Dear All,
Some days you wake up and you wonder “What the heck am I doing?”. On Tuesday lunch time I boarded a flight from San Francisco to Tokyo, then had 40 mins to get to my flight from Tokyo to Singapore, followed by Singapore to New Delhi.
When I reached Delhi, the goal was to buy a ticket to get me all the way to Kathmandu. People on the plane thought I was insane, but everyone was very kind. Little did I know just how very hard it is to get a ticket at 5:30 in the morning to KTM. My morning involved running around Delhi airport for 90 mins letting everyone know I wanted a ticket to KTM. I briefly entertained the idea of taking a 55 hour bus ride to KTM, but it didn’t last long.
This was followed by a ride in a taxi into the city center and spending 3 hours with a travel agent who wheeled and dealed me a ticket. Apparently there is an underground market for tickets to KTM at the moment because of the upcoming religious holidays. Travel agents had bought extra tickets in hope of selling them for a premium to wallies like me, and boy, did they clean up today!
There is nothing in the world like a Delhi sunrise, pollution, followed by a Delhi peak hour road closure.
Despite all of this, when I saw the children, it was all worth it.
Of course, as Tom predicted, I was greeting with screams and laughter “Mum!! Welcome to Nepal! Where’s dad??!!??”. None of them quite believed Tom was unable to make this trip. They kept eyeing the gate waiting for his big booming voice. By dinner time, the news spread that yes, Dad really was in China for work then the new question started "Dad is coming after China??" Poor poppets.
I will post pics soon, and updates on life here in Dhapasi - the kids have all grown (especially Purna) and I will work hard at giving out twice as many hugs.
Sending love as always,
Fiona
