Return to Nepal & Speaking at the Pedo Residents' Meeting

 On Friday morning, after a beautiful sunrise and nice breakfast buffet in the Marari Beach Resort's open-air restaurant, I packed my bags and said farewells to my travel colleagues. Then I boarded a bus to the Kochi/Cochin Airport.

I had a long wait at the airport before my flight to Delhi, India. I had more than an hour to kill before I could even enter the air conditioned airport space, so I had a "Happy- Friday" Pepsi at this outdoor food stand.

Then I got inside the building, but I still had hours to wait before I could even check in. After checking in and clearing security, I found the gate waiting room to be very comfortable -- compared to the plastic seats of US airports.

My flight landed in Delhi at 11:30 PM. I had a room reserved at the Holiday Inn Express within the International Terminal, but because I arrived on a "domestic" flight, it was challenging to figure out how to get to the hotel I finally found my way there, and managed to get 4 hours of sleep. Then in the morning (Saturday), I had to go through the extensive security screening to actually get to the gate for my flight to Kathmandu. My flight was delayed more than 1.5 hours, so I found the McDonalds! They didn't have a breakfast menu -- so I couldn't get a McMuffin. Of course, they also have no beef. I had a Filet-o-Fish sandwich, fries and coffee for my breakfast meal. This was the view of the Himalayas on my flight to Kathmandu.

The flight delay was concerning because I was scheduled to be picked up at the Kathmandu airport and driven directly to speak at the all-Nepal pediatric dental residents' meeting. Even with the delay, everything worked out ok. I landed before 10 AM and quickly made it through customs. My ride met me and drove me to a venue in Bakhtapur, a suburb of Kathmandu about 1/3 of the way to Dhulikhel.

Pediatric Dentistry is a relatively new specialty in Nepal, but the number of graduate residency programs is rapidly increasing. Last year they had their first all-Nepal pediatric dental residents' meeting -- by Zoom. This was now the first in-person meeting. There were around 50 attendees! Two were Nepali dental graduates in a residency program across the border in India. I spoke with others who travelled great distances to attend this meeting. I found these residents to be highly intelligent and didactically knowledgable. I had two presentations, including one hands-on simulation session. I had great fun and the attendees seemed appreciative.

They had a buffet lunch that was far too spicy for me. I ate some naan bread and some rice. I was served these interesting bowls for dessert, along with coffee, but I wasn't brave enough to try them.

One of the pediatric dental faculty members brought her 8-year old son to the meeting. He drew this portrait of me!

Along with a 4th year dental student, I was returned to Dhulikhel. When I got to my room, I was exhausted and quickly fell asleep.