as they thanked us for the simple and, to us, common joys of computers and proper cooking equipment was something that one can never grow tired of.
I've posted a few photos, some related to this, and some following other small tales of our trip today. Enjoy!
-Carey
My dad met today with the president of Bakery Cafe, Shyan Khakshupati. Bakery Cafe's are plentiful around Kathmandu, and have become successful on the basis of good, consistent food and youthful atmosphere. Shyam is also responsible for the large proportion of deaf individuals working as wait staff in his restaurants.
Shaym mentioned that his daughter recently hosted a couple of American friends. One morning, the Americans wished (understandably) to take a shower, but were informed that there was no water.
"But...how can that be? How is that possible?" they asked.
They then learned of the electricity situation here as well, and I can only guess that armed with this further knowledge, they sunk further into confusion and vague despair.
It's cliche and unfair to say that, as Americans, we are spoiled, and take far too much for granted. After all, if things like running water and electricity are plentiful and serve to ease and enhance our lives, why should we not take advantage of them?
That said, the disparity between societies that are granted this freedom of resources and those that are not is stark, though sometimes it is difficult to see.
Today, my dad and I traveled with Sita and Nirmala out to Banepa to visit the deaf school there. Rotary had provided funds to the school very recently, and already the school has gone out and purchased two brand new computers (the first computers the school has ever seen), as well as some proper kitchen equipment, so that the staff may cook lunch for 40 children on more than one kerosene-pump burner.
As computers are largely a visual medium, they are perfectly suited for use by those with hearing impairment, and yet, there are few deaf schools with adequate facilities for computer training. I won't extol upon the virtues of computer usage here, for those are tired words.
But on the other hand, seeing the light and joy in the faces of the children as they thanked us for the simple and, to us, common joys of computers and proper cooking equipment was something that one can never grow tired of.
I've posted a few photos, some related to this, and some following other small tales of our trip today. Enjoy!
 |
| Another Visit to Kavre Deaf School |
-Carey
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Life Development for All
The main event today centered on a visit to LDC, or Life Development Center. This is a center run by my some of my dad's newest contacts in Nepal, Rolf and Monique. The center is a residential home and school for children and adults with serious developmental disabilities.
Most of the residents are unable to communicate clearly through speech. Many of them suffer seizures on a daily basis. They vary in their level of disability, from mild autism or down syndrome to near a near-comatose state.
Four to six individuals sleep in any given room in the center, and for each group, there must be one caretaker sleeping as well, as the seizures many suffer are random and require immediate attention.
The center provides many activities for the children, such as preparing vegetables for cooking, gardening, music therapy and exercise, and so on. The center needs more sponsors, and today, we video-taped and interviewed a number of children and young adults whose families are no longer able to provide adequate support funds to the center.
With us today was another group of four individuals with physical disabilities. The general consensus from them was one of revelation - the LDC really helped to put things into perspective. Jamuna Subedi, for example, may have artificial legs, but she has full and complete use of her mind, something she has taken for granted. The LDC helped to inspire and show those with physical disabilities that there are people that they can help too, instead of merely acting as recipients of aid themselves.
/end serious topics
On our way back from Boudha, we were lucky enough to have hired quite a young, hip cab driver to drop Jamuna and Chanda off before driving my dad and I back to Sanepa. He is so far the only cabbie throughout Kathmandu that I've encountered who has taken the time to install a subwoofer in his cab (the Nepali people simply call them 'woofers'). While I'm sure he was very proud, the woofer impacted our cab ride in a largely negative way.
In the beginning, we were trying to have pleasant conversation, but the driver proceeded to play techno-Nepali music at a decibel level usually reserved for measuring the sound levels of heavy construction equipment. Luckily, he heeded our pleas and shut it off for some time.
However, the woofer was so badly wired that somehow, the engine noise was amplified through it and every bump would also be amplified. And the bumps themselves need no amplification. For the first time ever, I was grateful every time the cab driver stalled, because it meant sweet, sweet silence for at least a few moments.
As soon as Jamuna and Chanda were dropped off and it was just my dad and I in the cab, the music came back on. However, it did make for some good background music as I filmed our little drive through Kathmandu at night.
No photos today, though, I am thoroughly worn out, slightly sick, and have taken NyQuil and have only a matter of seconds before I fall into a deep, rock-like sleep.
-Carey
Most of the residents are unable to communicate clearly through speech. Many of them suffer seizures on a daily basis. They vary in their level of disability, from mild autism or down syndrome to near a near-comatose state.
Four to six individuals sleep in any given room in the center, and for each group, there must be one caretaker sleeping as well, as the seizures many suffer are random and require immediate attention.
