Where in the world is...NEPAL???

NEPAL

In May, one of my dearest friends mentioned that she was thinking about taking an adventure to Nepal in November.  "Cool!", I said and added, "Isn't that where the Dali Lama lived?"  (No, that would be Tibet.)  So, Nepal...Tibet.  What's the big difference, anyway?  A LOT, as I have learned over the last few months and as my geography has improved.  So how & why did Marilyn select Nepal?  Doesn't Portugal sound like more fun?

 

It all started with The Shady Ladies of Haywood County, NC, a quilting group.  This is  rather eclectic gathering of artisans who enjoy designing with fabrics. Do not even think "quilt" as your grandmother made.  These are works of art.  They are one-of-a-kind designs from the quirky minds of the "Ladies".  There are no patterns.  The second photo  is Marilyn's self-portrait, complete with her own hair!  What does this portrait tell you about my friend?  Look closely.




The brother of one of the "Ladies" does trek tours in Nepal and happened to mention to his sister that she & some of her friends might be interested in a real adventure for a change.  Try 18 days in Nepal, roughing it.  Now a trip to Nepal, unless you are just going to the capital, Kathmandu, gives new meaning to roughing it.  Everything you take must fit into a 30lb backpack and a daypack. TWO ITEMS of LUGGAGE!!!  OMG! I have that much stuff as carry-on when I fly. (Notice my name is not on the list of Nepal trekkers.  I think my sister's purse weighs almost 30lbs.) You must be in good physical condition considering the walking and increases in altitude.  This is not hiking on the Applachian Trail; that would be considered a stroll in the woods.  Four "Ladies" signed on for the adventure of a lifetime (ages 64-70) and thus began the planning.


The first thing on the agenda was inoculations.  There were twenty in all.  When a Polio vaccination is required to travel into a country, that should give you an idea of the living conditions.  Still our "Ladies" were not deterred. Visas & passports are required. Food will consist of teas and daal. Some teas are make from Yak butter, "butter tea". 

A domestic yak in Nepal   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yak

Daal is a mixture of lentils and rice, which is eaten with your hands.  Utensils are not acceptable in these outlying villages. I gave Marilyn 200 hand wipes that can be used twice.  Once for cleaning your hands/face and again for wiping "another" area.  All trash must be burned or carried back to Kathmandu for disposal.

Another requirement was that all participants in this group be willing to improve sanitation conditions by constructing a latrine in Chupar. OY!!

Even though this was not the adventure for me, spoiled princess that I am, I was fascinated and determined to learn more about this country where my friend would be visiting. The first thing was to find a book.  Sounds rather easy. Just get online; go to a bookstore or to the library.  How many books have been published about Nepal? Not many. When asking for assistance, it was suggested that I read about Tibet.  Sorry, I know the difference now! My first book was my favorite and I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a good read.  LITTLE PRINCES, by Conor Grennan  Next was the most obvious, good ol' Internet.  The two most interesting are the links below:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nepal

  http://www.lonelyplanet.com/nepal 

Do not miss this short video on bus travel in Nepal.

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/nepal/videos/the-bus-to-kathmandu$lptv_bus_to_kathmandu

Travel details:  How far is it from the Charlotte, NC airport to the Kathmandu, Nepal airport? about 8,012 miles.  The journey takes 34 hours.  Outbound will do a 14hr layover in Qatar and return will do a 14hr layover in Delhi, India. Exotic, absolutely.

The following images are from:
 http://www.lonelyplanet.com/nepal/images
 

Clouds and peaks, Temang, Nepal by Richard I'Anson

 

 

Buddhist Temple, Nepal by Carol Polich

Bodhnath Stupa in mist, Nepal by Richard I'Anson

Annapurna South and Hiunchuli, Nepal by Richard I'Anson

Kumari festival, Nepal by Jane Sweeney




From the guide, John, is the following description of their adventure in Nepal.  The group will be traveling from the Helambu Region to the Tamang Village of Chupar. Ascents will start at 4,200' and range upwards to 12,000'.  I am thinking oxygen??  cold??

