Back in Kathmandu!

I made it!  I am safe and sound in Shalom Guesthouse in Kathmandu, Nepal.  The flight this morning from Bangkok was good and my arrival at the airport in Kathmandu was surprisingly easy and low key.  I wonder if it's because it's a Saturday?  There were hardly any people and the chaos I am used to was very diminished.  I even had Anil from Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS - the medical school I am teaching at) manage to come pick me up, despite the protests and blocked roads due to demonstrations.  It was so nice to see a familiar face in the throng of taxi drivers outside the airport.

He explained to me that some roads were blocked due to protests and we had to take a few detours to avoid large gatherings and crowds.

He advised me that today and tomorrow would be dangerous days to be outside as these are the last 2 days before the new Constitution comes in on May 28th.  These are the last 2 days for protests and demonstrations.  There were Nepali police with riot gear everywhere along our drive!  I think I will definitely listen to his advice and stay indoors!

We made it to the new Shalom Guesthouse location - not too far from where the old one was.  Anil had to back down a super narrow road to get me to the house and then my Didi Mahili showed us to my room.  It's a big spacious room with lots of windows - it will be nice to have the cross breeze - it is SO hot here!

Near Shalom

So I am just relaxing here in my room.  Glad to be finished the long journey.  We'll see what tomorrow brings.  I haven't seen Peggy yet, a colleague from Camosun College who is here to observe PBL in the medical school and to help me train the faculty in problem-based learning.  She is also staying at Shalom.  It will be nice to see her!  I will also see Katie tomorrow and all of my PAHS colleagues and students!  Can't wait!

Bangkok, Thailand - brief layover

I arrived late last night in Bangkok after my 4th flight of the day.  I flew ANA (Asiana Airlines) from Tokyo to Bangkok and had heard that they were one of the top airlines in the world.  I was in Business Class again so I was ready for the extraordinary.  It was very nice, but I have to say that Air Canada's pods are much nicer and actually let you sleep!  They lay flat.  The seats were very spacious and I luckily did not have a seat mate so it was nice.  I was most impressed with their beautiful food presentation and how tiny and perfect everything looked!

I arrived in Bangkok and caught the shuttle to the Best Western Amaranth hotel.  The image that comes to mind when you read "Best Western" is not at all what this place is like.  I had stayed here a year and half ago so knew it was really good.

I got to sleep for almost 8 hours and then caught the shuttle back to the airport for my 10:15 am Thai Airways flight into Kathmandu.  It was a brief time in Thailand.  I love it there and will be back for a visit sometime soon, I'm sure!

Tokyo, Japan

I just realized that for all the times that I have flown through Tokyo, I have never left this building.  I have never seen Japan.  I will have to make sure to do that one day.

So I managed to sleep for a good portion of my Calgary-Tokyo flight.  It went by fast!  Now I am waiting here in Tokyo for my next flight that will take me to Bangkok.  I have an overnight layover there and then I will finally head to Nepal tomorrow.

I promise that these blog entries will get more exciting soon...

On my way!

I am on my way now - 2 flights down.  Just waiting in Calgary for my flight to Tokyo.  This will be the long one.  I can't wait to sleep!  This is supposed to be a great airline so I am looking forward to the Executive Class treatment.

I just want to clarify something here.

The only reason I am flying in Executive Class is because I used my Aeroplan points to purchase this flight to Nepal this year.  It was not many more points to fly Executive rather than Economy.  Just in case anyone thought that I was paying for Executive Class...

So I actually did it.  I managed to pack for my whole trip in a normal sized suitcase!  There's a first time for everything I guess. 

I leave early tomorrow morning from Victoria.  I go through Vancouver, Calgary, Tokyo, Bangkok and then I finally get to Kathmandu on May 26.  I'm tired just thinking about it.  The good thing is, I am in Executive class most of the way!

I have been hearing that it is HOT in Nepal right now.  Hotter than I have ever experienced.  Oh boy.

I am really looking forward to getting there, seeing my friends, my old students, and meeting the new students.

Nepal in 3 days!

So I leave in 3 days!  It always creeps up on me so quickly.  I have been hearing from my Nepali colleagues that there is a lot of political unrest in Nepal right now as their constitution deadline approaches on May 28th.  A lot of disruption, political demonstrations and bandhs (strikes).  This will mean that it will be hard for me to get out of the airport and to Patan Hospital and my apartment.  Mainly, this means that I should (and will!) keep away from any large gathering of people of any kind, and exercise caution everywhere I go.  There is no offical travel advisory for Nepal as of today, so I am confident that all will be well.  I registered my passport as a Canadian Abroad and will visit the Canadian Embassy in Kathmandu when I arrive to do the same.  Just in case.  I will leave on Thursday as planned unless anything changes.

Heading Back to Nepal Soon!

Hello followers!  It's that time again - I am heading back to Nepal to teach Medical Genetics at the Patan Academy of Health Sciences (PAHS).  I leave on May 24, 2012 and I am really looking forward to seeing my friends, colleagues and students again!  It will be so great to see how the first batch of medical students are doing in their 2nd year.  And to meet the second batch of students.  The teaching schedule was pushed back a bit so I am going about 2 months later than I did last year.  It will be very rainy this time around - no fun.  Bought my rainboots and umbrella and I am told I will need good bug spray...

I really hope that you will follow my journey again here and comment lots!