A starting point in sharing our adventures in Nepal

After spending almost a week in Nepal, I have so much to write and about and so many photos to share. I've been going through both my and Tim's photos, and I realize it will be hard to select just a sampling.  But over a few posts, I'll give it a try.

And I have other photos and notes from our drive in the Northern Emirates, too.  But first, I am most eager to share about Nepal.

Last night I dropped Tim off at the airport for a 2 a.m. flight home to California. As I write this (7:30 p.m. UAE time), the online flight tracker shows him over Canada at this point. With about 3.5 hours to go in his loooonnnngggg trip home.

So I shouldn't feel so tired after getting to bed at 1 a.m. and then working today. But honestly, it's going to be a really early night for me.

I want to get back to this blog, though, and start sharing again.

Why Nepal?
My friend Hannah from work was planning a trip there for October. And the timing was such that Tim and I could go at the same time. From the States, it would be multiple flights and many hours of flying to ever get to Nepal. Yet from Abu Dhabi it's 4.5 hours (never ever did I think that was a short flight!  but we do now!), non-stop, and affordable. And what fun to say the word Kathmandu :-)

One of the kickers was, that for some unknown reason, we could fly business class cheaper than the economy ("Coach") seats that were left. Well, that was an easy decision, to fly business for a cheaper price!  

As I mentioned, I'll share a few posts about Nepal with photos of temples and stupas and beautiful mountains and animals and intense traffic and colorful buses, and more.  For tonight, before my I give into my brain and my body saying "sleep!", some photos as a starting point.

As you schlep your backpack on a mountain trail (nope, not Everest size mountains, just regular ol' mountains), you see a woman carrying water or milk jugs or a load of grass and leaves (for the animals) and you find yourself shutting your mouth and not complaining! These containers are empty at the moment, but the Nepalese carry their physical loads with much more ease than I could muster!

A typical store (snacks, sodas, and such). And young boys/men playing a game had what looked like checkers and a sandy surface ...

A Buddhist monk at one of the temples we visited.

Marigolds abound at temples. People lay the flowers (individually or in strings) at statues and shrines in the temples, and use the color from dried marigolds on the statues of gods. And once in awhile, as in this photo, you'll find someone taking a nap in what feels like such a random place.

More details and more photos coming!
Hope you like this taster!