Kathmandu Again and Back to Doha

With the build over, myself and one other team member are headed back to Kathmandu.  One of the hotel staff was born on Christmas day so we got him a  pile of cream donuts and stuck candles in them.   Homer Simpson would be proud.  He fed us each a piece and we all said our goodbyes and headed out to the airport.

The others have a different itinerary that was organized by HFH but I have another paper coming up and I can’t afford to let it go unattended any longer.  Originally the plan was to fly back out to Doha same day, but when I found out about the possibility of a Christmas flight to see Mt. Everest I changed my plans.  So instead I extend my stay to the 26th.  Myself and the other team member, who also happens to work at the same college do some more sightseeing and have a few nice meals together. On a couple of solo excursions I try out the rooftop cafes in the Thamel market area.  A few floors up I get a birds eye view of Kathmandu, removed from all the sounds and chaos on the streets below.  Nobody else is on the roof top right now, I enjoy a Nepali Milk tea and bask in the zen-ness of the moment.  The flight back to Doha is uneventful,   I watch a couple of movies and relax, arriving back in the sands close to midnight.

I’m back in Doha now.  I have another week to rest before work starts up again.  I’m hoping to take advantage of this time and really get a jump on the next paper.  I also have to work on a dissertation proposal due by month’s end.  Nepal was beautiful, I enjoyed the work and the week immensely.  One of the people I worked with said he always gained perspective by doing these trips.  As for me, I’m still digesting everything.  I don’t really know what to say for the time I spent over there, the people on our team were all great, everyone contributed and got along.  I can say that while I worked hard each day, it never felt like work.  I guess all I can say is thanks to everyone, it was a pleasure and a privilege to be involved in this project.