Days 28-29

Days 28-29 (March 28-29)

On day 28 we awoke to our final morning in Nagarkot. We had breakfast and then cleaned out our room and packed. When finished, we talked one last time with all the people here at the house. Our driver came to pick us up and we sadly waved ‘Good-Bye’ to our new friends.

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Our next stop was a pashmina factory in Bhagtapour. The owner met us and showed us around his small factory. The people there were working so very hard. All that’s done by machines in the West is done by hand here. They had 2 big looms that were operated by 2 guys. They did repetitive movements all day long. After the factory visit, he took us to his store to show us the finished products. We talked to him about buying his products from Nepal to sell in the US so we could return the profits to Nepal where they can be used to support the people here.

At 1 pm, we met Sonam and his aunt and uncle at one of the hotels for lunch. We had an engaging conversation with them. Sonam’s uncle talked about his businesses of selling to the world Nepali carpets, jewelry, pashmina products and Tibetan wood carvings. We were so intrigued that we went back with them to their house where we were shown some incredible pieces of art. He is also interested in our project. His website is: www.mustangcph.com.

Today we learned that the smog has gotten so unbearable that the government had issued a warning that everyone should wear masks in Kathmandu. Apparently some of this polluted air is coming in from Rajastaan, India. At the end of our visit with Sonam’s family, the sky turned a grey, yellowish light and a big storm came in. After it rained, the air felt much cleaner – what a relief to be able to breathe.

Back at Aparna’s house, we had our friend Raj waiting for us, as well as Sita, Prabhat, and a friend of Sita’s, who is a journalist/lawyer/judge. We said our ‘good-byes’ and then used the rest of the evening to wash up and start packing for the trip home.

  

Day 29: We are going home today at 5:35 pm and fly to Doha where we will spend the night. The flight is 5 and half hours but since Doha’s time zone is two hours and forty-five minutes behind Kathmandu’s, we arrive around 8 pm Doha time. We then leave at 8 am on Wednesday morning and fly 16 hours to Dallas.

This has been an amazing trip where we have met so many wonderful people whom we now consider life-long friends! What a blessing to be able to share love with those who are from a very different culture. We have found, though, that we always get more than we give in these beautiful encounters where the infinite is shared between and among those in this world. Nomenclature (the use of names for things) becomes irrelevant when love is the medium of exchange. Further proof that love is the only solution to our problems in this world.  

Good-bye at the airport. Some of our friends took us there for a last farewell - until we meet again!

Well - we had a little surprise waiting for us on the plane. Conrad had told me, that we might be able to see the mountains if we would sit on the right side of the plane. Well, we were placed on the left. However, soon there was a mix-up. Two other passengers were assigned the same seat as we. To our surprise, the flight attendant asked us to get up and follow her and placed us in business class (sweet!!) - on the right side. Here are some pics of these amazing Himalayan mountains, that we had not really being able to see, from above the smog.