a few of my favorite things

some of my favorite things....

the nightly down poors that the rainy season brings. love falling asleep to the sound of rain

the way my 5 year old friend says "see you tomorrow" rather then just good bye

2hr full massage for only 1,000 Nepali rupies  (12$ USD)

chacos. just about every American living in this country has a pair. chaco's home page

The DVD rental store. Two DVDs for 70 rupies (90 cents)

Skype = weekly chats with friends and family

skype home page


Sermon series on Ruth...you have to check this out Ruth sermons

the song "Faithful" by Enter the Worship Circle

I WANT TO SING YOU A LOVE SONG, YOU ARE THE THIEF OF MY HEART

RHYTHM AND RHYME TRY TO DESCRIBE IT

NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRY...I CAN`T HIDE ITFAITHFUL, YOU ARE FAITHFUL

I HAVE FOUND NOTHING BUT GOOD IN YOUR HEART

LOVING, YOU ARE LOVING

I AM IN LOVE WITH THE WAY THAT YOU ARE

THANKFUL, I AM THANKFUL

I HAD BEEN RUNNING AWAY ON MY OWN

AND THEN YOU FOUND ME, OH HOW YOU LOVE ME

I KNOW YOU`LL NEVER LEAVE, LEAVE ME ALONEI WANT TO SING YOU A LOVE SONG, FOR YOU

ARE THE LOVE OF MY LIFE

RHYTHM AND RHYME TRY TO EXPLAIN IT

NO MATTER HOW HARD I TRY, I CAN`T CONTAIN IT

weekend trip

This past weekend my team decided to take a little retreat. We went to Pokhara, a place known for it's beautiful lake and and the Annapurna mountain range. Due to the rainy season it was too cloudy to actually see the mountains but that did not inhibit our team from having a fun weekend. 

Pokhara is only 124 miles from KTM but it takes between 5-7 hours to get there...depending on traffic.

Being from the West Coast I constantly find myself missing the water. Although Pokhara's lake is nothing compared to the Pacific Ocean having breakfast next to the water was bliss. It felt nice to sit and relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery. 

On Saturday our team decided to go out for a "team building" experience. We had no idea where we were going or what we were in for. After seeing a few key signs we all realized that we were going to check out some caves. As I flip through the files of my memory I'm pretty sure that I have never been in a proper cave...and to be honest with you  have never longed to do so. I am however usually up for an adventure so I was pretty excited about this cave experience. 

The first cave was pretty small. As we followed the "EXIT" sign we started to become a little leery of the so called exit and it's Nepali size opening. After a few well placed foot steps and a little maneuvering we all made it out and we were off "to the Bat Cave."

Now, in Nepal, one NEVER knows what to expect. Will this Bat Cave have hundreds of bats or did they just name it the bat cave for kicks? Will the exit be small again? How important will it be to have a flash light? These were just a few of the questions we had. As we walked down the stairs to the cave we saw a little hole with an "exit" sign above it. We all briefly looked at this hole and thought "surly, this is not the exit. there is no way a person could fit through that hole there is probably another exit some place else." Folks, let me just tell you that western thought and logic has no place in Nepal.

As we deceded into the cave it was big and did indeed have some bats on the ceiling. All in all it was pretty neat...that is until Tammy decided to check out a trail she saw. This trail took us UP. Climbing over rocks we came to a small opening with a tiny bit of light coming out (I forgot to mention that our flashlights were indeed essential due to the pitch black interior of the cave) After a small debate we realized that this hole was the way to the exit. The hole would lead us to a small cavern that in tern had another small hole also known as the exit. 

We decided to send the biggest person through first. Our logic being, if he could make it out then the rest of us could make it as well. After two people successfully made it out it was my tern. Getting out was more difficult then I had anticipated. It involved wedging myself in this hole, twisting into a position where I could get on my belly and then belly crawl out. 

There was a moment of panic when I thought that I was gonna be stuck in that little crawl space. All I could imagine was my two team mates on the outside pulling and the other two teammates below pushing. No way was I gonna be the sad chubby team mate that had to be pushed out. At that moment I refused to be like Whinny the Pooh eating too much honey and having to be pushed out of the tree. With sheer determination I squeezed through the hole and with a shout of joy and relief exclaiming "I made it!! I made it through."

Everyone made it out. We were all dirty and sweaty from the experience but it was fun. It was indeed a team bonding experience and one of those Nepal moments that I will fondly look back on. 

Sunday afternoon came all too soon and we piled into the car to head back into the city. If you are ever in Nepal I would highly recommend taking a trip into Pokhara. I know it's on my list of places to visit again. 

flat tyre

If you know my family very well then you would know of the Van Wyk curse. (stay with me if you are not superstitious)

You see, my family has a curse of the vehicle. By the time my sister and I were driving there was always at least one out of the four cars that was not working properly. When my sister married a mechanic we all breathed a sigh of relief thinking that the curse had been broken....that was until I moved to Nepal. For you see, the curse followed me half way around the world to Nepal.

