Mom And Dad Visit - Late Post

Well after much crying when they left, I am finally ready to talk about what a great time I had when my parents were here. I am still amazed as they get older that they have so much energy and are pretty much up for anything. Whether it be walking around and old mountain town, boozing at a bar, dancing, swimming, or just relaxing we really enjoyed ourselves. I was able to give them a pretty good tour of Paros, and they seemed to have a great time in Santorini as well. I think it was the whirlwind tour of Greece, but we sure squeezed in as much as possible. I especially loved hearing my dad talk about the boats that were coming in and out of port. Cooking and shopping with my Mom is always a delight and it was really nice to have the company in the kitchen.

All in all, I am so happy they came to see a little part of my new life I have set up here. So, before I start to get teary again, here is a picture that captures some of the good times we had. I love you Mom and Dad. You mean so much to me and thank you for coming.

Nepal

Boudhnath

Monks praying in the square. We seemed to have walked in on a special day.

Bhakatpur is a beautiful ancient city that doesn't need to modernize. Barely any cars, temples are just part of the street, and villagers are happy, working, kids walking home alone, infants cared for by their 4 year old sister, fruits for sale on the sidewalk. 

You can live like a king in Nepal, but unlike India there isn't some place specializing in luxury. In India. You could get 5 star treatment for a fifth of the price you would pay in a suburb, but in Nepal, luxury consists of a room with a shower, unless you choose to go outside of the city to one of the spa getaways. Blue horizon hotel is a city centric with incredible staff and restaurant, but while the room is spartan and comforter quite old, it is comfortable. There is a bucket in the bathtub for filling with hot water and scrubbing, for when hot water is too limited to shower. A massive change from the deluxe suites we spent the last week in. 

Monkey temple- when I first read about this place, I was already excited. These places with wild animals have always taken on a mythical status, but here, the villages seemed to barely acknowledge the hundreds of monkeys climbing over everything. They crawled on the Buddha statues, sat atop the highest stupa in Nepal, while the morning workers wiped away the monkey piss with long mops. The monkeys were domestic enough to eat from your hand, but my attempts to get a monkey on my shoulder or arm were not successful. The monkeys will get close enough to grab and pull back immediately. Some will eat directly out of your hand if the prize is right. Baby monkeys are too scared and will accept a cookie piece, but dare not get within arms length. A temple visit I'll never forget.

De-Evolution

The view from our hotel in Pokhara