Goodbye from Ram the doorman

No strike but coffee and cake

Sunday 12th May
Have done the bulk of my packing but I can't decide what to travel in.  It will no doubt be hot queuing at the airport but maybe cool when I get back to the UK.
Not sure if the strike has taken place.  While I was packing I heard a marching band, mostly drums and a high pitch tootley thing, a bit like snake charmers use, going at it double time.  I dashed down from the fourth floor and out of the hotel but the band had disappeared down another side street.  Not a stone thrower in sight.
It is completely mad hot.  I have stopped asking what the temperature is as it makes me feel worse.  In the next few weeks, the next batch of volunteers arrive and I feel sorry for them, as apparently the temperature continues to rise until July when it is usually in the mid forties.
We have all completed the comments book for Social Tours who have coordinated the programme.  I understand that it will be shown to the directors of the orphanage and future volunteers.  So we have all made heartfelt and complimentary comments about the children and the didis, the tour guides, the excursion to the National Park, the cultural and historical places we have visited.  We felt however that comments needed to be made about the pressure placed repeatedly on us by some of the directors and staff of the orphanage to buy things.  At first we were happy to do it but when you are there for a month, it becomes onerous as our finances are finite. I could not resist a comment about the toilets as they are truly appalling and although they do get a cursory clean now, they still make a breeding ground for disease for the children.
This afternoon we have been invited for coffee with Social Tours.  We should have had a farewell dinner with them but we wanted to have a change of venue and the restaurant we went to last night was just the ticket, if a bit pricey for Nepal.
Back from the coffee date with Bipin, lovely young man who is married to a girl from Nottingham.  After coffee and cake, we were presented with another ceremonial scarf and a picture of a traditional circle of Nepali writing and signs which is beautifully made.
We are now really just kicking our heels and wanting to get on our way home ASAP.  We leave at about 6.30am tomorrow which is good as we may avoid the worst of the heat as we queue to check in.  There is no aircon at the airport, Bipin tells us.
Not much else to say except that the ME scored last night with the Yemeni football ref.

Ero

Only dog to talk about

Saturday 11th May
Well the strike did not materialise again today so we have been told it will be tomorrow.  Saturday is the only non working day of the week so I suppose no one would want to be out throwing stones on their day off.  We are expecting it tomorrow now.  I'm not sure what it's about other than it is the students who are unhappy with the government's policies.  There is a piece of spare land across from the main entrance to the hotel.  When we passed it last week at 6.15am on our way to get the Greenline bus to Chitwan, it was full of young people in judo kit having lessons in the open air.  Makes sense I suppose as it's probably the coolest part of the day but I couldn't see UK children getting up at that time before school.  Some can't even get into school on time.  Anyway it seems that is where the demo will rally.
I had a lazy day, bit of wandering round some less touristy streets and seeing life go on as it has done for literally ages.  Washing the clothes outside, bathing the kids outside, having a gossip with your mates on street corners.  A lot of people had tikkas, coloured marks on their forehead to denote a blessing after worship.  I even found a dog with a tikka.  Its owners were sitting outside their shop and we had a bit of friendly laughing and head waggling.  I used one of my few bits of  Nepali.  "Waahai nam ke ho?" (What is his name? )"Ero",  they said.  "Namaste Ero" I said and took a photo with my iPad.  Gales of laughter when I showed them the photo.
Just back from dinner at Le Sherpa recommended by an acquaintance at the hotel. Beautiful outdoor restaurant, you could have been anywhere in Europe and a nice change from dhal   Went on briefly to disappointing bar recommended by Lonely Planet and then to Sam's Bar with reggae band.  Back at hotel as thunder and sheet lightening have started.  Getting a bit late so will leave the story of ME and the swarthy one until tomorrow.

The butcher"s shop

Chemist shop

Jewellers shop