So we have been here almost 2 weeks now and although not quite feeling "at home" yet, we're certainly beginning to feel like we're more than just tourists.

We escaped our VSO colleagues on Saturday and headed off into the Kathmandu valley to do our first Hash with the HHHH (Himalaya Hash House Harriers). It was good to get out of the city, albeit a bit nerve racking as we didn't really know exactly where we were going. We took a taxi (which is quite a common way of getting to the Hash, as most of them don't have transport) and headed off into the wilderness armed only with the instructions provided on the HHHH web-site, which consisted of the names of a couple of places we couldn't pronounce and reference to the odd interesting wall and tree that we had to turn left or right at. Still we got there in the end, although the taxi driver refused to take us the last bit of the way as we were by this time what could be described as "off road" and he was obviously getting worried that he might not get his cab back to Kathmandu in one piece. M was initially alarmed at the gathering of 30 or so Hashers as she thought they all looked a bit too fit and was concerned about keeping up. Not to worry a few "wrinklies" turned up at the off and it became clear that there were two trails, one for runners and one for walkers - M walked! This was probably a good decision, as it was swelteringly hot and the runners trail was a good two hours over pretty rough terrain - still I enjoyed it and it was good fun yomping along the terraces between the paddy fields. There was nice circle afterwards with mucho beer consumption (M has no chance of limiting me to a bottle per week as per last blog entry !). Some entertaining penalties as well, though unfortunately our nice new trainers that we'd purchased before leaving Edinburgh to last us the 2 years in Nepal were spotted and no sympathy was given to the new hashers. We had to drink out of our now dirty shoes much to M's disgust - in fact she poured most of her's over her head through fear of contracting something unpleasant - to no avail, see later! Anyway, we got a lift back from a Hasher who has a 4x4 (with driver - very grand!) which was good. So we plan to Hash again. It's a good way to find places and raises our confidence about getting around.

Monday and it was back to school for week 2 of our language training. This is going pretty well actually, I think everyone is amazed at how we seem to be picking up. Apart that is from the boys who run the bar and kitchen at the guest house...much hilarity for them as we attempt to converse in Nepali in the evening. They're pretty good at correcting our mistakes and helping us with our homework - very patient!

We also made a VSO organised trip en-masse to visit the International Clinic to meet with the Doctors and nurses who will undertake "stool tests" for us when we get ill and to get a briefing on what we're likely to get and how best to stay healthy in Nepal. Needless to say diahorrea was the number one topic as it is a big deal here. Doctor Buddah (yep his real name) was very well informed on the topic and we spent a very pleasant hour in the garden listening to what he had to say and are now expert in the differences between the different types and causes of the diahorrea we will get. This was handy as M succumbed on Sunday to her first dose (better now). So far about 4 out of 16 of our volunteer group have had the trots, with the rest of just waiting....

Though we have now had our "squat toilet competency training" so we are prepared for the worst case village scenarios but let's hope it doesn't come to that! It all seems to be much more complicated for the girls as their session took 10 times as long as hours - God knows what they find to talk about! Today our cultural training continued with how to eat Nepali style i.e. without cutlery, right hand only. Not as difficult as we'd anticipated. M did spill curry down her top but then she tends to do that anyway so no particular difference there. At least we both liked all the food - dhal bhaat, veg curry, saag, yoghurt and chicken curry - which is pretty much what we will get to eat in the village so we won't starve. Though as they eat this breakfast, lunch and dinner we will probably be heartily sick of it after a week!

On the subject of the volunteers, we're in with a good bunch we think, everyone gets on well and a bit of a routine is starting to develop, with everyone usually meeting up at some point in the evening for tea, coffee or beer and some form of entertainment. They've got a widescreen TV in the lounge and once a week we watch a movie or sometimes it's a game of cards. On Sunday we commandeered the remote control and caught the Man U v Liverpool game on satellite, much enjoyment for the Man U fans among us! And tonight we have a private screening of the Golden Compass!

The big news in Kathmandu this week (apart from the upcoming election...yawn) is that Sting is in town. Last year he had an impromptu jam session and a beer or two in the "Upstairs Jazz Bar" (sounds more upmarket than it actually is), which is just along the lane from our guest house...rumour is he might be there this Saturday so we may go along to mingle. See next blog for pictures, if he turns up.

We're also starting to house hunt this week and are off to see a place in Patan (just South of the river and a 30 minute walk from the centre of Kathmandu), which is rented by a couple of existing volunteers who's stint ends in May. It's fairly close to both M's and my work so would be handy from that standpoint. It sounds nice, with a roof terrace and a flushing toilet !!! So we'll see what it's like and maybe look at some others as well.

Anyway enough for now

Namaste!

G & M