Hello all!!!!

I am so sorry I have not been able to update my site lately. As you can see on my travel agenda I have been in Nepal for the past week and have been unable to get to a computer long enough to post any updates.However, I have a lot to update you on now !

We first went to Kathmandu for a few days then decided to head to Pokhara (where the temperature is much more tolerable).Nepal is a beautiful country and we were fortunate enough to meet amazing people along the way who would do anything for us!! Once in Kathmandu, we met with a friend of a friend of Mallory's.:) He actually lives there and took us to all the major sites of the city.We basically had our own personal tour guide that took us all over the city.We saw places such as:the monkey temple, many other temples, a living goddess, a public cremation spot (which is a whole story in itselft) and other important sites in the city :) It was suggested that we go on a mountain flight.There is a special plane that goes around the Himalaya mountain range.We were lucky to have a clear morning and could see the mountains.We even saw Mt. Everest!It was really awesome!We were allowed a very short amount of time to peek out of the pilot's window - the view was breathtaking!We also did some shopping and then found a restaurant that served AMAZING pizza!!I really needed some good American food !

Then we traveled to Pokhara.On the plane ride I made friends with a Buddhist monk who shared with me a few beliefs of Buddhism which was very interesting.He also told me he is good friends with the Dalai Lama - which I found pretty cool!! :) Pokhara was a completely atmosphere than Kathmandu and Delhi.It was very quiet, no horns honking at all hours of the night, no pollution, and not as dirty which was a plus!!!We stayed in a cabin on a lake that many people fished, bathed, and even did laundry in.Learning the culture has been very interesting!!We only stayed 2 nights in Pokhara but accomplished a lot while there!We got up at 4 in the morning to see the sunrise over the Annapurna Mountain range from the top of a mountain.It was absolutely breathtaking!We drove part the way up and then had to trek the other part.We were stopped by a little old lady who had tables set up in her back yard for people to sit on to see the sunrise.She gave us coffee and water and all her knowledge of the mountains.She knew the names of all the different mountains.She was hilarious and obviously had many people sit in her backyard. JWe were fortunate that morning also because there were very few clouds and the sky was clear to see the snowcapped mountains.After seeing the mountains we drove to the top of a different mountain to see the Peace Pagoda.This was a Buddhist temple established by the Japanese a few years ago to promote peace and harmony.It was at the very very very top of a mountain.We had to make a short trek to the top of this mountain as well.By the time we were hiking up to the top we were semi-delirious and laughed the entire way up.We were lacking sleep but still having a great time.Then the next day we decided to be brave and go paragliding!!!!We selected the "cloud buster" flight.We drove up yet another mountain.We stopped and went out on a semi level patch of land.Then I put on a backpack style harness and was hooked onto a pilot wearing a similar harness with a huge parachute attached to his back.(His name was Oliver if you were wondering)Then he told me to walk forward two steps.As I did I heard the parachute open and was jerked back very quickly…then he said RUN!So I ran as hard as I could right off a cliff and then flew high into the air.It was a huge adrenaline rush and crazy experience.Then we kept getting higher and higher, the pilot said we were 2,100 meters high.Shortly after he said that, I was in the middle of a cloud.It was so exciting!!!I was screaming, I am in a cloud!!!!All he could do was laugh at me.Then he took me over a lake, and I could see the valley and all the mountains around me.However, the fun was over because it started to sprinkle and we had to make an "emergency landing."Well let me fill you in, an emergency landing is where he makes us do these spiny things and twirl in the air VERY FAST.So fast I could hardly open my eyelids.Not a great feeling, especially for those prone to motion sickness…I was very nauseous.Luckily, we landed quickly and safely in the middle of a rice field and it was a totally awesome experience!!Later that night we went to eat at a restaurant where there was live Nepali dancing.It was very interesting and MUCH different from American style dancing.

Then we headed back to Kathmandu.We didn't go out or do anything because the city and country were going through a huge political change!They were throwing the king out and starting a democracy!! Yay for them!However, some people weren't happy about the change and there was potential for an uprising so we just hung out in our hotel. :) Now I am finally in Delhi, HOWEVER, I am leaving tomorrow to head to Varanasi to check out the Ganges River.It is one of the holiest rivers in the world and people travel from everywhere to get in the water to be closer to the gods…very strange haha.

Thank you for leaving me messages and sending good/positive thoughts my way!I miss you all and will update when I can get back to a computer.I will be returning home the 7th and can't wait to see everyone!! Xoxo!em