Namaste from Nepal!

I'm here!  It only took two days and many flights, but I made it.

I left LA on Mon at 2pm and arrived in Kathmandu on Weds at 2pm.
Here was my journey: 3 hour wait at LAX, 12 hour flight from LA to Tokyo, 2 hour wait in Tokyo, 7 hour flight to Singapore, 8 hour wait in Singapore, followed by a 4 hour flight that brought me to Kathmandu.

I LOVE Singapore Airlines.  Everyone said it was great, and they were right.  Even in the sardine class it was good.  I was greeted with hot towels, and unlimited movies/tv, and best of all, I had an aisle seat with no on next to me the whole way there!
I finally got to see End of Watch, which my friend Babette worked as the script supervisor.  Edgy, has an indy feel, but somewhat of a tearjerker (amid all the graphic violence).  Way to go Babette!
The other great thing is that I was able to get lots of kosher snacks on the plane including Hagen Daz Ice Cream, and Hershey bars (they went directly into my bag for a treat here in Nepal).

I didn't sleep much on the first flight, and only got a few hours of sleep from Tokyo to Singapore, so in Singapore I checked into a transit hotel.  What a great idea.  Travel in other countries is so much more conducive then in America (at times).  However, I was shocked at the prices, but the promise of sleeping on a bed and showering without having to clear customs and go to a hotel was great.  Definitely worth it!

The flight from Singapore to Kathmandu was on a smaller airline, Silk, a subsidiary of Singapore Air.  Not as nice, but OK until meal time.  Then I learned that there was no kosher meal, and if there had been, it would have only been in first class!  Hmm, so many thoughts about that....what kind of political statement is that?  Jews only travel first class (stereotype), while my neighbor was able to get a Hindu meal (what does that consist of?  How is that different from a vegetarian meal?)  I'm still composing a letter to Silk in my head.  Anyway, that is why, Mr. TSA agent, I carry my own lunch! (see previous post)

The flight was really turbulent and I am very thankful that I did not need the airsick bag!

On arrival I was met by the travel agency rep and taken to my hotel.

Kathmandu looks less developed, in some ways, than some of the places I saw in Africa.  My heart sped up as the taxi driver turned onto a side street in a definite slum area, and I was really afraid they were going to stop at my hotel there.  Thankfully, the kept going!
Here's a tip for being a passenger in a car in Kathmandu: look out the side windows and take in the sites.  Do not, under any circumstances, look out the front.  This way you can avoid the heart stopping views of near head on collisions that happen frequently as you're driving.  Also, being a pedestrian is an act of bravery.  There are no sidewalks, so you are sharing the very small space next to the cars as you get around the city.

My hotel is in a very touristy area called Thamel.  Definitely just 3 stars.

Electricity is scarce, as there are major fuel shortages, so all of Nepal is on a rationing system which creates 16-20 hours a day of no electricity!  The times vary by day of the week.  My hotel has a back up generator, but that only meant that the bathroom light worked during the shut off hours.  I have a feeling my grandiose plans of using my rice cooker to make dinner anywhere outside of Kathmandu are just that, grandiose plans!

What my hotel lacks in luxury (which is a lot!) it makes up for in convenience, as it's across from the Chabad House.

I made my way over there last night was was thrilled to discover that they make Nepali food, not just Israeli food.  Food is the cheapest thing in Neapl.  I had a dinner of Dat Bahtl (I think that was the name: chicken/onions/seasonings with rice) served with lentil soup.  It cost about $1.50!  No Kidding!  I also ordered an appetizer of Chicken Momos (I had read about them and was so excited to be able to order them- stuffed dumplings), but they took a looong time to make, so I took them back to the hotel as a midnight snack.  I also made a reservation for meals for shabbos, and ordered lunch to take-away for today.  All of that came to about $15 usd!
I also met a really interesting couple last night...

I was alone at first, and a guy walked in and said "Shalom".  He was very tall, broad and dark, and not wearing a kippa, so I thought maybe he was a Sefardi Jew from Yemen, but he also looked sort of African-American.  Turns out he is a religious Muslim from Bangladesh and keeps Hallal, so eats kosher at the Chabad house.  He lives here now, but has lived all over the world, including Silver Spring, MD.  His father was the Bangladesh Amassador.  He grew up surrounded by Jews, which is ironic, since his passport says that this passport is valid for any country except Israel.  Bangladesh, being a part of the UAC, does not recognize Israel, and for that, they are given $600 million dollars a year by Islamic countries.  He explained to me that Bangladesh is a Muslim country, but not an Islamic one.  He was so interesting to talk to.
Then I met his wife, who is Swiss, and a tiny, Caucasian thing (next to his at least 6'5 dark frame they make an interesting couple).  Turns out she is a psychologist who came here as a tourist, felt so bad for the street children that she moved here and started an NGO to get them off the streets.  Many are addicted to glue.  We spent some time talking about what it's like working with kids like that, and there were so many similarities to the kids I've worked with.  I'm looking forward to spending more time with them on Shabbos (he comes every shabbos, and she will come to hang out with me!)

