Saturday, January 29, 2011
10k
Ran my 10k today (London's Run) and did pretty well. I ended up running it in just over an hour. It was right at 10:07 per miles, which was right near my goal (10 minute miles). I felt really good when it was over, so no complaints.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Maybe next year...
So I get emails from REI periodically about what is going on here in Phoenix. Something this week caught my eye. It was the Scavenger Dash. It's basically an amazing race for a day in your local city. I think that not only would it be tons of fun and probably a cool way to discover your city. Each team of two is given different clues for tasks that they have to do and complete to "finish" the race. Unfortunately I already have stuff going on this weekend (running a 10K), but I'll definitely have to keep this in mind for next year. You should check out if there is one close to you and let me know how it goes.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Hong Kong Layover Round 2
So on the way back home we had another layover in Hong Kong. This time we actually had a little more time, so we ventured into the city. There are so many building in Hong Kong it's kind of crazy. 
In the morning we took a cable car up to the Peak. It's probably the best view of Hong Kong that we could have gotten. 
After riding back down the hill we wondered down to the Hong Kong park. It is a park that is located in the middle of the city. It's kind of cool to be at the park in the middle of a huge city and not feel like you're in the city any more. First thing to note was the drastic difference between Hong Kong and Kathmandu. These signs that were posted around the city are the best way to describe the most noticeable difference.
Just down from this sign we saw a worker cleaning off the handrail, so I'm sure that the railing is probably disinfected 4 times a day. The first place that we went to in the park was the aviary. There were a whole bunch of really pretty birds to take pictures of.
From the aviary we wondered through the Tai Chi Garden, past the Olympic Square to the Conservatory. The Conservatory had a humid plant house and a dry plant house. I was definitely more comfortable in the dry plant house. Even got to see some familiar plant. 
After the Conservatory we wondered down past the artificial waterfall to the artificial lake. My favorite part about the lake was all the turtles that were floating in the water and basking in the sunlight. 
After the lake we wondered past the foot message path to the Museum devoted to tea. It was kind of interesting. My favorite part about the museum was all of the ceramic tea sets that were on display. We were able to spend lots of time just enjoy the park. Eventually we headed over to the other side of Hong Kong harbor to grab something to eat, but to get ready for the Symphony of Lights. 
It is the light show along the harbor that includes more than 40 buildings. The lights are coordinated to music. It was kind of cool to watch. Good way to end our day and our trip. The flight back to San Francisco was uneventful and it brought the end of another fabulous adventure.
Well now I've finally caught up with all my adventures to Nepal. I'm sure you've probably seen enough pictures, but if you are interested in seeing more check them out here.
In the morning we took a cable car up to the Peak. It's probably the best view of Hong Kong that we could have gotten. 
After riding back down the hill we wondered down to the Hong Kong park. It is a park that is located in the middle of the city. It's kind of cool to be at the park in the middle of a huge city and not feel like you're in the city any more. First thing to note was the drastic difference between Hong Kong and Kathmandu. These signs that were posted around the city are the best way to describe the most noticeable difference.
Just down from this sign we saw a worker cleaning off the handrail, so I'm sure that the railing is probably disinfected 4 times a day. The first place that we went to in the park was the aviary. There were a whole bunch of really pretty birds to take pictures of.
From the aviary we wondered through the Tai Chi Garden, past the Olympic Square to the Conservatory. The Conservatory had a humid plant house and a dry plant house. I was definitely more comfortable in the dry plant house. Even got to see some familiar plant. 
After the Conservatory we wondered down past the artificial waterfall to the artificial lake. My favorite part about the lake was all the turtles that were floating in the water and basking in the sunlight. 
After the lake we wondered past the foot message path to the Museum devoted to tea. It was kind of interesting. My favorite part about the museum was all of the ceramic tea sets that were on display. We were able to spend lots of time just enjoy the park. Eventually we headed over to the other side of Hong Kong harbor to grab something to eat, but to get ready for the Symphony of Lights. 
