Mauritius

This is Axel and this is going to be my blog about Mauritius. I had to go there for work and so I spent almost all of my time with my staff and agents.



The flight was through Delhi and from Delhi to Mauritius it is about 6 or 7 hours. It was long. We got there at night and the next morning I got up early to walk around. The island is surrounded by a coral barrier which kept the waves off shore. It is winter there now and there was a storm for the first two days so I knew my chances of going fishing were out the door. The waves past the coral reef were huge, and I certainly didn’t want to be out in them. But the beach was cool and that morning I walked around on the volcanic rocks near the beach and got the kids some shells and some dead coral.





We then all drove to get on a boat that took us around the island a bit. The island has some cool mountains and it is green of course so I liked that. On the boat we saw a pretty cool waterfall and had some good food. We stopped off at this small island call the isle of the serfs and I went paragliding and did some snorkling. The coolest thing was the birds. I saw about five of them I wanted to catch and take back with me.





The next day we drove to the north of the island and saw Port Louis and a few other cities. Most of the island are Indians with a few Africans and French thrown in. It is strange to see Indians speaking French. We also stopped by a sweet tree garden with tons of awesome trees. Great Ideas for future bonsais. They had about 50 different kinds of palm trees. One actually bloomed. It only does it once in 50 years and then it dies. One of the trees there was blooming so that was cool.
Then the next day some of the agents went on a submarine, but I had been on one before so I didn’t go. We went down south this time and saw mostly the nature. I saw two different waterfalls, the seven sands and lots of other nature related things. We did stop at a hundred foot Shiva. The island is still mostly Hindu, so the agents liked that.





I am going to keep this brief because it is now 6:30 and at 7:00 our whole family is going to Pokhara so we can hang out for a few days (and I can collect orchids/bonsais/butterflies!!!). But my impressions of the island is this; if you have the chance to go and the money to do it, DON’T!!!! Honestly it wasn’t any different than any Caribbean island, right down to the Bob Marley music. The people were totally unhelpful and had the worst of both Africa/India in being kind of dirty and lazy and the French in being stuck up for no reason. I have seen many examples where Africans/Indians are clean and work harder than you can imagine, and I have seen French who are business/service oriented. Mauritius somehow avoided both. There are no orchids on the island and the prices are way too high. Most of the stuff is imported from India, and if you want to buy that kind of stuff, come to Nepal where it is a tenth of the price and the people are humble and service oriented.



To top it off, on our flight back on air Mauritius, the stupid staff there decided NOT to check 28 people’s luggage through to Kathmandu. Only to Delhi, so everyone had to go through immigration twice to get there bags and then recheck in. I was so pissed at them down there I was yelling at them and of course they did nothing. I lucked out in that I have learned that if the trip is less than a week, only take a carry on luggage. If you need something else, that is what credit cards are for.
One other thing that dawned on me on this trip was the similarities between Hinduism and Catholicism. At the time I was reading Ken Follet’s ‘The Pillars of the Earth’ which I recommend. It is a good read. So it was like I was living in a catholic town in 1150 AD in my morning and nights and travelling to Hindu temples with Hindus during the day.




I was struck by how many gods both of them have and the stories they tell. Now your average catholic will probably tell you that they are monotheistic, but to be honest, if you need luck against driving you don’t pray to god, you pray to the saint of keeping you safe on the roads. And there is a handy statue of that saint you can even put in your car. I saw the comparisons when one of the drivers had a ganesh for luck and the other one who was catholic had a small statue of the saint. Both chant and light candles/incense as prayers to the gods. Anyways that was my big revelation for the trip...



And of course I forgot to tell you about the best part of the trip. Walking through the door and seeing three kids running up to me to get hugs and kisses and one beautiful wife to throw my arms around and give her a big kiss. Sometimes even a bad trip is worth it so I can get that at the end.

Blogging Expertise, Please!

I am thankful to my husband's cousins, Paige and Celia, who deferred many people to my site. They are both blogging masters and as a result of their recommendation, I have had WAY more hits than before. Thanks for visiting! And for those of you who haven't checked out their site from mine, take a peek and get ready to laugh.

I must say though, that I feel my blog is not quite as clever or as flashy as many I've seen (I have done my fair share of 'blerking'). So, since I have now tapped into a wealth of information, I ask, "Please, tell me what new features are 'must haves', and what blog sites are worth visiting?"

This blog is really a blog for posterity and yet, if I can find some helpful hints and add some features to make blogging a little easier, please, do tell... Now, because I do live in Nepal, I am restricted on what I can add. For example, I must download only one picture at a time because my connection is too slow for larger files. So, I may not have the luxury of adding multiple videos or slides to my site, but I can always give it a try.

