7/01/2013

Amazing numbers

This is amazing! They know down to the number how many drug users there are in Nepal.
Since they don't know exactly how many people who actually live in Nepal I find that almost magical.

6/27/2013

Tooth and birthday dinner

Two days ago Leya lost one of her upper front teeth. It jumped out in the middle of the exams, so there was apparently a little bit of a drama.
The same day we went to Patan to celebrate Leya's big sister Alina's 24:th birthday with dinner at a restaurant.

6/26/2013

Walks

I've finally started walking again. Five laps around the temple in the evening with Angel should do it.
I'm tired of hearing that I'm fat. Here in Nepal people don't realize that their words hurt. I know it's a cultural thing and that they don't mean anything, but still ...

6/21/2013

Happy Midsummer!

This weekend we celebrate the Summer Solstice in Sweden and we did some celebrations here too. We want Leya to keep in touch with the Swedish traditions as well as the Nepalese.
Read more about the Midsummer festival here.
We use to make the garlands from flowers, but I made them of vintage saris and feathers instead.
Dancing around the big pole made of flowers is a tradition as well as meeting family and friends and eat raw fish with fresh potatoes, barbecue and strawberry cake.
See the girls dancing around our Christmas tree that was pimped for the occasion.
Just like a typical Swedish Midsummer eve it was raining all day.

6/20/2013

Parcel

We got a parcel from my mother and even though I've asked her to send big padded envelopes she insists on sending big parcels that we have to go and get at the post office.
Getting a parcel from the post office is one of the most complicated projects you can get yourself into without a college degree in logistics.
You are told to go between three different rooms over and over again and almost 10 men are involved in stamping and controlling.
It gives work opportunities, but I think it's time to look over the routines. We don't have all time in the world hanging around the post office.

6/14/2013

Maya

I have a friend in Thamel, the tourist area in Kathmandu, and I've named her Maya (it's like sweetheart).
She follows me everywhere when she sees me. Even today when I went to have breakfast.
She is the sweetest dog you can imagine and I would love to give her a home, but we live to small for one more dog.
Amazingly no one tried to move her when she feel asleep on the floor.
After a while she tucked her self under my chair.

Mayuri

Today I finally met sweet Mayuri, an Indian woman who lives in Chicago.
She use to read this blog. That's how she found me.
She is going on a trip to Tibet with more than 70 other Indians and we are going to meet again when she comes back.
I'm very curious to hear all about the trip and help her with some proper shopping.

She even brought a Belle doll for Leya. Leya was so happy receiving this beautiful doll.

6/12/2013

Ethnic boots

I've designed these handmade ethnic Nepali boots.
We have so many rustic, beautiful ethnic fabrics here in Nepal.
The foot part is made of a fabric used as an apron by the Buddhist Tibetan women.
These boots also work as riding boots.
We can make any size, even one pair. Just let me know...

6/10/2013

Worms

I'm not happy with Leya's school.
Yesterday they apparently showed very scary pictures of children with stomachs full of worms and they lied and said they could get worms from eating sugar.
Sometimes it feels like the grown ups here don't think one step further.
Is this how we want to raise or kids? By scaring them and telling them lies?
Of course we checked the correct facts on the internet and told Leya, but how many other parents did that?

6/08/2013

Princess wedding

Click this link and you can watch the wedding of the little Swedish princess Madeleine and her soul mate Chris.

Rain cover tarpaulin

This year we've made preparations for the monsoon rain.
Since we have the kitchen outside and have to go outside when we go to the other room or the bathroom, this is making our lives even better.

Star struck

Yesterday we went to a supermarket with lots of Western food and there we met a man who knows about Leya and NepalSisters.
He got star struck and could almost not speak, but he was in good company. Leya is always shy when she meets new people.

6/05/2013

Funny sign

Seriously! I rather pay 100 % for a whole t-shirt.

6/04/2013

18 small dishes

Sunday we went to another post-wedding-party, Nepalese style, at our temple.
Here we are waiting for the food to be served.

I must say they are effective when they start serving. I'm glad I like spicy food nowadays. Otherwise I couldn't eat much.

