A lovely few days with my mother and a post for Sophie.

Lisa turned up early, so we got to hang out for longer! She is here tomorrow as well, but I thought I’d share some photos. We have done LOTS of shopping, and I got skipping ropes for the kids. Man, best idea EVER. This evening was spent with giggling little girls, shrieking girls, excited girls, and a slightly bemused Rajan.

    

Having a crazy hair day. Having a crazy hair month I think. The girls were so excited though! It makes me want to go buy so many toys for them, they are so appreciative and get so much joy out of the smallest things.

The post for my dear friend Sophie is more to do with our shopping excursions, and all the fabulous fabrics, and embroidery we’ve come across. Mum bought a cashmere cardigan in Thamel, and I got some beautiful pashminas to give as gifts.

       

Lots of hand-dyed, or hand-printed, or hand-embroidered, and little crazy sewing machine embroidered, wall hangings, sheets, scarves, quilts, stacked in shops, hanging in the street, piled everywhere! If I manage to find out more I’ll let you know.

The other day Prerna came into Thamel with us, and we visited the Garden of Dreams. I had already been there with Kinnari the other day (still haven’t gotten round to writing about it), but it is a BEAUTIFUL little tranquil spot right in Kathmandu, and you couldn’t believe it. It cuts out the hot, dusty, noisy street and leaves you with a serene, quiet, cool garden based on Edwardian estates in the UK.

In the 1920’s the son of the Prime Minister, Kaiser some-one, won 1 lak (100,000 rupees) in a game of cowrie shells with his father. He spent the money on a 4 acre garden based on the ones he’d seen in the UK, to complement his palace, with 6 pavilions for each of the Nepali seasons. It fell into complete disrepair, and turned almost jungle like, until 2006 when an Austrian organisation funded its restoration. There are a few changes to the original, and it is now only 1 acre with 3 pavilions, but it is a true little oasis inside Kathmandu. Along with free wi-fi, you can lie on the grass on lawn mats in the sun, or swing on the bamboo swing set up for Dasain, or even eat in the flashy little cafe in the eastern Pavilion. Man, I just re-read that and I sound like an advertisement. But here are photos to prove it! Most are from my trip in with Kinnari when we spent 3 hours here, writing postcards, looking around, escaping the heat and drinking ice-tea.

         

 

This photo is from House of Hope this evening. Sweet dreams! I hope the cicadas are out now. x