Feeling very emo in the Doha airport right now. On top of emo I am just generally feeling pretty crazy because it’s 9:40 pm here, and 12:30 am in Nepal. I’m having my first latte in a month and trying my best to stay awake for my short 12 hour layover so that I can sleep on my last flight. I’ve heard lots of advice to commit to the time zone you’re headed to, so I’ll let everyone know how that goes for me. At least I’ve staked out a spot in the garden area of the airport so I can just pretend I’m laying in the park.
Things were all a blur after Holi, with only two days left in Janakpur to finish up my work, say my goodbyes, get in one last Zumba and dance class, etc. To make things better and worse, everyone was very sad to see me go and wanted me to stay longer. Era, especially, wanted me to stay another month so I could be there for her birthday. Unfortunately I think she’s still too young to understand that I do have things to get back to, although I’d be more than happy to stay longer if I didn’t have to foot the bill for changing my flight. I did tell everyone that I would come back and visit, perhaps when the new cancer center has been completed!
Although Era refused to say goodbye to me when I was actually seeing her for the last time, we went for dinner and dessert on Thursday night and it was nice to spend a little more time together. On Friday I had my last dinner with the Sah’s which was also sad, but they all woke up early on Saturday to have tea and breakfast with me before I had to get to the airport. Since they have a friend who works at the airport he was giving them live updates of when the plane would actually leave, so even though I was antsy to get there as the child of my anxious parents, they convinced me to stay longer and longer. I didn’t linger too long in the goodbye because I didn’t think I could handle actually processing anything then and there. Already trying to say goodbye to Gamala the day before left me in tears before I could even start to say thank you. I was planning to say goodbye to everyone at the cancer center in a meeting at the end of the day on Friday, but of course that was the one time there was an actual patient!! so the staff had to do their jobs and stuff instead. It was probably for the best because I truly had no idea how to convey just how grateful I was to have spent the last month there. I also promised Gamala I would send something to her to share with everyone, so all I have to do now is come up with what to say!! Though knowing me, I’m sure I’ll see them in person before I am able to collect my thoughts on the whole trip. What was even more sweet was that on my way home from my last dance class one of the doctors rode up to me on the street and pulled out a gift from everyone! I was so caught off guard, because first off I was so confused how he even found me, but secondly I couldn’t understand why they were giving ME something when the whole trip was filled with others doing things for me. I wanted to get something as a thank you for everyone, but the days got so busy at the end and I am historically a terrible gift giver. I settled on the fact that I wouldn’t be able to find something worthy and have made it my mission to find something in Seattle to send to everyone. I think it would also be nice to do that since they shared so much of their culture with me and I’d love to share a little sliver of mine with them. Clearly everyone was set on giving me things because the Zumba teacher made me some more art (he had previously given me some art, but made another painting for me which he gave me on my last day) and the Sah’s gave me a beautiful painted compact mirror. The paintings are especially meaningful because they are Mithila paintings which is a style specific to the region. Art is one of the most meaningful gifts to me (as an anti consumer), and over the last few years I have really come into my appreciation for art, so I just felt so honored.
By the time I made it to the airport, it was literally past the time the plane was supposed to leave, but definitely took another hour or so for it to leave. Thanks to my airport homie for saving me extra time sitting around. Also made me feel like such a local to know someone working at the airport. I tried to take this sly pic of everyone taking pictures with the plane before we got on. Clearly missed the people taking the picture, but on the left side you can see this sweet old man posing. I love when people do this. It’s so wholesome.
When I got back to Kathmandu it was honestly such a culture shock after living in Janakpur for so long. On my original trip, I did not see it as much of a city, but leaving the airport in a taxi, being surrounded by so many cars and buildings, I had the complete opposite thought. It was nice to recognize the area and be able to walk around more confidently than on my first days. Also since Kathmandu is a more touristy city, communicating was SO much easier. It’s crazy how much your perspective can change in such a short time. I really did get so used to living there without even realizing it. Definitely crazy to see white people again, and there were actually so many more tourists than there were the first time. I guess since the weather is getting nicer, trekking season had officially begun. It did make me feel better about myself because I felt like I knew my way around and also wasn’t so completely out of place. I also got to see Biru again!! We met up for lunch after I arrived and it was nice to catch up. After lunch he showed me the way to Swayambhunath, or monkey temple, as he called it. Though he didn’t come with me, it was nice that he walked me to a place where all I had to do was walk straight and then straight up! as the temple is at the top of a hill. I was hoping to see him once more before leaving since we didn’t officially say goodbye then, but unfortunately the timing didn’t work out on Sunday with his classes and my flight. The temple was BEAUTIFUL and the steep ass stairs were definitely worth it. Not only was the temple beautiful, but the view of the whole city below was breathtaking, especially on a day as sunny and nice as that one. Also there were monkeys!!! Guess I should have put two and two together considering he called it monkey temple, but to be honest the thought didn’t even cross my mind until there was one literally on the ground in front of me. Unfortunately in the touristy areas I am a big target and everyone was wanting me to buy things. If you know me, you know that I hate when I feel like I’m being sold something because I automatically assume it’s a scam, so I had to start ignoring people or I would never make it to the top. I hate being rude, since they always start by asking where I’m from, etc, but once you get into the conversation it’s even harder to leave. The downside to me ignoring everyone was that it included the guy at the ticket counter who chased me down after I completely walked by without paying. To be fair, I was expecting the tickets to be at the bottom of the stairs not at the top. And there were no signs. Safe to say when I went to Durbar Square the next day, I made sure to look for the ticket place so I didn’t embarrass myself again. I also did have to give in to the people beckoning me into their tourist shops because I wanted to buy some souvenirs for everyone. Biru offered to help me and take me to an area where it might be less touristy and thus cheaper, but I decided to just bite the bullet and embrace my inner (or in this case, outer) tourist.
Other things I did before leaving Kathmandu included having as many meals as possible and drinking as much chai as possible. When I had lunch with Biru, I let him take me somewhere, trusting he would have the local in. He did indeed, and we had some delicious momos. He warned me about the spice, but I braved it for the full experience. I also ate dinner and breakfast at the hotel which was fine. Dinner was great because eating by myself meant a whole order of naan just for me!! My favorite!! Also, even though I was still full from my breakfast and chai, I took myself to a final lunch at a place I had eyed the day before. I also wanted to go to that restaurant to get a picture of the 49th best club in the world!! I was bummed to be traveling solo because that meant I couldn’t check it out :/ If I had been staying in a hostel I would have definitely tried to meet some friends to go with, but this is just another reason for me to come back!
For the last meal I “splurged” (a whole $15) on the set menu, so I could have as many foods as possible, although that meant I didn’t have any room for one more chai after lunch. I am genuinely so thankful to have been able to eat so culturally throughout my trip, because I actually recognized so many things on the menus in Kathmandu. Hopefully I’ll be able to replicate some of the foods myself when I’m back. Maybe not for a few weeks since I could go for some diversity in cuisines again. I am also determined to make a decent chai for myself, and that I won’t need any break from.
Overall, am so glad I had the extra days in Kathmandu to explore more because although I was ready to get the traveling over with, I had so much fun having my tourist moment. Definitely makes me more confident in my solo traveling skills as well!
Fun read on your final days. Gotta say how HAPPY I am you are back 💕😘 so Mom of me.