Hiked up to Hattiban

There is a BIG hill that we can see behind House of Hope, and this morning Cally, Prerna, Ester and climbed up for breakfast and a coffee at the hotel at the top.

We set off at 7am to miss the scorching weather and were treated to some beautiful misty valleys.

  

We made it up in the double quick time of two hours, the mist cleared and we had amazing views of Kathmandu valley!! The girls were hilarious, I think it was their first ever walk, let alone hike. It was great fun though, and they enjoyed it, (I think).

      

It’s Diwali at the moment, or Deepawali or Tihar as the Nepali’s call it. There’s been lots of music playing, firecrackers going off and lights on the houses. Dogs, cows and people all have tikas and there is a generally festive mood in the air. The other night a group of women came knocking and sung to the house (like Christmas carollers I was told). Cally had to dance with them, and the kids who were still awake got huge merriment out of seeing very tall Cally being twirled by a very short Nepali woman.I had too have a wee boogy too, but since I had a sleeping Sabina in my arms, got out of it pretty quickly!

I’m going to stay in Thamel tomorrow with Cally to help her buy gifts and enjoy a hot chocolate cake at OR2K. (Remember those mum?!) I’ve been having MASSIVE cravings for different food, not helped by Cally who always thinks up perfectly heavenly meals. So I think woodfired pizzas and beer will be the order of the day! It’s Cally’s last day in Nepal, but I’ll be seeing her in London fairly soon, so that’s exciting. I’ve got less than two weeks left here! Then to India for a five days to meet Patrick, then off to the UK! It’s flying by, yet I feel like I’ve been here for ever.

Can anyone tell me what to do on my camera in really bright weather? I think its the altitude, but some photos come out really overexposed or something.