Well, here we are, back in the Singapore airport. It's odd being back in a super consumerist setting after 3 weeks in Nepal which is anything but. We do miss it, I got a little teary seeing the Himmalayas receed from the plane - again we hope to return some day.
Nepal is enthralling, joyouus, heartbreaking, spectacular and full of moral dilemnas. Very much the real world. Travel there is not always easy but it's worth it. WWe'll think about it a lot.
There is more instability than we expected at first. Nothing effected us but the highway blockade, and that was no more than an inconvenience. We do have to keep an idea on the political situation there. We read this morning that hundreds of tourists had to leave Pokara this morning because of a general strike of hotel and restaurant workers. Something doesd have to happen to iomprove wages, but I'm glad we were gone when it happened.
The Maoists who waged guerilla war for years have wound up being the dominant party in the legislature. They are constantly in different conflicts with other parties. Pachandra, their leader, seems to be trying to take a moderate social democratic approach, although he is hard to define. Others in his group are less thoughtful. Kate mentioned the attacks on jounalists and the youth wing has pulled some nasty stuff. The other parties are not more reasonable and are also capable of pretty nutty behavior; we do fear for Nepal's guture.
Still - we hope things work out and will follow them carefully. The political situation will be a big factor in our deciding if and when we'll return. Time is running out, I gotta sign out, more soon.
I got a little more time. Just thought I'd mention that the Thuru family we had dinner with near Chitwan was paid half of the fee for that program. It was a nice chunk of money for them.
Again, we will visit Kate's old friend and her husband tomorrow so we may not post again for a couple of days. But we'll be fine. More soon. PG
PG
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