And so it begins.............................................................. Well it seems like only a few hours ago I was leaving home and yet 27hours non-stop travelling here I am!!!!! Nepal, well not alot changes.... the smells definately dont change but more about that later!! The flights well, interesting as usual, the worst thing about travelling yourself is that there is no-one to distract you to keep you from thinking about home and what you have left behind, luckily there are some huge advantages to being out here, like those handsome like tearaways at GPPM. The flight from Heathrow was a bit taxing for several reasons|: turbulance |(Helen I was so glad you didn't have to make that trip, even I was sweating a little!) and two little kids in front who strated off cute but after several hours and a sleep deprived chick later turned into monsters. I almost had to bargain a chuppa chups and a drumstick lolly however managed to retain them. I also managed to take a little bit of home with me, thats right at 1.30am I was seat-bopping away to the Pussycat Dolls and don't cha! haha some things never change....( but for everything else Fi, there's Freddie!) Another thing that doesn't change is the arab airports. Yes thats right full of the same staring sweaty men who think because you looked up they have a right to harass the hell out of you for the next couple of hours, including waiting for me to come out the toilets just to follow me back to my seat. That part of the journey was probably the worst as we were delayed as well felt like it was taking forever to get back but eventually I got there. Airport was the same as last year, and so is nepali transport ( momma I PROMISE I was searching for a seatbelt!) the guys who pick me up were friendly enough, the usual nepali manners, whats your name, do you want dal bhat? Its just a shame we were driving like we were in a game of grand theft auto, he went round the roundabvout the wrong way screaming at bikers (and of course using their horns before even thinking about braking..... what brakes didi?) so 20minutes later I got to the hotel after being flung around like a rag doll in the back of this 'bus' (yes thats a loose term) So I've been for dinner, took out some money although due to sleep deprivation and forgetting how many ridiculous ruppees you get for a pound I lifted 100....oops. Met some of the current and new volunteers and like Helen, I can't help comparing to last year. In some ways feels like I never left but all the strange new faces serve as a reminder. (And yes last year's groups were better by far... but then again I haven't really met everyone yet) Onbe guy I did meet Joseph is at GPPM just now, he's like " You're Lauren from GPPM then" So he is going back tomorrow and I'm going with him for a wee surprise visit we're leaving at 6.30am which means I get to get the boys up for school which will be great as they think i'm coming back next month! Writing this from pyramid (haha arrived to cries of 'weak banana!') although I'm staying at potala, nicer than pyramid (just round the corner as well) but whats a hotel without clearing your room of cockroaches, rats gecko's and spiders first, there's no fun there?! But for now I'll love you and leave you its quite late and dark outside and I haven't slept in almost 2 days running the risk of talking more rubbish and I'm covered in mud just walking back from dinner.... like I said.... some things never change! Take care everyone Love Lauren xxxxxxxx p.s. I am staying out of trouble mum..... I'm a Jedi remember! xxx