It is the light show along the harbor that includes more than 40 buildings. The lights are coordinated to music. It was kind of cool to watch. Good way to end our day and our trip. The flight back to San Francisco was uneventful and it brought the end of another fabulous adventure.Well now I've finally caught up with all my adventures to Nepal. I'm sure you've probably seen enough pictures, but if you are interested in seeing more check them out here.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Mount Everest
The last morning in Kathmandu we woke up early to head out to the airport. You can't go to Nepal without seeing Mount Everest. We decided that the best way for us to see Mount Everest was to take an Everest flight. Basically we went up in a little plane, maybe 30 passengers. They only filled the window seats. 
On the the way up one side of the plane got to enjoy the view of the mountains, on the way back the other side of the plane got to enjoy it. 
We even got the opportunity during the flight to walk up to the cockpit and see the view of Mount Everest from there. 
It was kind of cool to see the cockpit of a plane. When we were done with flight we even got a certificate stating that we had taken the Everest flight. It was a cool experience and a great way to see Mount Everest.
It was a good way to end the trip in Nepal. I feel like I'd seen so many different areas of Nepal and experienced so many different things.
On the the way up one side of the plane got to enjoy the view of the mountains, on the way back the other side of the plane got to enjoy it. 
We even got the opportunity during the flight to walk up to the cockpit and see the view of Mount Everest from there. 
It was kind of cool to see the cockpit of a plane. When we were done with flight we even got a certificate stating that we had taken the Everest flight. It was a cool experience and a great way to see Mount Everest.
It was a good way to end the trip in Nepal. I feel like I'd seen so many different areas of Nepal and experienced so many different things.
Happy Birthday to Me :)
So since I spent most of my birthday driving the road in Nepal. We decided to go out for pizza for my birthday dinner. I got a cheese pizza with green peppers and my sister got a pizza with potatoes. They were good and a nice change from the typically Nepal food, although I will admit that it didn't taste like American pizza. Still a good way to spent my birthday.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Chitwan National Park- Day 3
The next morning we woke up and headed over to the elephant breeding center. It was kind of cool. The center in Nepal has twins elephants. 
They were so cute. Little elephants are still so large. At one point one of the little babies walked up to us so we got to touch it. 
After the elephant breeding center is was back to the hotel to back our bags so we could head back to Kathmandu. Before we left we had to take a picture with our tour guide. 
When we signed up for the tour package I just assumed there would be a large amount of tourists that they take to all the different activities, but it actually wasn't. We had a personal tour guide for all the activities. It was kind of fun, because he knew a ton about the area and we could ask him all sorts of questions. The bus ride back to Kathmandu was uneventful. Glad to know that we wouldn't be riding on that road any more though. The roads in Nepal could definitely use an engineer or two.
They were so cute. Little elephants are still so large. At one point one of the little babies walked up to us so we got to touch it. 
After the elephant breeding center is was back to the hotel to back our bags so we could head back to Kathmandu. Before we left we had to take a picture with our tour guide. 
When we signed up for the tour package I just assumed there would be a large amount of tourists that they take to all the different activities, but it actually wasn't. We had a personal tour guide for all the activities. It was kind of fun, because he knew a ton about the area and we could ask him all sorts of questions. The bus ride back to Kathmandu was uneventful. Glad to know that we wouldn't be riding on that road any more though. The roads in Nepal could definitely use an engineer or two.
Chitwan National Park- Day 2
The next morning we woke up early and went on a dugout canoe ride down the Rapti River. The river is the boundary between the Tharu village and the national park. The river was beautiful in the morning with the mist slowly rising off of the river. 
There was something almost mysterious about the view. We saw so many animals as we were floating down the river. 
Some of which I was really happy to be seeing from the boat and not closer. 
At one point the boat dropped Melissa, our tour guide and I off on the other side of the Rapti River (in the National Park). We got to go for a nice little walk through the jungle. Before we started our jungle walk our tour guide gave us the guidelines of what to do if we ran into any animals in the jungle. It was kind of funny to hear. It did make me a little nervous about running into any of the animals. Fortunately we didn't need to use any of the procedures. The walk through the jungle was really cool. It was beautiful and still so wild. 
There were monkeys, wild boars, birds, and deer. There are two different areas of the jungle. There is the forest area that has trees, and than the grass lands that are covered in elephant grass. 
Elephant grass is really tall, I think that it actually could hide an elephant. After our walk through the jungle we went to watch the the elephant be washed in the river. 
