Return to Kathmandu

Roadside Stupa (simple Hindu shrine)

That Island again. I wish I could adequately convey what a marvel this thing is.

Prayer Wheels at the Monkey Temple.

WTF?

Oh, just a roadside mishap. Had it occurred on the opposite side, which it often does, it is lights out.

Looks safe to me!

Swayambu aka Monkey Temple. Yes, there are monkeys but not in this picture.

Swimming hole near the house in Bharatpur. Note the water color. It is as dark as it appears.

Reena, wearing Western for today, comes to the house to say goodbye.

Looking into the hangar on last day in Bharatpur. When we removed a tarp from the right side by the blue barrels, to cover the bags in the back of the truck, we were met by a 6 ft long Cobra. He took only minor offence at being disturbed and made his way out to the grass. He was gone by the time I got my camera. That is my trusty motorcycle to the L of the aircraft.

Roadside shops on the road to Kathmanu. Be advised that the steep pitch to the river is just behind this row of hovels and these shops include the living quarters.

Same story here up the road a bit.

On the road to Kathmandu, Northbound.

Ewwwww!! This stuff will make you wish you had stayed at home. When on the bike, it will motivate you to do anything to avoid it. Holding one's breath to near comatose is definitely an option.

Karl being annointed by Nitu. We both were farewell gifted by the house staff with Nepali headgear (Nitu is holding mine). Very stylish indeed, no?

It really didn't hurt. This is a self portrait taken in the truck that didn't work out as well as hoped. The red splotch is a Hindu thing that Nitu bestowed on us asking the Gods for a safe journey for us.

Farewell shot of the kids. Rear L-R - Asmita & ???. Front L-R - Birbek & Osbin.

Ubiquitous Rickshaws and Motor Rickshaws in Bharatpur. These Motor Rickshaws are usually overloaded to the max and spew the most obnoxious fumes imaginable and, when riding the motorcycle, must be avoided.

Amazing Cable Car Spanning the swollen and fast moving Narayani River. Our record sighting has been 12 people on the pull car. Only 3 here.

Bus Stop, aka, Whiz Stop on the road to Kathmanu. Of couse, the women are super stealthy.

Well, folks, perhaps the title gives an inkling of that to come. I have determined that Shivani Air is no longer capable of sustaining any form of life and I have left Bharatpur for Kathmandu in order to make arrangements to return to the West.

Karl, the other instructor, who has been here for 15 months and is ready to go home, had already planned to leave on 14 AUG to be in position to head East through Bangkok and Seoul to Seattle on 15 AUG. I will be going in the opposite direction through Bahrain and London to Boston.

We assigned Bikram the task of driving us in the Shivani Air truck. He is well versed in this since he just returned from 3 years in Qatar working as a driver.

There is much to tell regarding the failure of Shivani Air. I'm not sure where to begin. So, I will save it for another time.