It seems every attempt I make to upload photos somehow gets messed up. As you can tell if you visit the link that has always been on this page, there is a small album of photos of the children. Unfortunately Internet Explorer crashed when 50% of the photos were uploaded (another reason you should ALL switch to Firefox) so the upload ended prematurely.
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2198635&l=4a3da&id=21000684
This is a public link to the same album on facebook which I managed to successfully upload. In the future if my online sight fails to upload, I will provide a link that directs to you facebook (which hopefully was successful). If any of you can't see the link, please let me know.
Ryan
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Mount Everest
"I may not have climbed mount Everest, but I touched it with my heart."
I was originally reluctant to pay the $150 fee for a one hour flight to Mount Everest by charter company Bhudda Air, afterall, $150 USD is a small fortune in Nepal, many people won't see that much in a year. However curiosity finally kicked in and I paid, even managing to haggle down to $140 in typical Nepali fashion.
Arriving at the airport at 5am (6:30am flight) with a group of seven volunteers who had decided to go I was dumbfounded when I realized the airport was not even open yet. The guide had told us to get there at 5:30 but we decided to get there early to get good seats; true to Nepal, everyone showed up at 5:30 to actually open the airport...or what is considered and airport.
After paying our departure tax and all trying to get seats near the front of the plane and avoid the wing, we waited at the gate. I was disappointed since I got a seat at the back of the plane, sure to be a disaster for getting some good pictures...I was soon corrected.
The plane was a small Beech twin propellar aircraft and it became apparent that the back of the plane was the best place to be. After a 15 minute ascent we reached above the clouds and within minutes began to see peaks. They were gorgeous and the hostess came around to vainly explain which each peak was. Finally commotion stirred in the whole plane, we were near Everest. One by one passengers of the seventeen-seater made their way to the cockpit for the best view. Finally it was my turn.
When I first got there I didn't know what I was looking at, but soon it became clear. Sitting there, higher than them all with a little "cloud halo" was Everest; it was beautiful. But the other peaks were just as amazing, all looking like giant ice bergs rising up out of an icy ocean.
Definitely worth the $150!!!
I was originally reluctant to pay the $150 fee for a one hour flight to Mount Everest by charter company Bhudda Air, afterall, $150 USD is a small fortune in Nepal, many people won't see that much in a year. However curiosity finally kicked in and I paid, even managing to haggle down to $140 in typical Nepali fashion.
Arriving at the airport at 5am (6:30am flight) with a group of seven volunteers who had decided to go I was dumbfounded when I realized the airport was not even open yet. The guide had told us to get there at 5:30 but we decided to get there early to get good seats; true to Nepal, everyone showed up at 5:30 to actually open the airport...or what is considered and airport.
After paying our departure tax and all trying to get seats near the front of the plane and avoid the wing, we waited at the gate. I was disappointed since I got a seat at the back of the plane, sure to be a disaster for getting some good pictures...I was soon corrected.
The plane was a small Beech twin propellar aircraft and it became apparent that the back of the plane was the best place to be. After a 15 minute ascent we reached above the clouds and within minutes began to see peaks. They were gorgeous and the hostess came around to vainly explain which each peak was. Finally commotion stirred in the whole plane, we were near Everest. One by one passengers of the seventeen-seater made their way to the cockpit for the best view. Finally it was my turn.
When I first got there I didn't know what I was looking at, but soon it became clear. Sitting there, higher than them all with a little "cloud halo" was Everest; it was beautiful. But the other peaks were just as amazing, all looking like giant ice bergs rising up out of an icy ocean.
Definitely worth the $150!!!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Nepali Life
Leopards, heavy rain, leeches, a total lack of toilet paper...welcome to Nepal.
Bistachaap was the beginning of my Nepali adventure. After spending two days in Thamel (the tourist district) and meeting all the other volunteers, we shipped out for this quaint city which is within a valley of the Kathmandu Valley. I met my host family and immediately became very attached to the two children, and apparently the little girl (Unisa) became attached, even possessive of me. Any girl who came near me would get a stern "NO!" and a punch, usually in the head. She was only 5, so it was cute.
The family lived on a nice plot of land with their own mini barn, corn plants and a small rice paddy (like almost every Nepali family). Mornings began at 7 for me, although technically I was up at 5 because Nepali's usually wake up this early anyways. No toilet paper so I went traditional and exercised my left hand...fun. Language lessons and tours of the valley accompanied each day. On the 5th day we finished training and went back to Thamel to await placement. I took advantage of computers, showers, WESTERN toilets and more importantly a variety in meals. Nepalis only eat two meals a day, Dhal Bhaat...twice a day, every day for all eternity. Some Chiya (sweetened tea) adds variety for a snack.
I was placed in a small village about 30 minutes from Thamel. My new host family is great and loves hearing about Canada, although I will miss Unisa and the rest I left in Bistachaap. I have my own room, similar to mine in Vancouver and a western toilet!!! Awesome!
The daily routine starts at about 7am and I go to Charity, the name of the orphanage I work at. The children are not well off at all but they all have bright smiling faces. My favourite almost immediately is Bishnu Pun Magar, a mischievious little 7 year old with a laugh that makes you melt and a smile that lights up the room.
The day begins with giving all the children their required medications and vitamins...almost 40 children means it takes about 1.5 hours. The health cases range from phimoses for boys (look it up...its not fun) and scabies for everyone. I drench myself in purel after every case, Lord knows what these kids have; actually I do know, hence my prophylactic regimen. The kids then eat Dhal Bhaat...shocking...then off to "school". I use that term lightly because if you saw it, you'd never know. The evening is a follow-up check for most of the kids, usually evening medications and general checks. If a child has to go to the clinic, we take him during the day. I'm dreading an overnight hospital visit, but its certainly not unheard of in this place.
Thats all for now. I'll try and post some sort of picture soon, I promise. I'm doing an Everest flight on Sunday so I guarantee I'll post something from that.
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