It was kind of interesting to see how the elephant riders had such control over the elephants they rode. Elephants are just such powerful animals. The last activity for the day was probably one of my most favorite. We got to go for a elephant back safari ride. 
There were four people in the basket on top of the elephant. It was a little tight, but still an adventure. It was really only uncomfortable when the elephants were racing back at the end. We saw some pretty cool things on our safari, but by far the best was the baby rhino and mother rhino. 
It was so cool to see the rhinos and to ride on the back of the elephant. Nothing like seeing the wild jungle from the back of a huge elephant.
There was something almost mysterious about the view. We saw so many animals as we were floating down the river. 
Some of which I was really happy to be seeing from the boat and not closer. 
At one point the boat dropped Melissa, our tour guide and I off on the other side of the Rapti River (in the National Park). We got to go for a nice little walk through the jungle. Before we started our jungle walk our tour guide gave us the guidelines of what to do if we ran into any animals in the jungle. It was kind of funny to hear. It did make me a little nervous about running into any of the animals. Fortunately we didn't need to use any of the procedures. The walk through the jungle was really cool. It was beautiful and still so wild. 
There were monkeys, wild boars, birds, and deer. There are two different areas of the jungle. There is the forest area that has trees, and than the grass lands that are covered in elephant grass. 
Elephant grass is really tall, I think that it actually could hide an elephant. After our walk through the jungle we went to watch the the elephant be washed in the river. 
It was kind of interesting to see how the elephant riders had such control over the elephants they rode. Elephants are just such powerful animals. The last activity for the day was probably one of my most favorite. We got to go for a elephant back safari ride. 
There were four people in the basket on top of the elephant. It was a little tight, but still an adventure. It was really only uncomfortable when the elephants were racing back at the end. We saw some pretty cool things on our safari, but by far the best was the baby rhino and mother rhino. 
It was so cool to see the rhinos and to ride on the back of the elephant. Nothing like seeing the wild jungle from the back of a huge elephant.
Chitwan National Park
After splitting from the SHe group Melissa and I decided to spend a little time seeing some other parts of Nepal. We decided that heading down to Chitwan National Park would be a good option. before we left the US I had tracked down a hotel in Chitwan that had a 3 day- 2 night package to Chitwan. So the night we got back to Kathmandu I called the company to make sure that they would be able to pick us up the following morning. When I did, I discovered that the reservations that I thought I had made weren't actually made. So Melissa and I found ourselves without a place to stay, which meant we would be spending more time in Kathmandu which neither of us were terribly excited about. Thanks to the advice of a group that had spent a few days before the trip in Chitwan we found a place to stay. We ended up getting on a bus the next day out to Chitwan National Park. When we got to the bus stop in Chitwan our tour guide from the Jungle Safari Lodge came to pick us up. 
We had been able to book a 3 day- 2 night package with the Jungle Safari Lodge. I think most of the packages that go to Chitwan National Park are similar. When we got there we go the opportunity to rest and relax before we went out. The first day we got to have a walk around the Tharu village. The Tharu people are the native people of Chitwan. We also got to watch the sun set from the banks of the Rapti River. 
It was beautiful to watch the sun set over the river. It was not only fun to watch the sun set over the river and relax, but it was kind of cool to watch the dugout canoes float up and down the river. 
It was a nice way to end the day. Later that night we went to watch the Tharu cultural dance presentation. It was cool because most of the dances were stick dances. Unfortunately it was so dark in the room that is was hard to take pictures. Overall it was a nice relaxing change from the work we had been doing previously.
We had been able to book a 3 day- 2 night package with the Jungle Safari Lodge. I think most of the packages that go to Chitwan National Park are similar. When we got there we go the opportunity to rest and relax before we went out. The first day we got to have a walk around the Tharu village. The Tharu people are the native people of Chitwan. We also got to watch the sun set from the banks of the Rapti River. 
It was beautiful to watch the sun set over the river. It was not only fun to watch the sun set over the river and relax, but it was kind of cool to watch the dugout canoes float up and down the river. 