Our journey will be a trek through the beautiful Helambu region of Nepal and will include a

project to improve sanitation in a rural hill village. We will head out of Kathmandu to begin a

classical 10-day trek that will take us through the heart of Helambu, the home of the Tamang

and Sherpa people, known for its lush rhododendron forests, alpine meadows, waterfalls,

 Buddhist monasteries and shrines, and soaring mountain views. Dramatic views of the  

 Himalaya are frequent along our trek -- there will even be the prospect of seeing the sun rise over a mountain panorama stretching from Annapurna in the west to Mt. Everest in the east. 

At the end of our teahouse trek, we will visit the Tamang village of Chupar, a 2-hour walk “off the beaten path” which almost never sees a foreigner. Our stay here will be a unique opportunity to experience life in a traditional Tamang hill village. We will camp in tents in Chupar and during our visit we will start the construction of a composting latrine for the family of Budu Rai. Budu’s parents and extended family live in the village. This will be her first trip back to Nepal since emigrating with her husband Uttam and their children to the U.S. almost 10 years ago.

We will be led by Uttam Rai, a very experienced trekking guide who is now a Nepali American

living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Uttam successfully guided many large trekking groups

throughout the Nepal Himalaya before moving to the U.S. He and his wife Budu will

accompany us on our entire Helambu trek.

Nice teahouses or trekking lodges are located every couple of hours or so along the main

trekking route through Helambu. We will walk from 4 to 6 hours a day, stopping for lunch in

teahouses along the trail. A few more hours of walking after lunch will take us to a teahouse

where we will have dinner and lodge for the night. Porters will carry our trekking gear in

duffles, leaving us free to carry only a light day-pack. No technical climbing or other special

abilities are required for this trip. During our visit to the village of Chupar, we will camp in tents and our food will be prepared by an experienced trekking cook and staff.

and just an F.Y.I:  Nepal is possibly the least flat country in the world!

Okay.  So now you have an idea of Marilyn's adventure.  She will be keeping a journal and taking pictures. Hopefully, I will be allowed to post these when she returns.  Bon Voyage, Marilyn, on Halloween!

Odie's Fan Club

My #1 fan, Mom!

Hay all you ODIE fans, stand up and clap your hands!!! Mom worked with cheerleaders at her last teaching gig and has all these cheesy sayings.  I kinda like this one since it is about me. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsZEeHqlI68&feature=related Do you like my "link"?  Those BIG BOYS are my idols.  I am a groupie for the beer horses.  I may be shorter but I think BIG, really BIG.  Alpha horse is the only way to be.

Cross Creek Stables, Mills River, NC  My barn is the best.  Check out those fans on every "room".  Room is the new "in" word for stall according to my dentist.

Last week was "Odie Fan Club" week at Cross Creek Stables, which means all the visitors were for me. Mom said if I kept doing MY blog, I might become "like so viral".  What??  (Odie, that means you will become well-known worldwide.  This could be awesome for Haflingers but more so for you.  Remember that cat, MARU, from Japan who is totally famous & even has a his own book? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C60_WTWaPfs   )
 Helllllooooo, Mom!  That cat is so stupid running into boxes that are too small.  Plez tell me that you don't watch that Maru show??? (I love cats, so of course, I watch Maru.  You like attention & fans.  Keep writing. Stop whining.)

Hay. I think Luke is my #2 fan at the barn.  He sorta looks like me in a really, really, really small version.  Reckon Luke would like to have his picture taken sitting on my back?  This could be like the barn mascot photo which would have horse owners begging to board at Cross Creek Stables.

My buddy, Luke, the Corgi.

  My first visitors were from my original club, C & M.  They are two little sisters who absolutely, positively, undeniably,clearly ADORE me. They run/scratch that/Aunt Janet does not allow running.  They hurry into the barn calling for me.  However, on the way to my ROOM, they are sidetracked by big Neli.  What is it about Neli that makes humans want to stop & drool.  I mean he is big, brown & has a black mane. So?  Just look at him and tell me who is cuter.

Neli

ME!

Why is that kid petting him?  She is here to see ME!

