Tongba

Tongba is a millet-based traditional alcoholic drink, sometimes also called hot beer.  

I took a sip and called it quits, some enjoyed it more than I did though.

Spring break: Part 1 - Kiev, Ukraine

We split our spring break between 2 places - Kiev and Stockholm.  Probably sounds a bit random, but we have friends in both places we were visiting.

Kiev was much nicer than I was expecting. It definitely had what you would think of as a Russian feel to it (though we've never been to Russia so who knows). We found it had good food, transportation, parks, enough shopping but not crazy shopping, and was incredibly inexpensive (has obviously fluctuated a lot in the last year).

With an absence of playgrounds in Kathmandu, this was one of our first stops

Watching the kids play at the playground

Independence Square, or Maidan Nezalezhnosti, the central square in Kiev; 

site of massive protests in 2013

Candles at Independence Square

Coffee from a pink snail?  Yes please.

Another park

Andreevskaya, or Saint Andrew, Church on Andreevsky Spusk street

Architecture

Love the gold roofs

We spent 4 days in Kiev and could have spent more, but having a friend/tour guide certainly helped!  Next up: Spring break Part 2 - Stockholm!  

Fan from abroad

Check out Jeremiah over on the Timber's website today!

Village welcome

Part of my trek a few weeks ago was visiting small villages who shared their space with us, letting us set up our tents to stay overnight.  These villages are remote and not on a typical trekker's path so they don't often see expats.  Twice we were welcomed by a full ceremony complete with flowers, tikkas, speeches, thank yous, singing, and dancing.  It was fun and awkward and humbling.  With no way to communicate with many of the villagers I put all my effort into the most expressive thank you face I could deliver, brought my hands together, and bowed.  It's something, putting all your energy into that simple gesture.

Sari shopping

I've been itching to get a sari since I got here, but what with babies and all I didn't get around to it until now.  With a fundraising event to go to I decided it was a good time to wear one.

Walking into the shop was quite overwhelming but luckily I had a few friends with me who had done it before.  We took our shoes off, hopped up on the platform and started running our hands through the stacks and stacks of sari fabric.  As we narrowed it down to a few different options we asked the ladies working to wrap us up.  A few absolute no's and a few thrown into the maybe pile.  After decisions were made we bargained on the price with the shop owner.

Finally, the tailor came in to take our measurements since we wanted saris made for expats - with a zipper up the side!  Sari's without such modifications rely on expert folding and tucking yards and yards of fabric.  I wasn't bold enough to trust a few folds to hold up all that fabric, it's risky enough baring your stomach!

It was fun to wear and I'm already planning to get another.  (Not sure how many times I will be able to pull-off a hot pink sari, that, yes, matches my hair!)

Holi rescheduled

Holi fell on a work day this year so we rescheduled ours to a convenient Sunday, in our yard.  Water guns + holi powder + toddler = a good time.  Same equation sub the toddler for a 1 year old = a terrible time.  Oh well, maybe next year it'll be his thing.

Happy Holi