Here we are thanking our friend, the groom, Akash for inviting us.

One thing to remember for next time. If you don't want to eat with your hands BRING A SPOON.

6/03/2013

Salted icing on the cake

The party on Saturday was fantastic! I was a little bit afraid it would be boring since we didn't know anyone else but the groom.
We were about 20 guests and it was a perfect mix of nationalities. Most Japanese guests since the bride is from Japan, but one was married to an Irish girl and another had a Kashmirian boyfriend, who used to steal cakes as a kid.
The cake was a huge success. Especially since the icing was salty instead of sweet. I haven't laughed that much in years.

The bride Akimi was so sweet when she put on my handmade earrings I made for her as a wedding gift. She works at a farm where women are making sanitary pads from fabrics and I will go with her next week to learn more about the project.

Class 2

Yesterday Leya's principal called and asked if it was OK if Leya skipped a class and started class 2 instead and of course it was fine with us.
I'm so proud to have a daughter who is beautiful AND smart. Thank you God!

6/01/2013

Post-wedding parties

Tonight we are going to a surprise wedding party. Our cashmere supplier, one of Nepal's best bodybuilders, has married his Japanese girlfriend in Japan and apparently all papers are in order here in Nepal too. So her friends have planned a surprise party at a restaurant in the nearby city Patan.

And today we got invited to a post-wedding-party tomorrow at the areas temple.
According to Nicholas (who is terrible at gossiping), our friend Akash got married to his girlfriend without her parents approval, so they never attended the wedding.
I will know more after the party, but if it's true I would like to ask her parents:
Akash may come from a lower caste, but he is a terrific, happy (that shows clearly in the photo), person, who works hard and lives with his family in a big house. What is more important to you? Your gods and the society's happiness or your daughter's?

5/26/2013

Google translate

After gaining immense crazy and out fun lying letters on the computer that out dying folks lack to extend a mass of money, translated by Google from English to Swedish, I took off thinking that haply it would tickle even your second. So I'm rubbing along and translate one of my Swedish scripts using Google.
I fathom that you who are native English load speakers are not relived to this inflate phenomenon.
If you are staked in reading my script so get in affect (touch). It is with suchlike hilarious lyrics that somehow I do not perceive what it is from time to time.

Lily's grave

Mom Sweetie was so sweet to let us bury the little body in her 1x4 meter small garden.
Since the family belongs to a caste where they cremate their dead I wasn't sure she would understand how important it was to me to bury her and not throw her in the creek like waste.
So now we have a grave to take care of.

5/23/2013

Little Lily

I'm crying, crying, crying! I've nursed the puppy Lily for two days and this morning we had the vet put her to sleep.
Her spinal cord was damaged so there was nothing we could do.
Lily was so sweet and loving! I've asked our late dogs to meet her in the light and take care of her.
I'm just happy I could give her lots of love in the end of her short life here on earth.
God bless little Lily!

5/22/2013

Puppy Lily

Yesterday I found out that one of the street puppies was run over and killed, but later I found her alive and badly injured in another street.
I took her to our house and called the vet. Now she is recovering in our home and at night she is staying in our bed.
For four hours she was fighting for her life and no one cared. I feel ashamed of my fellow humans!
I know Lily is just a street dog, but to me she is worth as much as anyone in my family.

5/13/2013

Going to Delhi

Actually I'm going to Delhi today.
Last time I was there I shopped trims for a Swedish customer and since the order was big, for us anyway, we wanted to make the payment via bank.
But. When I was there they totally forgot to tell me that they didn't have an export license and are therefor not allowed to receive money from abroad.
There are alternatives how to transport money over the border between Nepal and India, but we realized we are saving money if I go myself instead.
And I can check the order a last time, which is good.
And I can do a tiny bit of shopping, so I don't mind going again.