Well, that was my first night.  I'm off now to another city with amazing views, and will write about that when I can.

Namaste,
Robyn

Hello from Singapore!

Just a quick hello as I traverse the VERY large airport in Singapore.  I'm 2/3's of the way there, having stopped in Tokyo last night before landing here in Singapore.

I've never been the type of girl who rents hotel rooms by the hour, but let me tell you, it's expensive!  But worth it!  There's a transit hotel in the airport and you can sleep/shower, etc for the low, low price of $75 for 6 hours. 

I was lucky that when I arrived at 3am last night all the stores were closed.  Unfortunately, they are open now, so I feel the pull...

More to come, but let me just say, that I think future overseas vacations will be determined by where Singapore Airline flies, it's great, even in coach.

Talk to you all later,
Robyn

Bon Voyage!

Ok here I go!  Off to Nepal today.

In keeping with my typical last minute packing, i discovered last night that I could not find my camera battery charger so the ride to the airport involved a detour to sammy's camera in culver city (after my trip to the fairfax store was a bust).

Thankfully there was no line to speak of either to check in or at security. However, no trip is complete without tsa rifiling through my bags. This time the tsa guy wanted to know why I was not only bringing my own lunch (has he ever eaten airplane food????) but also so much other food. This led to a discussion about Judy's doing the catering for singapore air and I happen to be friends with "judy" who is now her son allen. He then tested my bag for something nefarious and I asked if he was afraid of exploding pudding cups.

Flying internationally allows me to shop duty free and I scored two mac lipglosses minus the tax :)

Now the waiting begins. It's mon and I'll be in nepal on wed. Wish me luck!
Robyn

Nepal or bust!

Hello Again!
It's been quite a while since I've posted on the blog, but since Hiking Boots in the city are pretty unnecessary, you can understand why.

Now I'm getting ready for a trip to Nepal.  No, I won't be climbing Mt. Everest.  The closest I will get is an airplane ride designed to show you the Himalayas and hopefully allow you to get some good pictures.

As I get ready for the trip here are just some musings:
Things I learned from my last trip- pack for all kinds of weather!  I froze!!!! in Africa, so while the temps are reported to range from the 50's to the 70's depending on where in Nepal I'll be, I'm packing fleece lined tights and a boiled wool sweater/jacket just in case!

This, again, will not be a gourmet trip, so here are the yummy things I have to look forward to:
Salami sticks (my heart almost stopped when I went to Jeff's tonight and they said they are no longer "allowed by law" to make dried salami!  Thankfully they are making salami sticks.  I have no idea what the difference is, but I bought them anyway).
Since I will supposedly have electricity (according to Lonely Planet, the electricity can go out in Kathmandu for up to 16 hours a day, and who knows if my three star budget hotel will have a back up generator) I'm bringing a rice cooker.  I plan to make my famous couscous/veggie crumble mix (although this time it will be with quinoa and/or rice).  I also found boxed tofu that doesn't need a fridge so yes, a few boxes are going with me.
PB&J
Tuna- again, what I learned from the last trip.  Tuna with flavors in foil pouches are gross!!!!  So with experience comes knowledge- I found mayo packets at smart and final and will be mixing the non-flavored tuna in a pouch with mayo this time.  Hopefully it will be edible.
For a treat I found pudding packs.  Having just watched a rerun of Sex and the City, the movie, the other night, I hope I will not pull a Charlotte!
Almonds and raisins.  I am making my own little snack packs.
Cliff bars- ever so trusty!

I am looking forward to getting dinners at the Chabad in Kathmandu, but was sad to learn that the branch in Pokhara will not be open until Purim (end of Feb), as that's when the "tourist" season starts, according to them.  That meant getting grape juice boxes again, so back to Trader Joe's I went...

I am now almost set for my trip, just a few more things to get then I'll pack.  Wish me luck, as this time I"m doing it all on my own...

As a final note, I purchased travel insurance tonight and learned that it covers flying a person to be my companion should I, gd forbid, be hospitalized (since I'm traveling alone.  If I had a companion already with me, then they would just cover them to stay).  So, who, in the hopefully unlikely case I'll need it, wants a free trip to Nepal to be my nursemaid?  I'm taking applications now :)

That's all for tonight, just getting back into the blog.
I hope you'll all join me on my adventure!
Robyn