[ The Sleepover ]

Thursday was my first real run in with food poisoning.  Even with more sleep than usual, I woke up absolutely exhausted. My appetite was nonexistent for both breakfast and lunch; I won't go in to the other details! Luckily, by dinnertime it had mostly passed, and I was incredibly hungry after having had a sparse lunch.
It also helped that Ashok prepared phenomenal Thai food! :)

That night was the US-Germany game, but I opted out, still not feeling quite up to par. When the power came back on around 10 pm--and with it, the fan--I decided to call it a night.  Only half of my brain was in on this decision, and the other half continued to mull over a new book I had taken up: The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult (before you judge understand that the author was recommended by a trusted friend and that I read unemotional scientific papers all day. The change of pace was needed). I switched on the lamp at my bedside and before I knew it it was 1 am. The entirety of my brain, along with my drooping eyelids, unanimously voted for sleep.

Ironically, Friday morning I felt completely rejuvenated! The work day flew by as I sorted through a few more articles and continued with the book Dirty, Sacred Rivers by Cheryl Colopy. At the end of the day, I said my farewells to Celine (Zumba Celine) and hopped on the ICIMOD bus with Rashmi. She had generously offered to have me over for dinner and to go on a hike the next morning. Pragun (Pra-goon), her 3 y.o. son, was incredibly energetic and guffawed at even the simplest things. I managed to win him over, and he was soon cuddled up on my lap as we watched music videos and waited for dinner.

Rashmi and Hiten (Hee-ten), her husband, had prepared the traditional meal of dal bhat (lentil soup and rice), but while she and Hiten dug in with their hands (also in the traditional style), I opted for silverware. Her son had fallen asleep on the nearby bed, but Rashmi, Hiten, and I stayed up late, enjoying the conversation and company.

The next morning (after breakfast, of course!), we set off for a hike into the hills. Their house is located closer to the hills than my guesthouse, making the view and birdsong even more varied and beautiful. We set off down the road, then up the road, then traversed a well-beaten trail and turned back around.

This beast had the smoothest body I've seen!

The goats were bowing down to their queen.

There was a view of rice paddies on one side of the trail...

...and Kathmandu Valley on the other!

This goat was the cutest thing. Its coat looked so soft!

Just one example of, depressingly, innumerable polluted waterways in Kathmandu.

If you look closely, there is a lizard chilling in the center of this photograph!

On our way back, we took a detour to Budhanilkantha. This temple was stunningly unique, for the pond in the middle held a large stone carving of Krishnu. He was supine, covered in the strings of orange flowers that you find everywhere here. Bells were banging all around the temple as people performed their pujas and burnt little offerings.

Cameras aren't allowed inside, so this was taken through a gap in the fencing!

With this sight seen, we once again turned back and soon arrived home.
That brings me to now, as we wait for Rashmi to fry the noodles. Hiten and Pragun are watching The Lion King--I think I'll go join them. :)

Peace and love,
Abby