 Finally.  They manage to get to my room.  Come on, kids...pet me...give me a treat.  (Ooops.  Mom gives treats.)  Okay, so take me out of this room and brush me.   I need some serious attention.  Sorry, Aunt Janet.  Not like you have not spent the entire day  waiting on me....just need that little extra from the fans...ok?

Yeah, I like to have my feathers brushed.

Keep brushing. Why isn't your sister helping?

 NOOOOOO WAAAAY.  I am not going to put that muzzle on again today.  Forget it.  I wore it all morning and you are not...(Odie, enough already. Stop fidgeting.  This is your new muzzle.  Remember, you broke the old one; the one Palisander's owner gave you? This one is padded; won't rub your face. Winter is coming and then there will be no muzzle. This one looks good on you.) [I look stupid.  Can I have a carrot piece, plez?  Just to try out this contraption??]  Wow. Mom let the kids give me a treat.  Mom must be feeling really bad about making me wear this "thing".

Seems to be working with carrots.

Haffie love with the sisters:

    

 

WHOA!!  Hay.  This is Mom's sister.  She is a tad nervous around me, so Mom said I had to be on my best behavior. (Odie!  Be good! Sister is not a horse person but she likes to see you; thinks you are the cutest horse in the world and will pet you if you do not snort or push her. Think...carrots from Mom if this goes well...)

OKAY.  Like I am standing soooo still.  Is this good enough? Who is that dude on the other side with the shades on?  Why is your sister holding her glasses on my side?  Can you answer my questions, plez? ( Odie, this is not that complex.  You are standing just fine. I do not know why Sister is not wearing her glasses.  That dude with the shades is Sister's husband.  He thinks you are interesting; likes this barn and is asking Aunt Janet about horse stuff.  This is a good moment. You are earning carrots.)

NOOOOOOOO!  Not the muzzle of torture!  Your sister seemed so sweet, so little, so nice (maybe going too far now?) but no human is nice who condones "the muzzle".  (Odie, for crying out loud!!  I put the MUZZLE on you, not Sister.  Sister just happens to be standing beside you holding your lead rope and agrees with you that the muzzle must be terrible. Is she back in your fan club,now?  We are getting ready to take you to your pasture so you and Mars can spend the rest of the day playing.  Remember you can earn a carrot piece at turn-out.)  Whatever.

Sister likes Luke.

IS ANYONE READING MY BLOG??? (Odie)

Odie & the dentist

Me & Dr. Z...where are my feet going?

I should have known that this was not going to be a good day when Mars and I did not get turned out in our big pasture.  Okay, so I messed up my grazing muzzle but no reason to keep us inside. (no kidding...had to buy you a brand new one.) Mars said the docs must be coming since it was not bad weather.  So, what does that mean?  I have had all my shots. Do not need no docs.  Not just a doc but a dentist, one who works on your teeth.  Say, what!!?  Mars said to be quiet and watch.  I tried but the sound was so loud that I just looked out my window, hoping no one would notice me.

Ha!  Aunt Janet had called Mom to tell her I needed "work" on my teeth.  Plez. My teeth are fine.  I eat grass, well, sort of with this muzzle and I eat hay.  (Odie, you get plenty of grass and plenty of hay.  Haffies do not eat grain unless they are working hard.That would be like pulling a wagon or a plow.  You play.)  My teeth are doing great.  I cannot stand that high piercing noise much longer!

Oh, thanks for shutting that off. I was going a bit batty.  WAIT, who are you and why are you taking me out of my stall?  I don't know you.  You are a stranger.  Leave me alone. OUCH!!!! Did you just poke a needle in my neck? I hate, hate, hate needles!! That hurt.  Iz dat Mom in barn?  Mom, help! (Odie, you are fine just a tad dazed & woozy from the shot. I will be right here to protect you. Your teeth are very sharp & pointy where they should be smooth & round. You have bitten the inside of your cheeks with these sharp points.  Poor guy, I did not know you could have mouth sores like I do. Now relax.)  Easy for you to say.  Oops, mai feet iz going in all different ways.  iz i drunk? i wants to lie down for nap.  stop makin me hold up mai head; iz just too heavy.  u wants to put that in mai mouf??? mom!!!

