Title for a new song

Soon will see you...

In . . . Kathmandu!

Leaving on a jet plane. . . Tuesday !

 Sandwiched between two giant neighbors of China and India, Nepal is a country where the living remains hard. Here, water resources have not been harvested, and Himalayan rivers run off the mountains bypassing any potential for electric generation or water delivery to homes. This state of affairs leave families in both urban and rural areas to rely on public water sources for washing and for drinking water. And, hauling what they can carry manually, in jugs, back to their homes.

We can't solve these problems, but we can help families by building homes with better living conditions. Not with running water, but houses where the roofs don't leak and the walls remain secure against cold and wind. This is our mission next week.

I'm sharing two photos taken on an earlier Habitat Build trip:

1. Right at sidewalk edge in Kathmandu, a public area for washing and laundry. (top pix) 

2. The iconic outhouse. Inside, a hole in the floor. Prepare to squat.

Kathmandu this week !

For the days preceding Habitat work, most of our team ihave booked themselves into the best-known guest house in the capital city's Thamel section. This popular area exudes energy with its busy and crowded streets. From the Kathmandu Guest House, it is easy to wander around on foot and explore. And when tired feet annoy, the inside courtyard and its restaurant are perfect for relaxing and enjoying some people watching. The roster of guests include backpacking trekkers, tourists from 'round the world, celebs, and Habitat folks. Even the Beatles once stayed here.

Here's a view of the entrance:

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Counting down . . .

The countdown clock on my IPhone says 4 days and 8+ hours until my departure. Some team members are already enroute, and the remaining will be leaving very close to the same schedule. We will see everyone in Nepal in less than one week.

I'm sharing an email from our friend in Kathmandu, Hira Dhamaia. He is a native son of the Himalayan Mountains and head of his firm, Karnali Excursions.

A HABITAT SHIRT AIRING OUT AFTER A LONG DAY ON THE TRAIL, 2010.

We have known Hira since 2010, when he organized a trek in the Annapurna region of the Himalayas for the time after that Habitat Build. Five days, trekking daily and staying each night at a tea house along the trail. Arduous, but extraordinary. Now, thanks to Donna for help in organizing this, he has once again put together some special touring for our team members on their first days in Nepal.

During the exchange of emails with James and Nancy, he wrote the following:
"Thank you for your message. I am happy that I could see both of your kind and gentle faces in Nepal soon."

The style of expression is very typical of the Nepalese. Thoughtful and caring. Nice... And, of course, we share his enthusiasm for greeting each other soon.

Bamboo

The manual is now available and has been distributed with details about the bamboo construction to be used for the 2014 Build. This material, plentiful in eastern Nepal, will be used for framing, walls, roof struts and more. In various diameters, the largest will make up the strong verticals and the smaller sizes will be used for weaving and filling in the house walls. To be found on the job site, many bundles of bamboo, like these below from the bamboo house we completed in 2010.
Photo by Nancy

Are we excited to arrive in Nepal?

ABSOLUTELY !!!

In less than three weeks our team will begin connecting in Kathmandu. Everyone's travel is so varied and different. Some of us are flying direct to Nepal and others are making time for early travel. For instance: ahead of our Build week, Manny and Norma will be touring in India, and Donna and Shenelle will be touring in Ireland during their many hours between flights.

In fact, even already a few are enroute:
David left on the 19th and will be traveling on a discovery tour in India before his time in Nepal.
Jim left earlier, on the 10th of October, flew to Bali, joined Ken's sailboat there and is heading west to Singapore, Malayasia and finally Thailand. He will fly from Phuket into Kathmandu.
And Ken, captain of his sailboat, Moonbeam, left U.S. months ago, in April. He is on a multi-year circumnavigation with the boat which he had left in NZ for a few months early this year. From NZ: the boat continued west, along the Australian coast, Indonesia, Bali and then on to Thailand. Leaving the boat once again for a few months in Phuket, Ken and Jim will fly together to Kathmandu.

<<  Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal, is very central to the country. Our time in country has us first in this city, and then after a short flight to the Chitwan region, building Habitat homes, in a village located near the "Royal Chitwan National Park".

Arriving in Kathmandu

Navigating The Kathmandu Airport

Pre Trip: We recommend team members obtain a Nepal Visa prior to leaving, although this can be handled at the airport. Fill in your purpose as a “tourist”.

Arrival in Kathmandu:
The Kathmandu airport is pretty straight forward, one long runway, two terminals, International and Domestic. The conditions have continually improved and no one should have any anxieties about arriving here.

After landing next to the International Terminal which is a low squat red brick building on the runway side everyone will deplane down steps to the tarmac. They to not have a jetway. There will be someone at the door of the building and it will be obvious where to go and everyone will be streaming inside.

Immigration:
Once inside follow the signs or line up to the immigration area. There are separate counters here for those with Visa’s and for those applying upon arrival. Most everyone here is experiencing that initial adrenaline rush of arriving, so the atmosphere might seem a bit chaotic.

If you don’t have a Visa, take your completed Visa application (downloaded from internet at home before the flight), Photo, Passport and either $25 or $40 to the counter and queue up for processing. Exact payment, clean currency only accepted.

If you have your Visa or when you have obtained it go to the counters by the doors, present your passport and immigration card, process through and continue on to claim you baggage.

There is a Forex currency exchange located at both arrival and departure that can be used. Exchange rate at the airport is not the best, it's better in town.

Baggage Claim:

(This area is a bit frenetic, remain calm, all will be good.)
With immigration completed go down the steps to re claim your luggage. There are moving carousels and also monitors indicating what belt your luggage should be on based on your flight. Be patient and your bag should in time appear, retrieve your bags and proceed towards the door.

At the door be prepared with your check luggage tags so they can be compared by the door agent and you allowed to leave the terminal. Depending on arrivals this will be an orderly queue or a wedge shape group trying to exit, all at the same time.

Nepal requires that people meeting arrivals maintain a set distance from the exit doors. Look for the HFH signs before moving out. Hold firmly to your bags as there are many touts who will grab them trying to lead you to a cab or gain a tip.

Late or Lost baggage situations:
Go to the baggage service Counter and file your claim. Nancy had this happen in 2010, coming through Mumbai after a long layover of 12 hours. She was directed to return the next day by cab. When she came back her bag was there. If you have travel insurance save the receipts from the cab, as this will most likely be reimbursed by travel insurance company.