So, to all of you out there who happen upon my site, please share your blogging expertise. I am living in a country where a telephone is a luxury, so your advice is invaluable.

My current humble blogging conditions. This is our set up until our real desk, chair, etc. arrives.

Monkey Temple

Just down the road from our home is the sacred 'Monkey Temple'. The temple can been seen for miles throughout the Kathmandu valley. It sits atop a wooded hill, which provides great views of Kathmandu from almost any direction. It has been a Buddhist pilgrimage destination since the 5th century AD.




Before you climb the 365 steps that lead up to the temple, you must consult your doctor. Otherwise, if you are in ill health, you are most certainly left panting for breath midway, and in your moment of weakness, be eaten by one of the many rabid dogs that roam the premises. Okay, not really, but you may get the feeling that you just climbed Everest once you reach the top.



There is much to see on the Monkey Temple grounds including, well, monkeys. They are mainly pissed off, angry monkeys that hiss whenever you walk by. Or, as Axel would call them, the crap monkeys. But regardless of the kind of monkeys they are, there are plenty of them and they will take food out of any kid's hand.





In addition to monkeys, there are plenty of funky statues depicting various gods. There is even a temple placed in honor Harati, the goddess of smallpox and other epidemics. I think it is just a tad bit strange that one must build a temple in response to a communicable disease, but if you're a country still trying to battle TB, I suppose you could use all the help you could get.



To add to the significance of this place, there is a secret temple in an underground chamber that houses what is to be believed as a centuries old figure who has power over the weather. It is said that if there is a threat of a drought, the King of Nepal would visit this being to bring on the rain. I wish I knew about him during my summers in Dubai, maybe a good rain cloud would have cooled down the constantly unbearable 42 degree weather.

I don't know what is creepier, my children or the statue



The walk led us to some great shopping near the end. You can find Buddha in any color, shape or size, all the new age CD's you could imagine, and dozens of incense fragrances. And luckily for us, not one of us died from poor weather, smallpox or any nasty dog bite, the gods were looking upon us and it was a fun filled afternoon for all!

Summer Camp

Since we have been under house arrest (or so it seems) these past few days, my kids have been climbing the walls. We still have no hope of seeing our things. The container is still sitting in Calcatta and we have no idea when it will be released. As a result, we still live in a hollow home and can only play hide-and-seek and Duck, Duck, Goose so many times. What to do???

What I did do is enroll the kids in a summer camp. It is through the American School here in Kathmandu and it has an excellent program. The school is only around the corner and I feel it is a dear blessing from God. They provide all sorts of programs for the kids from drama, sports, computers and science. They even take the kids 3 times a week to the American Club, which is fully equipt with a swimming pool and playground. The children enrolled in the program range in nationalities, American, Korean, Chinese, European, etc.

These pictures were taken two days ago, their first day. As you can see, Xavier is bursting with excitement!

Our Staff

The following jobs have been filled:



Haleni (Cook/Nanny) - Job requires a competent multitasker who can do several things well at the same time. Must care for 4 very active children including, bathing, feeding, diaper changing, and wiping runny noses (when required). In addition to watching children, you must have excellent culinary skills and after each meal, wash all dishes for family and other staff members. Perks include all trips within and outside of residing country, a deep love from all children and a constant appreciation from employers. Must be willing to relocate.









Kopila (maid) - Must be willing to clean a monstrous home that seems to get continually dirty. Has to be able to clean clothing by hand (for now until our washing machine finally arrives) and capable of getting some of the nastiest stains out. Needs to be able to constantly work around many children and still remain sane. Also, must be willing to translate on a daily basis between employers and other employees without getting really annoyed by the Americans who are slowing trying to learn this impossible language.









Ramash (gardener) - Must be willing to take new employers who will soon take over the home, and not be too sad that the other people left. Daily activities include: continually fill tanks when water runs out, call for help when electricity goes out, care for all trees that have been destroyed by a climbing 4 year old boy, not be angry when goat eats new plants or flowers, feed many, many animals, and humor employer with his many crazy landscaping ideas.





To show this man's devotion to his job, just yesterday, Ramash woke up at 3am and started walking from his village to make it to our home on time for 9am. Because there was a bandha (strike) he could not use any public transportation. But when he arrived, he had this smile on his face.



