NYC...

Its been awhile since I've updated my blog - hopefully with better Internet and 24 hour power supply I should be better. I left Nepal on Monday evening - the trip to teh airport was in itself quite an adventure. The Newari community of the Kathmandu Valley had called a general Bhanda (strike) for the 1st of June. Apparently one year ago the Newari petition to the government to have the Newari language taught in schools and to have Newaris more involved int he leadership of the valley was rejected (the Newaris are the traditional inhabitants of the valley and are famous for their fantastic metal work skills and tired temples). The Newaris have now moved on to asking for the Kathmandu valley to be a semi-autonomous area run by a Newari government. This is one of the main sticking points in the Nepali constitution at the moment - part of the peace agreement is that he government should set up different administrative districts in Nepal but there is disagreement whether this should be done along ethnic lines or geographical lines. I suspect that geographical lines is the best option if Nepal is to be divided (although why such a small country needs to be divided is systematic of how far from cooperation the Nepali people have come) - the ethnic communities in Nepal are now so spread out (due in part to refugees from the Maoist conflict and in part from economic migration to teh Kathmandu Valley), that borders drawn on ethnic lines will mean that some ethnic groups are alienated in their adopted home... This doesn't look good for the future peace of Nepal! Anyway the general strike meant that all the roads, shops etc were closed (think burning tyres and young boys with guns and no brains!). I was left with two options - my personal favourite of walking the 40 minutes to teh airport and the schools favourite (driven by a desire to look after the volunteers) to carry my bag on the back of a motorbike and sneak round to the airport via the small roads... needless to say I lost the walking argument (they were worried that the quickest way to walk was on the main roads and they didn't want me to see the blockades) Oh well I eventually reached the airport and made it through to Abu Dhabi for a 12 hours stop over - very very boring!

Now I'm in New York -immigration that I'd been so worried about (horror stories abound in the back packing community) was easy. A case of how long are you here, what are you doing? Ok enjoy your trip! I reached my hostel at 6pm and set about exploring Broadway to try and keep myself awake for a couple of hours. I enjoyed my first hot shower in too long - I'd forgotten how nice it is to not have to brace yourself for a shower - ate bagels (yay!), drank some wine, had a hair cut (4 inches off and hair now looks acceptable again) and went to a beauty parlor for a facial to try and remove some of the ingrained dirt from Kathmandu.

Yesterday I went shopping - ok i should probably be more touristy and see the sights on the first day, especially as it is now pissing it down so i'm forced into a museum day today! But I'd run out of clothes - in my bag were two kurtors, sari material, wrap round trousers, 5 pashminias (presents), a Nepali flute (gift for me) and some Nepali hats (gifts for brothers)... however my bag only contained one pair of western style trousers and 2 western style t-shirts... Shopping completed (well at least to a passable level of clothes now) I looked round Times Square and ate more bagels (when in Rome).

Its been quite a culture shock (as expected). Mainly I am amazed a the sheer quantity of food on other, I have yet to get close to finishing a meal. Also I'm amazed by the number of obese people walking the streets. I suppose it is more evident after Kathmandu, where a serious number of the population suffer from malnutrition, but really...

Oh well today I go to the Met. and then hopefully the rain will have stopped! I need to walk only small distances as my feet are now unused to shoes and I have hideous blisters (but beautiful new shoes!)