Dentist in Nepal

I can highly recommend a visit to the dentist if you are coming to Nepal.
Our dentist is well educated, professional and an expert in preforming root canals and put in new teeth with titanium screws.
Leya and I had a simple check up and we paid 1 USD for both of us. A few months ago I had to pull out a tooth and it cost me 6 USD including the shot and a receipt for anti inflammatory medicine. Then the medicine was 2 USD.
So let me know if you are coming to Nepal and want to visit the dentist.

5/09/2013

Chicken in the house

The crazy rooster seem to be living closer than I thought.
Yesterday we noticed that there were chickens at the neighbors balcony. Apparently Mom Sweetie brought live chickens from her village in Gorkha on the micro bus.
Her daughter Chanda delivered a baby girl a few weeks ago and traditions say that she needs to eat just-in-house killed chicken for energy.
Here are the chickens.

I think it's the crazy crower on this plate, because now it's back to heavenly silence.

5/08/2013

A crazy rooster

A nearby neighbor has bought a rooster and he crows, very loud, at any time during the day.
I hope they will eat him soon!

5/06/2013

No swimming

The other day Nicholas and Leya went to the local swimming pool to cool off, but Nicholas didn't pass the bath-pants-control.
He had perfectly fine swimming shorts, but they were not made of "silk" like the speedos they offered him to borrow.
I understand he got furious. Who wants to put on underwear strangers have used?
Since they want to go there again I suppose he has to buy a pair of tight speedos in "silk" á la the 70's.
He will do it for Leya, but he will not be entirely happy.
That's for sure!

5/03/2013

Cricket

A few days ago Nicholas admitted that he enjoyed watching cricket. He even said it was more fun than watching football and that was a huge thing for him to admit.
To be kind I joined him to watch cricket and I just happened to love it. Before I knew it I understood the rules and cheered like crazy.
So now I'm watching the IPL T20 tournament in India and my favorite team is Chennai Super Kings.
Dhoni is the king of the kings!

4/21/2013

Sun and lots of rain

Lucky Leya who got to take a swim in the pool before the rain, thunder and lightning began.

A cup of tea by the Fewa lake in Pokhara is a treat even on a cloudy day.

4/17/2013

Pokhara

Yesterday I came home after a few hectic and fun days in Delhi.
Tomorrow we are going to Pokhara for a few days. We really need a few days holiday together.

4/11/2013

Delhi

Reached Delhi last night and today I've been to Kenari bazar taking lots and lots of photos, 466 exactly, of trims, feathers, crochet. You name it!
It is so hot here I could walk around with an IV and still get dehydrated.
I love India, but I'm glad we live in Nepal. The climate is so much better.

4/09/2013

New baby

Yesterday Chanda didi, sister, gave birth to yet another baby girl in the family.
Girlpower!

4/07/2013

Tom the Crane

Click here to see a short film from my parents home.
Forward to 13.22 and you can see my parents house and the crane Tom who comes every year to visit on the terrace.

Delhi

On Wednesday I'm going to Delhi for a few days to do some business.
I'm really looking forward to go back to our old neighborhood and meet old friends.
This photo is taken on Main Bazar road.

4/06/2013

Holiday

Yesterday Leya's school semester ended and the girls celebrated with an ice cream, like they do every day.
Leya and Eva has been going to different schools the last seven months, but now Eva is going to shift to Leya's school and they are both so happy about it.

Today we celebrated summer by inflating the pool and fill it with water.
Sweethearts!

3/31/2013

Easter party

Yesterday we celebrated Easter with family and friends.
We had a fantastic day!
Click here for more photos.

3/29/2013

Happy Easter!

I wish you all a pleasant evening together with family and friends.
Tomorrow we'll have a party here on our terrace with painting on eggs, sausages and fishing in fish pond.
A photo of Leya from last year's Easter celebrations.

3/27/2013

The International Women Conference

Leya and I went to the conference in the afternoon.
See photos here.
Then I interviewed the woman from Afghanistan who fights for women's rights with danger for her life.
She revealed things about US you will never read about in any newspaper.
When the article is finished I'll let you know.

3/26/2013

Holi Festival of Colors

Today we celebrated Holi here in Nepal. By we I don't mean all of us. I hid indoors all day while it was a water war among the houses, including our house.
I think you either have to be young or drunk to appreciate this.

