Life in Kathmandu and trip to Dudehunua

There is always something in Kathmandu to take pictures of. It amazes me how these people use their resources for entertainment and work, building and whatever. We take so much for granted in the U.S. running water, electricity, nice paved roads, only going shopping once a week if we so desire and the list goes on and on. It is an awesome experience to live here and watch these people survive and thrive and how attitude goes a long ways. Most of them seem happy, kind, helpful and humble. A few traits we all need to develop.

Men playing a game, using rocks. All the people here
learn how to squat early in life. I last about 30 seconds. They
can squat all day.

woman carrying a heavy load.

Sharing the sidewalk with the sacred cows.  Umbrellas keep the
sun off as well as the rain.

School  class. The children learn to do and say Nameste
pretty young. The kids are so cute.

This was on our way to Dudhekunua. It is a kind of a ferris wheel.
They connect seats to it and give the children rides during festival
time. They are creative.

Mike, Betty, and water committee members checking
out the work being done on the water project. It was
a sunny day, hence the need for the umbrella.

Water users committee meeting at Dudhekunua.

Old bio-digester. They put cow dung in it and water and stir. It creates
methane gas that is piped to their home to use to cook. This
one was no longer working. LDSC is helping to provide
new ones in some areas of Nepal.

They actually had a backhoe to dig out the spots for the tanks.
I think it would take too long by hand and the monsoons
will be here soon.

Chilaunepani and Ramkot

We went to Chilaunepani May 15, 2014 to check on the water pipe. It has to be extra strong to with stand the pressure. The water will be pumped up the mountain to two different reservoirs, then gravity fed to the communities. At Ramkot, they were pouring the concrete to make the dome on the water tank. It was very interesting to see the process. May 16, 2014.

This is how they heat the oil to repair the roads. Build a fire under
the 50 gal. drums. What a job!

Trench ready for pipe to be laid at Chilaunepani

Thick walled pipe to withstand the water pressure

Mike found a friend. A long eared goat. Yes that is me in the
background with my shades on and my summer hat. Chris
Valentine on the side.

Mike at the water source in Chilaunepani

Rebar and forms set to pour concrete for roof on water tank
at Ramkot project

loading gravel to mix with cement  at Ramkot

Concrete mixer. Wheelbarrow catches concrete.

Hauling concrete to the tank. They dump in a big pile, then
shovel it onto disks that they dump on the roof one at
a time.

Putting the concrete on the tank. It was interesting to watch.
It would take all day long to get this roof covered.

Trip to Jiri for Wheelchair distribution May 2014

Jiri is a long way from Kathmandu. We rode for 7 hours and spent the night at Charikot (awful hotel), then the next day wound around the mountains for another 2 hours. It was a beautiful valley. The Switzerland of Nepal. Actually some swiss people wanted to make it into a Swiss resort and cheese factory, but it didn't work like they anticipated.  They do have a helicopter pad where things are flown to base camp for Everest. It was a fun adventure and always humbling to see the people who come from long distances and hard circumstances to receive wheelchairs. There was a girl there who did not receive a wheelchair, but had no use of her hands and demonstrated how she could write her name with her toes. People are amazing, what they can do with so little.

Harvesting the wheat

Bundling the wheat

Drying the wheat

Plowing the fields

Oxen waiting to work

Flour Mill. It uses the stream for power

Stone mill to grind flour. Inside
the building above.

Cherikot, town we stayed the night at.
Betty A., Mike and Chris Valentine.

Chris V. and Betty signing in at check station. Have to show
passport and tell where you are going.

Hospital in Jiri where we held the wheelchair distribution

Wheelchair recipients and families.

beautiful Jiri Valley

feeding his cattle

Man carrying his plow to his field