All went well as we left Kathmandu this morning. Again the traffic was as chaotic as expected, but our transport to the airport skilfully negotiated every intersection and road. We eventually found which departure door we were to enter and went through the necessary processes. Unfortunately our check-in took considerably longer than hoped as the staff were working with new computer processes and our request for the bags to be booked to Amman with our next carrier Royal Jordanian, proved a little challenging for the Nepali Thai Airways staff. It took several staff members, all advising each other before we finally achieved the right barcodes on our luggage stickers, and were satisfied. As all our e-tickets are on the one sheet of paper, at one point we were asked whether it was Greece we wanted our bags to go to. That would have been a real shame, as we’re not due in Athens until September 5. Fortunately they finally worked out that Amman was in Jordan and that’s the destination where we’re landing in nearly 24 hours time.

Of course, not much happens while in transit, so we thought we’d give you some little snippets of how different life is in Nepal.

Some different things we noted:

• packs of random dogs literally everywhere – of all varieties
• ALWAYS carry your own toilet paper everywhere – so many of the squat toilets don’t have any
• there’s always a large rubbish bucket right beside the toilet – because the system in Nepal can’t handle both human waste and the paper, so the used toilet paper goes in the rubbish bin, not down the bowl
• very basic homes made of stone and brick, maybe have 4 rooms, and the corrugated iron roof stays on top only because it’s covered with multiple large rocks around the edges.
• it appears as if every Nepali is a small shop owner – so many small shops all selling the same things: chip packets, water, biscuits
• the Church in Nepal is inspirational
• chemists are everywhere alongside every other shop and you can buy whatever drug you need whenever you need it
• rubbish dumps are outside on the street
• dirt, dirt and more dirt; dust, dust and more dust
• indian corn flakes aren’t very nice
• buildings in the city are very narrow – maybe just 4 square rooms on each level, and when you want more space you build another level on top
• buildings never seem to be finished – reinforced concrete is visible everywhere
• just about every intersection has a small local temple
• bamboo is the scaffold of choice
• push bikes are for carrying loads that are more than twice as wide as the wheel base is long
• only the driver on the motorbike wears a helmet – the pillion passenger doesn’t matter
• bargaining is fun
• ordering meals takes a VERY long time
• paying the bills takes a VERY long time
• the Church in Nepal is inspirational
• doesn’t appear as if many Nepalis smoke
• the need is so great
• accommodation is very cheap
• food is very cheap
• beds are very hard
• cows are everywhere
• lots of plants similar to Queensland
• the Church in Nepal is inspirational
• we have an amazingly powerful God who is actively at work in this spectacular and beautiful country

We have all felt so privileged to have been here. We give thanks and praise you Lord God.