Monday evening I fell off the wagon for the first time and enjoyed a 'medicinal' hot toddy. The manager of the local business who I had met in Kathmandu was visiting so he had dinner with me and Feddie and treated us to a drink. I still haven't had any raxi (the local spirit) but need to try it before I leave. We chatted after dinner and then headed to bed. Tuesday morning and day two with the children. We headed to the learning centre where they were still fit...

A very early start this morning, 5.30 pick up by a car to take us back to Kathmandu to catch the bus to Bandipur. We arrived at Kathmandu and found our seats on the bus. We had a while to wait so had some nepali tea for breakfast. Eventually we set off and started the joyous journey, potholes and all. To be fair apart from the jolting, the journey wasn't too bad. I actually took the opportunity to watch a film en route to pass the time. We stopped at a service st...

Part 2 9th November I must be the dumbest person on the planet. In the last three days I have banged my head on a door frame, getting out of a bus, on a gate, on a toilet tank, getting into a taxi and on another bus. This country is made for smaller people than me! So apart from that, today has been a better day. I got up and had my first bucket shower this morning. I am not sure what facilities I will get on placement so it may not be my last but was fine ...

Part 1 (I have uploaded part 2 as well) 7th November I think this will end up being more like a diary than a blog over the next few days. Partly as I will have more time on my own and therefore be able to write it more often but also because there will be so much going on! It is quarter past 8, I am in bed and feel like my head is about to explode. Today has been exhausting with so many new experiences and things going on. I got up this morning for actually a ...

We left Yangshuo and transferred to Guilin to catch our last overnight train in China. The train didn't leave until 9.20 but this time the lights didn't go out until 1am, a treat to have no curfew! We had some drinks and chatting, the normal routine and then sleep. We were also treated to a lie in in the morning, not having to be up until 10! We got off the train and then proceeded to the Hong Kong border to sort our passports etc. There were literally signs in t...