Wednesday -- My calendar is unscheduled for the next week!

After so much travel over the past 2 months, I am glad to have a week of unscheduled time ahead of me. As for the blog, that means there won't be a lot of exciting stuff for me to report. Relax! Soon enough I will again be "adventuring." 

Just hanging out every day here in Dhulikhel is an adventure. I am finding so many of the esoteric details of life here to be fascinating. I am fortunate that my work colleagues are willing to answer my "stupid" questions. This week I have been asking them about some of the religious aspects of the various Hindu castes here:

"Why do only some women have nose piercings?" 

"Why do only some women wear the red smear on their foreheads?" 

"Can widows and widowers remarry?"

"Explain the significance of the red saris?"

Despite their patient explanations, I can't say I clearly understand it all. It seems complicated with lots of exceptions and variabilities.

This morning I met Manisha and Siras for breakfast at the cash canteen. Anil was on leave today. We had tea and samosas. I have had samosas from a street food vendor previously. These are veg (potato) filled deep (wok) fried pyramidal-shaped hot-pockets. I split one with Manisha and that was enough for me. I had already breakfasted on a PB&J.

I worked at my computer all day organizing slides for a scheduled all-day surgery presentation on Feb 4. I spend loads of time editing and re-editing. I am convinced that my preparations lead to good presentations.

We returned to the cash canteen for lunch. I had veg fried rice and Manisha & Siras had chicken sausage fried rice. I split this portion of rice with Dr. Harleen, who joined us. The wind really picked up throughout the afternoon such that the dust was annoying and made the sunset fuzzy.