The Simple life: Paris Hilton aint got shit on me

HOLY CRAP

Lets start with plane #1 . . .. i love jet airways. Delicious Indian food and complimentary wine provided an incredible start to my trip. Then, i discovered all the free stuff on the monitors on the back of the seats. I was dubious at first and thought i was somehow going to be charged, but once i realized bollywood movies were free I immediately started watching "Love Aaj Kal" which was awesome since i pretty much knew all the music already. I sat next to a lovely Indian lady named Jan, and wed discussed religion and education in Jewish versus hindu families :). After Love Aaj Kal, one glass of wine, and delicious curry I then discovered all the free bollywood music at my disposal, and immediately put on "Duniya" even though i already have it on my ipod. The flight was extremely smooth and pain-free and i arrived at Brussels in blizzardy weather with a surprisingly graceful landing. Second flight was delayed three hours since the Brussels airport closed for a full huor due to the snow. This was a blessing in disguise as it shortened my stay at the New Delhi airport. Flight #2 was longer than the first and I sat next to a canadian woman on a free trip tp india with some rotary club. Stuck to water on this trip but decided to go vegetarian . . . good choice.

Here's where the shit starts flying. I was probably one of three people from my flight from Brussels to Delhi that was going on to Kathmandu . . . so they failed to tell me NOT to go through immigration . . . whoops. I thought this was the right thing since i was told at JFK that i would have to take my bags through customs at Delhi so it all made sense . . . until i saw an employee snatch my bag off the conveyor belt to learn that my bags would have been taken onto my next flight for me. Now that i was through customs however, the bags were mine until 6AM the next morning (it was 1AM). GREAT! So in the dingy lounge i sat for four hours twiddling my thumbs and attempting to build card castles (i learned my deck only has 51 cards so there goes solitaire). Finally morning came and i painlessly rechecked my bags and hopped on the flight to Kathmandu. the views of the Himalayan mountains were breathtaking and i was glued to the window most of the time.

However, i was TOTALLY unprepared for the car ride to the orphanage. Nepali streets are CHAOS. Many of the roads have no middle divider, and there are as many motorbikes on the road as there are cars. Somehow amidst the constant beeping, swerving, and near collisions no one was actually hitting anyone. It was pure magic. Lining the streets are little shops, tons of stray dogs, monkeys, ducks, cows, and garbage. Have to go meet the kids for the first time as they come home from school (yes on Sunday) so i will save descriptions of the orphanage for my next post . . . there is SO much to say.

Thanks for reading!