Ok so I had the opportunity to visit the Terrai last week with Dilu as that's where the other half of her family live.
So we arrived after a mammoth journey, 18 hrs of hot stickiness and little sleep, got there at 5 in the morn and was really beautiful, very flat area but had a completely different feel to pokhara and kathmandu or trekking areas I ve been. The houses have there own style (Tharu) which I really liked some looked a bit Mediterranean I thought. Dilus house was lovely, lots of open space and have mango and lychee trees all around. I love that about here how much natural food you can get from your own back garden! We ate lots of mango chutney that week with dahl bhat which was lush although I think I reached a point where im actually getting a bit sick of eating rice and curry now, do you know what veg ladies finger are, well we had them alot last week and really dont want to see them again for a while!
I think I may have mentioned but it was sooooooooo hot, 43 deg I think at times, so makes it hard cos you just want to be in the shade or having a shower ha at first I thought how am I going to stand a week of this, but there was a storm and rain for a couple of days whcih was a real relief half way though the week. Oh its even more basic in that region, most people don't have toilets and you use hand pump for getting water but I quite liked that part. Dilus family are lovely younger sister Jugal and brother nandu, Mum was really welcoming and wouldn't ever let me wash up or do any jobs ha.
Ok some of the weeks highlights...going to watch a women's empowerment maths lesson where lot of village ladies are learning to read write etc, walking in the 'jungle' having a lush motorbike ride off one of her friends who took us to a national park area and I saw a rhino but not enough time for elephants as a big storm came in! Visiting many neighbours and friends, cycling (really lush there as all flat roads), going to Nepali cinema, going to school and taking a few lessons with kids. This was really interesting actually as much more basic school than eve where Ive been, dilu managed to just have a chat with the headmaster and get herself a job for 8 months teaching ha! if only was that easy in England. Got some massive bites that week from some random insect but literally the biggest ive ever had! Also interesting to watch the visit of two 'holy' men who stayed for couple of days...Overall a really great week and reminder of real Nepali life I think because sometimes that gets lost being in Lakeside with all the tourists and facilities.
Was great to see the kids when I got back and already this week is flying, lots of goodbyes to volunteers/friends Ive met here so will be a bit strange next week when noone is around...Can't believe I only have 2 weeks left now, I'm excited for what is ahead but sad at the thought of saying so many goodbyes...
Anyway hope you are all well, get in touch!
much love
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