first days

Three days into the program, this whole experience remains surreal. I figured that once we actually got to where we were going I'd start believing it, but I still have to remind myself where we are and what's going on. I have a feeling that that will change once our schedule really gets rolling.

Early Sunday morning we arrived in Hong Kong--tired, hungry, and stoked. We spent the day touring the bay on a big boat and walking around near the mall that connected us to the airport by train. Hong Kong is so huge. The crane-infested shipping yard reminded me of Seattle, except that all of the shipping containers were from the states instead of from China. Meanwhile, the clouds all around were amazing, and remained full and dark until we began our search for dinner, when they let it all loose, turning all the sidewalks into rushing rivulets. We seized the opportunity to hide under a tiny overhang off the sidewalk and sing "Country Roads," among other things. Passersby, or rather runnerswithumbrellasby got a kick out of it. After squatting for just long enough and with much deliberation, we re-routed to a so-so Chinese restaurant in the airport before our flight. Before we knew it, we were boarding a big white plane emblazoned with "Dragon Air" and headed for Nepal.

Upon arrival, we got our Nepali visas and then were escorted to the Park Village Resort on the outskirts of Kathmandu. On Monday morning we walked through the streets to a sort of indoor/outdoor Hindu temple. We saw babies being bathed, dogs, beggars, shopkeepers, funny Pepsi ads and lots of laundry hanging on rooftop clotheslines. The rest of the day we spent relaxing around the grounds. This resort is just a magical place: an enchanting pond, a beautiful, blue-tiled swimming pool, fascinating architecture, flowers, and trees, and hidden treasures like a life-sized chess set with wire pieces and a horse riding club next to an amphitheater and dirt tennis court. We were reminded of the sensitive modesty required especially in India when workers marveled at our bare ankles emerging from the water during a series of hand-stand contests.

To be continued...