It was a nice way to end the day. Later that night we went to watch the Tharu cultural dance presentation. It was cool because most of the dances were stick dances. Unfortunately it was so dark in the room that is was hard to take pictures. Overall it was a nice relaxing change from the work we had been doing previously.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Kathmandu and Saying Goodbye
So after another day of painting the school in Turlung and finishing up construction in Duradanda it was time to say goodbye to our friends in Duradanda. It was kind of a sad day, we had gotten so comfortable with the people in the village and they probably got really comfortable with us. Of course we couldn't leave without our prayer scarfs and tikkas. 
There were so many things that I still could have learned had I been able to stay. We made our way back down the roads with no bus problems this time. We stayed the night in the Riverside Spring Resort and were off in the morning back to Kathmandu. We got to back to Kathmandu to a huge festival going on in the streets of Kathmandu for Devali. The crowds were so bad that we had to walk down the street with our luggage to our hotel. It was a little crazy cause the streets were so crowded, but we all made it. After getting settled into the hotel we all how a few hours to spend in Kathmandu. We found a really work of art in the middle of the road. The piece of art is made of mostly rice and seeds. 
It's pretty amazing what can be done with a little bit of patience. The last thing that we did with the group was get together for a traditional Nepali meal. We sat on cushions on the floor and watched traditional dances periodically through the meal. 
It was a fun to have one last night with the group all together. I have met some amazing people on the trip and I loved all the SHe and Choice staff. They are great people who showed me that with a little bit of work we change make a difference in the world. I'm so glad for their examples. 
Actually that being said I'm so glad for the wonderful experience that the trip to Nepal has been in my life. Not only did I have the opportunity to experience a new place (Nepal), new people (the Nepali and the group with SHe), but my heart was opened to loving and serving people who only loved and served me back. It was a fabulous adventure that I will not be forgetting any time soon.
There were so many things that I still could have learned had I been able to stay. We made our way back down the roads with no bus problems this time. We stayed the night in the Riverside Spring Resort and were off in the morning back to Kathmandu. We got to back to Kathmandu to a huge festival going on in the streets of Kathmandu for Devali. The crowds were so bad that we had to walk down the street with our luggage to our hotel. It was a little crazy cause the streets were so crowded, but we all made it. After getting settled into the hotel we all how a few hours to spend in Kathmandu. We found a really work of art in the middle of the road. The piece of art is made of mostly rice and seeds. 
It's pretty amazing what can be done with a little bit of patience. The last thing that we did with the group was get together for a traditional Nepali meal. We sat on cushions on the floor and watched traditional dances periodically through the meal. 
It was a fun to have one last night with the group all together. I have met some amazing people on the trip and I loved all the SHe and Choice staff. They are great people who showed me that with a little bit of work we change make a difference in the world. I'm so glad for their examples. 
Actually that being said I'm so glad for the wonderful experience that the trip to Nepal has been in my life. Not only did I have the opportunity to experience a new place (Nepal), new people (the Nepali and the group with SHe), but my heart was opened to loving and serving people who only loved and served me back. It was a fabulous adventure that I will not be forgetting any time soon.
Christmas Jars
Since I'm still behind with everything else I figured it wouldn't hurt to do the book here than get back to Nepal. We read the book "Christmas Jars" by Jason F. Wright for our December Relief Society book club. The book was a pretty easy read and had an amazing message. It was a message of hope and the miracle that we can be in each others lives when we are aware of those around us. It gave me the desire to be more aware of the things that I can do to be the answer to someone else's prayer.
Nepali Strong
So Nepali strong is something we talked about while working on the construction site. The Nepali people are strong physically and emotionally. One of my favorite people that I met on the trip was the local Nepali contact, Bishnu Adhikari. We probably got along so well since we have something in common, we are both Civil Engineers. He to me is the epitome of Nepali strong. He works hard to promote development and growth in his home country of Nepal. It left me with the desire to do something better with my life. Thanks for your wonderful example Bishnu. You not only bring the Nepali people hope, but you brought hope to me of how a world can change when people are willing to do something.
Lighting in Turlung
So we stopped in the village of Turlung on our way back to Duradanda. We were working on sanding and painting a school there. Since it's a new school the village had come together for a celebration. That meant more tikkas and prayer scarfs for us. I didn't get any pictures of us, but while we were watching part of the ceremony the lighting was perfect to take pictures. I couldn't help but take a few. I am so happy with the way they turned out.
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