Vishnu (day guard #1) - Must be willing to guard home during the entire day. Other activities include, playing soccer with bored 4 year old, holding crying 2 year old when she is sad her father left for work, and catch butterflies for owner cause it makes him really, really happy (the more beautiful the butterfly, the better).







Day Guard #2 - Job includes continually smiling even though it sucks to be outside in the rain, saying 'namaste' every afternoon, and be ready to run to the gate at any given time.







Night Guard #1 - Must be willing to put chicken in pen before sundown, ensure goat does not eat plants or flowers, find baby birds to entertain children, weed garden when necessary and not sleep during the evening.







Night Guard #2 - Must be willing to sweep off all fallen leaves and flowers every morning, make nightly walks around the house on an hourly basis, and watch for naked two year old when she escapes and doesn't want to go to bed.







Devendra (driver) - Job includes: magical maneuvers through tiny little streets in a huge van, clean and wash off all spilled milk and crackers on the van floor, listen to crying periodically when a 2 year old no longer wants to be in a seatbelt, bear listening to owner's loud music, drive to remote areas to simply find bonsais, orchids, or butterflies. Must also be willing to carry groceries to van, waiting in petrol lines for hours, and carry a baby when there aren't enough arms.











Carpenter - Must be willing to build animal enclosures for pheasants, chickens, and finches. Job also requires full time work on a sweet Buddha carving that was seen at a hotel. Photos to be posted at a future date.







Farmer - Job includes pulling all the weeds in garden. Must be willing to work around children who try to help but simply pick the top of the weed out and therefore, will be needed to weeded again at a future date.







All jobs posted require only %50 of what is listed. However, thanks to the good people that they are, they are willing to go above and beyond. The employers are forever grateful and will never get used to all this help.



The current positions are open:



Part time cook - To relieve duties of maid/nanny above. Must be available Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Must also be able to purchase all fruit and vegetables and meat (in a state that the employers can't handle seeing).



Part time masseuse - Job includes, weekly massage for family (babies included), and must provide massages for all who visit.



Please apply within.

Left Behind

Axel left this morning for a week to Mauritius (a small island off of Africa near Madagascar)...



We were supposed to tag along, but we ended up home with Ms. Perpetual Poopypants and Mr. Snotty Nose...



To pour salt on our wounds, there are bandhas (strikes) everywhere throughout Kathmandu. The students are upset that the gas prices have gone up and they are demanding a %50 cut on all transportation or petrol fees. Imagine trying that one in the states? Everyone and their dog would enroll in Psych 101. Of course, the Nepalese government isn't moving and it could drag out for a few days. This usually means that we are made to stay in our homes and go nowhere. But, in need of food, my two maids went out to buy fruit and veggies with Heavah and Xavier not too far from the house with our driver. They had to run away from people yelling 'fight'.

Yes, it sucks to be us.

Saturday is a Special Day

Saturday is a special day cause it is the day we go to church here in Nepal. I am not sure why, and no one here really seems to have an answer for it. So it is. Therefore, it looks like we will be attending 'Saturday School' and having 'Fast Saturday'.

When we arrived at sacrament meeting, it was so bizarre seeing women in traditional sarees and men in Nepali caps. It was hard to believe it was our church. When the first speaker began her talk, Heavah turned to me and said, 'Wait! Mom, she is talking about Jesus!' I had to a admit, it was so unusual to see a Nepalese person bear their testimony and speak of Jesus' mission. Yet, at the same time although the dresses were different and the people looked different the spirit of the meeting was the same.

Most of the 100 members that normally attend are recent converts to the church. Others have been members for years. We have 3 missionaries out on a mission from Kathmandu. One in India, one at Temple Square, and one stateside (I forget which state). How awesome it is to see these people who have such a deep cultural and religious makeup accept Christ into their lives.

We have a Nepalese bishop who recently overcame the same brain tumor that Axel had. He went to Thailand for the surgery and then was sitting at the pulpit only a month later. Amazing man. Luckily, all other significant callings are filled by Nepalese members and the church is going strong. It is a privilege to be part of this branch. I am sure as time moves on I will have stories to share. I can't wait to get to know the people on a more personal level. At this point the challenge is that most of the members don't speak English. So I guess I need to learn Nepali.

When we were recapping what we had learned at church at the dinner table Heavah said, "Mom, you wouldn't believe how many things at church are the same here as they were in Dubai!" She was surprised and excited to see that although so much else around her had changed in her life, two things remained constant, our family and our faith.

Everest Flight

This is Axel. This last week a friend and co-worker from our regional Dubai office came to help train me on how to audit. I got a chance to show him around a bit here, but the highlight was a flight to see Everest.

