Getting a helping Hand.

Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world, with large numbers of people living on the edge of life. There are many projects designed to work and give hope to these people. We have visited several so far here are two that impressed us.

Have you ever wondered where those little necklaces and bangles are made? We found one such place, Hosanna is a house made into a small workshop for some 15 woman all single mothers with no other means of support. Really nice high quality work here with contracts all over the world ordering these fashionable items to be sold through churches and fair trade craft shops.


Next we visited a project for low caste people cured of leprosy. This leather workshop has really nice bags, purses and wallets, I was especially interested in bags with a covering made from nettles, and some note books whose paper comes from trees growing at an altitude over 8,000ft. We bought a wall hanging for our home extolling old age??

Dogs are special today.

Today was the annual anniversary when dogs received the special Hindu blessing because in this week the festival of Tihar is celebrated. Dogs are given a garland, paws and forehead carefully coloured with a red/yellow powder .The ceremony is called Tika. By performing this special service to the lowly dog Hindus worship Laxmi, Goddess of Wealth. Yesterday it was the crow, no garland just special food left out on the roads for the hungry bird. Tomorrow it is the sacred cow.
Also having special attention at this time are brothers and the family money box. By next Wednesday the special holiday / festival will have ended and the routine of work will resume. But for now dogs should enjoy their day.

Strumming up Business.
It looks like a stringed instrument, sounds like a one stringed harp, but has nothing to do with music. It’s actually played a lot this time of year and the noise is a timely reminder to people of the coming winter and the need for freshly sown quilts for bedding.
He simply walks around a neighbourhood usually early morning strumming the cotton stretched along the instrument keeping it well stretched. The noise carrying a long way will alert people to his presence and hopefully an order for a new quilt made either up on their flat roof or back at his little workshop. That same cotton is used in the making. The results are beautifully coloured masterpieces.
Long may he strum.

A Real Happy Birthday
While walking through an area of Kathmandu we stepped aside and sat on some steps while a local parade passed. A little girl of about 6 lead a male flute and drum band followed by 30 females all dressed the same tossing rice from brass plates. Between them an old man was carried by 4 younger men in a sort of suitably decorated sedan chair, then about 60 other men all walking behind the parade. We found out that this tradition is to celebrate his birthday. He was 77 years, 7 months, and 7 days old. Likely there was a Hindu celebration on the 7th hour at home. The little girl was the youngest member of the family and had the honour of leading. Similar celebrations are held at 84 years and 91. Since life expectancy in Nepal is around 63 the old man deserves all the adulation he got on Monday. Happy Birthday

All of our hot water is from solar heat. Last week we had two pretty dull days so it was cool showers, but on warm days we have hot water to spare. Most homes in Kathmandu have solar panels and it seems like this country is way ahead in using green energy than any we have lived in or visited before. We are told that even in remote villages small micro solar units are used for light. Sometimes micro hydro units are dropped into nearby rivers to give power to groups of homes. This technology is vital for a country whose terrain makes traditional landlines just impossible