EXPLORING AREAS NEAR KATHMANDU

Hi Everyone,

We are well and enjoying our first 2-day trekking in Nagarkot, a small mountain outside Kathmandu.  We did 12 km first day and second day 12 km completing a loop  hike through little communities and villages.  Amazing eye opener of happy hardworking people, very poor, lots of garbage everywhere and many many small children, many young families.  The children play outside with soccer ball, happy and smiling.  At this time, there is a big celebration for two weeks, everything closes and people leave the city to join their families.  The city closes down for week so they can celebrate 15-day Dashain Festival, where they sacrifice and honor one type of animal per day by cutting off its head, ending the week by celebrating day of brother and day of sister - they do not get their heads cut off!!  When I get a chance again I will send some pictures.  October 24th is the biggest celebration day so we will be delaying our  trek by one day so that we can experience  their culture.  We also visited 3 ancient temples in surrounding area.  Just the driving is like being in a movie.  The traffic is heavy, with people walking, cycling, motorcycle, small cars all weaving around each other within small alleyways, amazingly nobody gets hit.  So much more to tell you when I can.  This computer sticks ... I will so much appreciate more the computer I have back home and at work!  :-)  We are really enjoying  ourselves.  Bye for  now.