Adventures of the day:

1. On the river  -we went river rafting on the Seti River, and it was FUN! Now we’re both addicted and want to do it again -but on kayaks, just the two of us. Now the raft was a gum boat(?) and we were 6 people.

2. In the sky  -paragliding! Imagine yourself flying in the sky -with a person who’s won some acrobatic champions and ownes the paragliding company.. Imagine yourself sitting in a comfortable swing 1600m up in the air, and the guy behind you asks: Let’s go say hi to Casper down there (paragliding with another master)? I nod. And suddenly we’re doing five vaults down… yuhuuuu! We’re addicted, again.

3. On the road  -the traffic of Nepal is literally crazy. The road between Pokhara and Kathmandu is filled with traffic, and this can be divided in two groups: the big ones and the small ones. The big ones are local buses, huge and heavy lorries. The small ones are the microbuses and the few cars and motorbikes. The rules are these: Don’t look -horn. Drive as fast as you can. If a small one is behind a big one, it should pass it, nomatter if there’s another car coming towards you. (The road is not wide, and there is a steep beside it.) On the way to Pokhara we joined the big ones -and threw up two days. Now we took a car back, and it was like heaven -dangerous heaven!

Hälsningar från Pokhara!

Att vara kvinna är bra

Hjärnan – Vänster och höger hjärnhalva fyller olika funktioner och alla använder olika mycket av sina båda halvor. Gemensamt för alla kvinnor är att vi har en bredare länk än männen mellan de båda halvorna vilket gör att de lättare kan samverka.

Gnng…SWISCH….oh!

Spending time with a man in Nepal can occasionally be rather entertaining.

Imagine -a young man who has been working his whole adultlife in the security sector -being a security guard, a bodyguard, a security planner, a vip securior, and everything you can imagine. He is a “typical man”. He likes cars and sport. He likes muscles. He likes fighting, guns, knives -and knowing how to use them. That’s masculine.

So, mix this with the country of Nepal. Nepal is known for their Gurkha-soldiers. The brutal, talanted Gurkha army fighting with their Khukri-knives. Once upon a time the warriors came from their Kingdom (nowadays district) “Gorkha” down to the Kingdom of Kathmandu, and executed the people there. Behind them they left piles of noses, ears and breasts. It was the Gurkhas, who founded the Kingdom of Nepal.

So, take now my fiance Casper, and a khukri knife. (so far, he’s bought 6 khukrin I think..)

Every time we come to the hotel, I sit down to relax or see my new shoppings or use the toilet, or something. And, meanwhile, Casper takes his khukri.

He takes his khukri, strokes it with his hand, and looks at it. Then, slowly, he starts to pull out the knife from its cover. Gnnnnng. The cover is well-fitting and oily, and then the knife, finally, comes out with a big SWISCH as he pulls it out with strenght and speed.

And, then, the glimps in his eyes, they shimmer with an Oh… as he looks at the knife, and puts it into the cover.

And does it again… gnng, swiscg, oh.. And again, and again.

I love him.

Finnish Fried Bananas ?

CASPER HAS ARRIVED TO NEPAL!!!! Finally. Finally he really is here.

The second day so far in Nepal together and we have enjoyed ourselves.
Picking up this handsome stranger from the airport was chocking… he is so big! Not kidding! I’ve gotten used to seeing the small and short nepalis. But now my real man is here.

We’ve tasted momos, tried the super-slow internet, seen my home in Nepal, had a Hanna-everydaylife-in Nepal -lunch,sunbathed on the roof in a burning sun, and tasted delicious nepali food (i.e. sizzler) at the hotel restaurant.. AND as dessert we asked for deep fried bananas…which resulted in Casper teaching the restaurant personnel how to make Chinese (or now obviously Finnish:P) deep fried bananas, and how to eat them with syrup and vanilla ice-cream! The waiter was deeply impressed, and now this new delicacy will appear on their menu, most probably.

We’re having fun! Don’t worry, we can have fun for your sake, too.

Sun, fresh orange juice, Nepal, two persons in love… could it be better?

So, the trek

As I told y’all -I would make a try to climb up to Annapurna Base Camp! Unfortunately, that never happened.

Halfway, I was sick throwing up and bending over cuz of aches, I had to stay in that village for 3 nights. Until I could move a bit.

You could think I’m dissapointed,  but I’m actually not. It was really lovely! I simply don’t understand people who go for a tre k because of the Base Camp! WHAT is the point?? That  you can take your picture up there and show to everybody? “I was there” -many trekkers I met were simply running. I loved to get a good “excuse”  to enjoy my NOW and  HERE, to suck in the views of the fields, villages, mountains. To see all the details, and talk to the farmers.

Say, I’m crazy but that’s my opinion. And I’m still having my stomach up side down… third week. Not too  funny.

Pictures later Fantastic views -I could move up there, if it wasn’t for fresh tomatoes and fruit.

Satasen laina..

Agh! Borjade nyss nynna po en song innan jag insog att det ar Nylon Beats urdaliga hit fran logstadietiden… satasen laina…  *nynnar irriterat po songen som sitter fast som limm*

Shivaratri, the birthday of Shiva

7th March 2008 / 14th Phalgung 2064

Dear diary, today it is the birthday of God Shiva. This day is called “shivaratri” which originally means The night of Shiva.

Shiva, who is the god of destruction and fecundity, is celebrated the whole night! The night that usually is the time of danger and crimes and sins -is now lighted by Shiva. The one who says Shiva’s name with devotion on this day, will be rinsed from all his sins.

So, to see a bit of the culture, I went today to Pashupati nath -the most important temple place in Nepal. This temple area (it is huge!) is dedicated to Lord Shiva.

A long time I walked around at the area, looking around as the sunset was beautifully lowering behind the mountains. People (or mostly the holy men) were smoking marijuana since this is the only day it is legal. It is a kind of sacrifice to Shiva.

There were thousands of people, Nepalis and pilgrims from abroad. They were going to the temple to receive their blessing. As I was standing by the Bagmati river, looking at the crowds making their way to the main temple, I started coughing because of the smoke. I had stood there for almost twenty minutes without noticing that I was actually standing in the smoke of burning humans.
I looked across the river. There were several burning funerals going on. Beside these funeral places, is a small temple. In that particular temple they used to burn living human beings on Shivaratri, as a sacrifice. And it was not so long ago.

“Nepal has stunned the world, itself”

“Nepal has stunned the world and skeptics at home by successfully holding the CA poll with strong participation by the people and the lowest incidence of violence compared to the past three general elections.
According to a preliminary estimate by the Election Commission (EC), the voter turnout in the election was over 60 percent. ” -main headline of today’s the Kathmandu Post.

It really seems like, to everybody’s surprise, that the polls are over and done with -peacefully!

“The day before”-thoughts

The main road of Kathmandu, New Road (like Mannerheimintie in Helsinki), is empty. I’ve never seen Thamel, the touristghetto of Kathmandu so empty, so stranded. I can actually walk without having at least 10 nepalis pushing around me, walk my own speed.

Which makes it easier to bump into people you know, i.e. my flatmate Caro and her lover Toby on a motorcycle. They warn me and tell rivals and problems are expected this afternoon in Kathmandu. “Don’t stay too long in Thamel, Hanna.”

AND I found myself thinking  -what would it feel like to be exploded into millions of small little pieces?
I’m satisfied with just guessing.