Christmas Market

Last saturday we went to a Christmas market in Lalitpur.

There was a lot of things to buy and also a lot of food and German mulled wine (like glywine).

It was quite nice and I bought some small Santa Claus and one bigger made of wood.

They also had a Christmas tree and some snowmen.

Sunday the first Sunday in Advent we decorated our Christmas tree and lit the first candle.

Merry Christmas! Britt

The renk

We have a small pice of land where we can grow some flowers and vegetables. For this land I need a rake. We tried to find one in the shops but no luck. Therefore I went to our local blacksmith and asked him if he could make this rake. He said OK and that it should be ready 3 days later. But as usual it was not! I also got a receipt that I couldn´t understand so much of. All in Nepali. The guy that should make the tips had been seriously ill so it will take 3 more days he said. Well, 3 days later Nicholas went back and yes, it was ready!

So now I can do our garden properly.

Britt

Patchwork

Many weeks ago I started to make a patchwork bedspread of recycled sari waste and now it is finally finished.

Here in Nepal you can find so many beautiful saris with different colors and patterns.
Although it took many hours to finish the bedspred, it is so fun to put all pieces together. I also made some cushions and chair cushions.

It is so fun to make these things. You should give it a go!!
Britt

Bartabanda

Here in Nepal it is a custom to celibrate when the son in the family reach the age of a teenager. It is called bartabanda.

Yesterday we were invited to such a party. It was Nicholas and Ani´s lawer´s son who became a teenager.

The party was held at a Party Palace named Sasa Banquet, a very big and beautiful place.

All friends and reletives of the family has to be invited. You also have to give the son gifts, mostly money. A lot of people had come to celibrate the boy. I think it must have been almost 1000 people.
The party starts with "snacks" as they call it. Chicken, fish, potatoes, mushrooms and vegetables, all fried. They also had a barbeque with chicken and lamb. A whole lamb was hanging above and they cut bits of it to barbeque.

The drinks was beer, wine, whiskey, coke and lemonade. You could eat and drink as much as you want and after all that the dinner was served.

It was a buffê of Dal Bath (National dish of Nepal) chicken, sallad, vegetables and rice. To drink it was just water. For dessert ice creame.
It was the first time I went to this kind of party and it was a nice experience.

Britt

Allister

The last week we've had a visit from our customer Allister from USA.
His companies sell very edgy clothes as you can see here and here.
Here he is discussing details with one of our suppliers on samples we are making for him.

Ani

At the hairdresser

For some weeks ago I went to the hairdresser for a hair cut and to make some blond highlights. As it was the first time for me doing highlights in Nepal it was very exiting. The last time I was here a hairdresser told me they don't do blond highlights in Nepal but apparently it has been changed.

Well, I went to the salon called Neeldavid's Unisex Salon, where I had cut my hair last time and this time I got the hairdresser I wanted.

The procedure was almost the same as in Sweden with aluminum foil paper and stuff so I was hopeful.

The result was OK, maybe the highlights could have been a little moore blond and some more of them, but I will tell them next time.

So now I know that blond highlights can be done in Kathmandu.

Britt

Pokhara

A couple of weeks ago when Leya had winter holidays we went to Pokhara for a few days. Leya's best friend Eva was also with us. The trip is quite long and take about 6-7 hours up and down the mountains in a "micro", but when you get there it`s worth it.

We arrived about 6 o'clock in the evening and went to the hotel Be Happy, where we have stayed many times before. It is at the lakeside of Pokhara. The name of the lake is Phewa lake. We had dinner at the hotel and everyone was so tired after the trip so we went early to bed.

The days in Pokhara we spent strolling along the boardwalk, eating, had some drinks, shopping and just relaxing and one day we also went for bowling. In the evenings we went to different restaurants for a good dinner. Leya and Eva also played with their friend Niki who lives in Pokhara.

One day we saw the cow with 3 legs, the same cow we saw for more than 3 years ago. It is amazing that she can survive. It must be very tough for her.

We also met the two Tibetan ladies whom we always meet when we are in Pokhara. We buy many jewelries from them but they also insist to give us many presents. They are so sweet!!

The weather in Pokhara was very nice and warm in the sun but very cold otherwise, especially in the mornings and evenings.

After 5 days we returned to Kathmandu after some lovely days in Pokhara.

Britt

Road work

For the last month they've been digging up the roads all over town and the road near our house has been dug up and filled again at least five times.
It is a mystery what they are doing really and why they don't coordinate between different departments.
To get out from our small one way street we have to climb these high soil-sand walls.
I like the lady sitting on a chair on the top. That shows humor!

I'm sure these guys know what they are doing, even though the spectators have opinions about how to do things the right way.

Ani