Odie had his teeth "floated" with a power drill and a file. It was painful to watch Odie trying to regain his balance but he was not in danger of falling.  The shots relaxed him, really relaxed him, so that Dr. Z could work inside his mouth without the worry that Odie might bite him or move quickly.  The head set and "bumper" held Odie's head in place. The whole process took about an hour.  You can read about Dr. Z on the link & find out more about equine dentistry.  Horses should have a dental appointment once a year for good general health, just like humans go every six months or every two months to Dr. Roeder for my braces.

OHHH, my aching head!  iz over?  can i go to mai room? plez?? (Odie, you did fine but you are still a tad wobbly. You will be feeling perky in about an hour. Probably no pasture today.) Mai room, oops, missed that step into room. i iz starved after "operation" so where mai hay? (Well, Odie is certainly my horse.  I need food after any ordeal.)here iz wall... lean on it for nap...


Whew! What happened? Let's have some fresh air and then a bite of hay.  Ha! Ha!  That doc thought he had removed all my hay...there are still some choice pieces.  Hmmm...a bit sore in the mouth but chewing hay will help.  MOM!!!  Aunt Janet!!!  I want to go outside to play. NOW!!


See photos of this awful event. (ODIE...be nice. All horses and humans need to visit the dentist.)  WHATEVER!  Let me outside,plez.

trying to cross my legs & still stand

 

 

 

 

extreme instruments of torture

wait, dat iz a lot in mai mouf

 

 

 

mai mouf iz open, wide!             

lean on mai wall

whew! fresh air.  hey, would someone get that yellow ick off my mouth?

Odie and the muzzle

            Here I am in my new pasture, totally ignoring Mom.    

 'K...things are pretty cool at Cross Creek with Aunt Janet.  Can you believe the size of my pasture?  Well, I do have to share it with my buddy, Mars.  There is so much grass and so much room to run and to roll.  Nothing feels better than a good roll in the grass on a sunny day.  Mars and I get to be in our pasture almost all day, until suppertime.


Now, Aunt Janet decided that I needed this black thing on my nose and mouth.  Mom said it was a grazing muzzle and would keep me from overeating & getting really sick.  PLEZZ!  Eating lots of grass is what horses do.  Whoever heard of grass making a horse sick?? I decided to ask Mars about that.  Mars told me that he had gotten so very sick from eating too much grass that he thought he might die from the pain.  His belly hurt and his feet hurt and all the shots and treatments were terrible. I asked him what this "sick" was called and he said colic.  The other two horses in the barn told me that colic is the worst thing ever;  they had surgery for it.

Yep, I had been rolling and rubbing my face in the hopes I could remove this thing.

Not my best look but you get the idea of "muzzle".

 

So I will wear this muzzle thing and be glad that my humans care about my health.  It is not cute.  I cannot get hunks of grass in my mouth but I can get carrot pieces from my humans!

Mom told me that my muzzle was a gift from another boarder.  Her incredible Hanoverian, Palisander, had worn it when he lived at Cross Creek. Palisander was a great and famous dressage horse, who spent nine years at Cross Creek. Palisander died last year;  there a monument to honor him near the barn.


Knowing all this makes it better to be wearing my muzzle.  Did I mention that Aunt Janet gave me one of her leather halters?  It is comfortable and fits perfectly.  Mom sold her leather halter.  Guess she figured I would not need it. (Odie, you have a leather trail halter/bridle, a rope halter, a bath halter...stop sounding pitiful.  Now you have a leather pasture halter.  Be nice.)

ALL RIGHT!  I get the message...I am such a lucky horse!!  (Yes, you do not even know how lucky you are.)

Mom still cannot ride me for that nasty bite on my back.  She takes me for long walks to show me where I live.  On our walk, she told me that my favorite "fans" were coming to visit me this week.  C & M are the sweetest little girls. They love to pet & brush me. Hope Mom takes some good, new pictures of my fan club.  Here are some from March when my mane was still growing.