There are a couple of different airlines that fly there, but all of them use planes like this:



They all have one seat on either side of the aisle. These are also the same planes I took when I went to Biratnagar and Bitwul.

It makes you feel like you are back in the 50's and you really are Indian Jones taking one of the planes with the big red line drawing a picture on a map in the sky to show where you are going.

Unfortunately it was pretty cloudy. The best time of year to go is in November, but my friend might not be back for a while, so we went now.

Then all of the sudden out of the clouds there they were. The largest mountain range in the world with Everest right in the middle:





I have to admit that it was pretty breathtaking to see. To know that not ony was this the highest mountain in the world, but it was this high above the clouds. And to think that somewhere on that freezing hunk of ice and rock with no O2 there was some guy in climbing gear trying to make it to the top. We were flying exactly the same level as the top of the mountain and it took us 20 minutes of going up to get there in a plane.

There are lots of things I have on my life-list; killing a shark with a speargun, killing a feral pig with my brother Jake using only spears he is going to make just for that, collecting panther chameleons in Madagascar, bow hunting a Kudu in Namibia and collecting a gala from Australia.

Tempting God by climbing Everest is NOT on that list...

gods

I am Mormon and firm in my faith but that has never stopped me from learning about other religions. Hands down, the Hindu religion is the most fascinating to me. I can't help but be a little intrigued by their polytheistic, idol worshiping practices. While in Dubai, I heard about the modern-day Nepali 12 year old goddess Sajani Shakya's retirement, which ended in a ceremonial marriage with a bael fruit. Yes, that's correct, a fruit. She married the fruit this past March. Imagine attending that ceremony and taking it seriously. Do you take this pear during sickness and in health? I mean sure, I get the whole 'marry a fruit' thing, some are quite tasty. But at age 12! They could have at least spent a little time together. You know, get to know each other a little more.

The process is quite interesting though. Shakya was chosen as a goddess according to several factors, 'Does she have eyelashes like a cow? Body like a Banyan tree? Thighs like a deer? You know, the usual criteria that all men look for.



Apparently, this belief is mainly shared only by the Nawari people here in Kathmandu, but Hinduism as a whole has its share of unusual beliefs. I would never claim to be a Hinduism expert, but here are a few of the Hinduism gods that I enjoy the most -

Shiva - He is depicted as an electric blue god and is regarded as the most powerful of all the gods. In other words, he kicks butt and takes names. Nepal loves Shiva. He represents death and dissolution. He is often seen with many arms and appears to be doing a jig every time you see him. He is considered to be one of the most complex of the Hindu godhead.





Vishnu - He is also part of the trinity with Shiva. He is peace-loving and is a preserver and sustainer of life. He has been reincarnated 10 major times all of which have their own significance. He is bound to righteousness, order, and truth. If these things are out of whack, he emerges and restores order and peace on earth. I wish he would come emerge every now and then in my home!



Ganesha - This god is easy to detect cause its the only one with a fat body and a big old elephant head. And if you look carefully, he is always sitting with a mouse. He is the lord of success and destroyer of evil. He is also worshipped as the god of knowledge, wisdom, and wealth. I guess the intellect and money compensates for the bad body image.


Krishna - He is the ninth reincarnation of Vishnu. This blue-skinned deity has influenced the Indian thought, life and culture in myriad ways - not only its religion and philosophy, but also into its mysticism and literature, painting and sculpture, dance and music, and all aspects of Indian folklore. So he's the chap I can thank for all the Bollywood movies and dance. Thanks.



Rama - Is the most popular symbol of chivalry and virtue, Rama is “the embodiment of truth, of morality, the ideal son, the ideal husband, and above all, the ideal king." So, okay, if Axel was ever a reincarnated being, Rama would be it.



Durga - She is known as the Mother Goddess and she embodies the fiery power of all the gods combined. She also personifies the energy of lord Shiva. She is the protector of the righteous, and destroyer of evil. She is the favorite here in Kathmandu and she has a two week celebration (called Dashain) held in her honor. This would be my two year old on a good day.



Kali - She is known as the dark goddess and is the ferocious form of Durga. Kali is represented with the fiercest features amongst all the world's deities. Her tongue protrudes from her mouth, her eyes are red, and her face and breasts are soiled with blood. This is my two year old on a bad day.




As you'll notice many of these gods have more limbs than normal. This is why the place you want to have a freaky condition (3 arms, two noses or a third nipple) is here in Nepal or India. You would be regarded as a reincarnated god. Now if they would only have a god with bowed legs, I'd be set.