Today we are under curfew in our hotel. Not because of any political ructions but because of the Hindu festival, Holi, also known as the festival of colours which seems to involve throwing coloured water, paint and powder at anyone who ventures out on the street. Not entirely sure why but it is something to do with celebrating the coming of the monsoon later in the year. White women are particularly popular targets and over the last couple of weeks throwing bags of water at anyone has been the favourite pastime. I'd been caught a few times and hadn't been bothered but last night seemed to be a climax before they started adding the coloured paints and I got drenched on the way out to eat - not amused! Though I think everyone else may have been but were sensible enough not to show it. Anyway, we left the hotel this morning for a run at 8a.m. - we have adjusted to Nepali hours so this was a lie in - and went out for a run. I got blue water down my back while G got caught with tikka powder on his head but it seems to have showered off OK! Anyway, now I am sitting on the balcony typing this onto disc and watching everyone else getting caught!

Last Saturday - seems an age ago - we went on a treasure hunt with some current volunteers as a way of finding our way around town, especially Thamel, the touristy area with all the bars and restaurants. It was great fun and a really good way of orienting ourselves. We've also picked up lots of tips for when we move in to our own apartments as it's a bit unreal at the moment, living in a hotel and eating out every night. We know that we will be living in this town but at the moment we feel like tourists, though maybe we'll always feel that way?

We've started our language and cross-cultural training now which is good. It's great being back at school again and learning something completely new. We have been split into groups of four so G and I aren't together. His class is further ahead than mine which is really annoying - he's learnt to tell the time and everything already! But then he is at a slight disadvantage as his teacher seems to have a slight speech impediment and pronounces "s" as "sh" so that gives hours of entertainment when it sounds like rude words in English - as I said, just like being back at school again! We are also doing the cultural stuff as well, which is fascinating but generally awkward. Everyone sits on the floor here but you have to be very careful how you point your feet as it is offensive to have the soles of your feet facing anyone. For inflexible people like me this can make it all rather uncomfortable. I as the wife am also not allowed to refer to Gordon by name, I have to call him "shreeman", Husband. We are also not allowed to show any affection in public - no holding hands even, and with two single beds in our room we may have forgotton how to be a loving couple by the time we get into our own place! Anyway, I'm most looking forward to the sessions on "shopping competency" and "Squat toilet compentency"! Shame I won't be in Gordon's group for that one!

Still healthy so far, though a couple of others in the group have succumbed to the Kathmandu Quickstep as we've started to refer to it. You could start running a sweep at home on when it will be our turn!

Tomorrow we go hashing for the first time so it will be nice to get out of the city a bit. It's great fun but very dusty and noisy so a bit of peace in the countryside will be welcome. There is a lovely park here called the garden of Dreams where we went on Sunday which is quite a haven but even there you can't get away from the constant horns going outside.

Well that'll do for now - I've had to move off the balcony as they're throwing water off our roof too now! We'll add some more photos but it may be a while before we can get videos on as the connections don't seem to be great here and we are having to use internet shops. We hope when

We get our own place it will be better so bear with us.

Namaste!