3/25/2013

International women conference

Today I went to the first day of the international women conference organized by the Swedish left wing political party, Vänsterns Internationella Forum and the local organization All Nepal Women Association.
Click for more photos here.

Indian baby Zoya

This is Zoya Eshwar, our Indian friends Stalin and Geetha's beautiful grand daughter.
She is sooo cute!!!

3/24/2013

Swedish visitors

Last week we had four Swedish friends visiting us.
Åsa and Fidde are working with charity in India and they came to Nepal for the first time and they just LOVED it.
One of the projects they work with is Sahara.
Read more here.

Marianne visited us for the third year in a row and she also loves Nepal. She visited Nepal the last time 30 years ago and Kathmandu has developed from a medieval city to a quite modern one.

A friend to Åsa and Fidde, Anna a tourist guide living in Goa came to renew her visa and Friday evening we had a party on our terrace since it was the last night before they went back to Delhi.

3/15/2013

School picnic

Today Leya went on her first school picnic and she was double happy.
First she was happy for the trip and second her first tooth fell out when she brushed her teeth this morning. So now we hope the tooth fairy finds her way here.
A Cinderella dress is a must for a school picnic.

3/12/2013

Business visa

Yesterday we finally got our business visa.
After 3 years of struggling with short term tourist visas this is just fantastic and we are so happy.

3/11/2013

NepalSisters

I've posted some videos of Leya and Eva at YouTube as NepalSisters and the Nepalese people are amazed that Leya speaks such a perfect Nepali.
Alina, a 23 year old women has adopted Leya and all of us as her family and she is a sweet girl studying and working with media.
She wants to make a series of episodes with NepalSisters.
Click here for the first episode.

3/10/2013

My latest project

Click here.

Chilli

I can't believe it, but suddenly I enjoy eating spicy food.
During my childhood mom only used salt and pepper in the food, so taking the step to actually liking spicy food is like landing on the sun for me.
Amazing that the body can change that much.

3/06/2013

Strike season

A friend of ours with black humor says it's strike season and we can only agree.
One day the kids are free from school and the next they are going. Soon the strikes will be mixed with festivals, like the International Women's day on Friday and the big Shiva festival on Sunday.
Lucky we are not as Swedish as the Nepalese Parent-school organization that demands school fee back for the days the kids can't go to school.
I just say. "Relax! There is always a new strike coming up."

3/04/2013

Alina

Leya has got a new big sister.
Her name is Alina and she is 20.
Watch her sing here.
So cute!

3/03/2013

Strike

Today it's strike and we are happy we don't have a schedule job we have to go to.
Strikes are rarely planned and most of the time we have no idea why they are striking.
So the kids got one more free day this week. No point in going "Swedish" about it since they go to school six days a week and that is frankly one day more than necessary.

3/02/2013

Nani

Our sweet Nani was so sick yesterday that we thought she was going to die.
We thought she had got puppy disease. That is very serious with a 50/50 chance of survival.
I was so angry with myself for not taking her to the vet for vaccination. I was going to, but something came up.
The vet came last night to our house and according to him the temp was very high. He said that she didn't have the puppy disease, but was frightened and in a fever shock from a dog fight, I remembered from the day before. Apparently it's possible for animals to be so frightened that they get really sick.
Yesterday he gave her a shot to lower the fever and today he came back to give her a shot full of vitamins.
He vaccinated Angel and Kalee and as soon as Nani is well enough she will be vaccinated too.
Thanks Brahma for letting our baby stay with us!

3/01/2013

My Stand Up

Now I'm really angry!
How can you call Nepal a democracy when the police rounds up 711 youths because they have a different hairstyle or an earring? This is a serious invasion on the personal integrity and is not preventing robberies or hooliganism.
By forcing them to cut their hair just add to the alienation to Nepal already felt by many young people in Nepal.
Having long hair has nothing to do with being a criminal. The government should sweep in front of their own door before taking this awful, in my point of view, criminal action.
I support you guys! Keep your hair growing!
Read more here.