The center provides many activities for the children, such as preparing vegetables for cooking, gardening, music therapy and exercise, and so on. The center needs more sponsors, and today, we video-taped and interviewed a number of children and young adults whose families are no longer able to provide adequate support funds to the center.
With us today was another group of four individuals with physical disabilities. The general consensus from them was one of revelation - the LDC really helped to put things into perspective. Jamuna Subedi, for example, may have artificial legs, but she has full and complete use of her mind, something she has taken for granted. The LDC helped to inspire and show those with physical disabilities that there are people that they can help too, instead of merely acting as recipients of aid themselves.
/end serious topics
On our way back from Boudha, we were lucky enough to have hired quite a young, hip cab driver to drop Jamuna and Chanda off before driving my dad and I back to Sanepa. He is so far the only cabbie throughout Kathmandu that I've encountered who has taken the time to install a subwoofer in his cab (the Nepali people simply call them 'woofers'). While I'm sure he was very proud, the woofer impacted our cab ride in a largely negative way.
In the beginning, we were trying to have pleasant conversation, but the driver proceeded to play techno-Nepali music at a decibel level usually reserved for measuring the sound levels of heavy construction equipment. Luckily, he heeded our pleas and shut it off for some time.
However, the woofer was so badly wired that somehow, the engine noise was amplified through it and every bump would also be amplified. And the bumps themselves need no amplification. For the first time ever, I was grateful every time the cab driver stalled, because it meant sweet, sweet silence for at least a few moments.
As soon as Jamuna and Chanda were dropped off and it was just my dad and I in the cab, the music came back on. However, it did make for some good background music as I filmed our little drive through Kathmandu at night.
No photos today, though, I am thoroughly worn out, slightly sick, and have taken NyQuil and have only a matter of seconds before I fall into a deep, rock-like sleep.
-Carey
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
No one is safe
On Holi, no one is safe.
Even the man with the D3 and the 80-200mm f/2.8 lens and the large, reflective "Press" jersey on looked concerned.
Our trip to DNC was not without excitement.
I've only posted a handful of photos, because that's all we could risk the camera for.
There was much red. Much water. Much fun.
Throughout the city, there were far more elaborate face paintings than those we saw...many reds, silvers, greens.
Anywho. Check out the few pics I've uploaded.
-Carey
P.S. - The guitar belonging to DNC that I've restrung is manufactured under the brand 'Happy.' It's occurred to me that emotions do not a good brand name make. I wouldn't buy a car called "downtrodden," I wouldn't buy a pencil called "dull" and I wouldn't buy a pair of pants called "vulnerable." All of those seem to just be asking for trouble, just as the Happy Guitar has made me anything but happy due to various tuning problems among other issues.
Even the man with the D3 and the 80-200mm f/2.8 lens and the large, reflective "Press" jersey on looked concerned.
Our trip to DNC was not without excitement.
I've only posted a handful of photos, because that's all we could risk the camera for.
There was much red. Much water. Much fun.
Throughout the city, there were far more elaborate face paintings than those we saw...many reds, silvers, greens.
Anywho. Check out the few pics I've uploaded.
 |
| Holi |
-Carey
P.S. - The guitar belonging to DNC that I've restrung is manufactured under the brand 'Happy.' It's occurred to me that emotions do not a good brand name make. I wouldn't buy a car called "downtrodden," I wouldn't buy a pencil called "dull" and I wouldn't buy a pair of pants called "vulnerable." All of those seem to just be asking for trouble, just as the Happy Guitar has made me anything but happy due to various tuning problems among other issues.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Vague Apprehension
Today is Holi, which, in India anyway, is a festival of color where literally everyone throws dyes at everyone. In Nepal, it's more common practice to simply throw water or water balloons, but I hear there will be some color mixed in as well.
As I speak, there are screams and roars coming in through my closed windows, The Scorpions' "Rock You Like a Hurricane" is being blasted at an obscene volume from an unknown location, and my dad got chased by little girls with a bucket of water on the way to his massage this morning, shortly before getting pegged with a water balloon from a balcony.
We're spending the day at DNC, but I don't think that means our experience will any more sedate.
Also, sorry, but I doubt there will be any photos. For obvious reasons.
I'll post a detailed update later.
-Carey
p.s. quick update: current music blasting through the streets is a techno remix of Stand By Me.
As I speak, there are screams and roars coming in through my closed windows, The Scorpions' "Rock You Like a Hurricane" is being blasted at an obscene volume from an unknown location, and my dad got chased by little girls with a bucket of water on the way to his massage this morning, shortly before getting pegged with a water balloon from a balcony.
We're spending the day at DNC, but I don't think that means our experience will any more sedate.
Also, sorry, but I doubt there will be any photos. For obvious reasons.
I'll post a detailed update later.
-Carey
p.s. quick update: current music blasting through the streets is a techno remix of Stand By Me.
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