It seems like a weekly event that there is something wrong with my scooter. Two weeks ago the battery would not charge. Last week I managed to tangle up the kick stand with the kick start...it was weird.

After that was fixed I managed to almost hit a pedestrian but rather then slam into him I laid my bike down nocking the right light out and causing some cosmetic damage.

The other day I needed to get to the bank by 3:30 before it closed due to my severe lack of funds. As I left my side of town I noticed something was wrong. I quickly realized that I had a flat tyre. The great thing about Nepal is that if you walk long enough you will indeed find a shop that will fix your tire....they are everywhere.

Thankfully there was a place not to far from where I had pulled over. As the tyre boy pulled out the tube inside my tire I quickly realized that I this was not going to be an easy fix. It was obviously old and had been patched up more than once. So the tyre boy started the process of patching up the newest hole. The whole time I am looking at my watch while agreeing with the owner of the fine tyre establishment that yes, indeed I need a new tire. At this time it was almost 2pm...leaving me 1/1/2 hours before the bank closed.

Finally the tyre was patched. All that was left to do was put some air in it and hold it under water just to make sure their were no other holes.

As the boy headed to the water the thoughts in my head were "please God, let this be done so that I can get to the bank"...but that was not Gods plan....there was another hole.

So the tyre boy went through the whole 30 min process of patching up the tyre for the second time. After he was finished he put air in it and headed for the water. This time my thoughts were "please please please God, let this be the last time. If it is finished now I can still make it to the bank...I even promise to blog about the miracle you performed by making my tyre as good as new"....but this was not Gods plan....another hole was found.

To sum up this story I sat there for a while longer watching the boy patch up two more holes. Needless to say I never made it to the bank. Ridiculous sequence of events? maybe...Surprising? not really.

So, why do I blog even though there was no "miracle"? Although there was not a "miracle" per say I can still see God's provision. The bike shop was literally just steps from where I had pulled over. I had just enough money to cover the "patch job" thus allowing me to go to the bank the following day. Although it took a lot of time to get it done is was for the most part an easy fix.

My parents have always taught my sister and I to be self sufficient. I learned how to change a tyre when I was 17. I have had to put snow chains on my tyre in the middle of a storm.

Although there are times when I would love to call my Dad, Brother in Law, or Husband (no, I don't have a husband but it sure would be nice to call out for one) that is not an option for me here in Nepal. God, however has always been faithful to take care of me...even in the midst of the Van Wyk vehicle curse.

muddy mess

last monsoon season I blogged about my road turning into a river. It has taken a year but the powers that be have decided to pave our road.

Before the road could be paved a new drainage system needed to be installed. So for the past two months "they" have been digging up the road and laying pipes. It is a long tedious process that is slowed down by the rain. (making one question why did the start during monsoon)

I just recently found out that the black top can not be laid until the dirt is packed and completely dry...in other words this road will not be paved until JANUARY!

So for the next five months my road will continue to be a muddy mess.

As I squeeze along the side of the road in order to avoid the mud pit I repeat to myself "this will be paved, this will be paved...good will come of this."

loosing a toe nail

I don't know what it is about the country that makes me loose my toe nails....

maybe it is because I am constantly in sandals or flip flops.

This most recent occurrence happened when I had to jump start my scooter while wearing flip flops. My foot slipped and I jammed my toe into the bike.

I knew thew there was something amiss with my toe when the toenail turned black surrounded by shades of yellow. I had painted over the ugliness only to have the nail fall off.

Now, I am left with nine painted toes and a nubbin of a toe nail. (sigh) It is not the first time I have lost a toe nail and I'm sure that it is not the last.

BTW ...
yes there is mud on my toe...I did not wash my feet before taking the picture

I did not realize how ugly my feet were until I took an up close photo of them

a mystery

there is a mystery that I have been dealing with since rainy season started...

I have frogs in my house.

They are of all sizes, big, tiny, and medium size. I will be sitting in my living room and one will hop across the floor. Once I spot said frog I go through the process of cornering the frog, catching it, and then releasing it back into the wild.
trying to catch the frog in my house
releasing the frog into the wild...aka my back yard

What I want to know is how are these frogs getting into my home!?!?!

I've checked all the windows and doors. I have yet to find a crack big enough for them to come through.
All of my drains are covered except one...the squatty.
My theory is that the little frogs are coming up and out of the squatty toilet.

So, what do I do now? Are there frog traps? Can I put some sort of powder in the squatty to keep them out? What are the chances that they will lay frog eggs in my toilet? What does one do with frogs in the house...or toilet as it may be? (sigh)

As they say in Nepal "ke garne" (what to do?)

Kathmandu and Food

One of my favorite things about living in Kathmandu are the restaurants. For years tourist have been coming to Kathmandu. thus having a large influence on some of the places to eat here.

Now, the food is not always guaranteed to be good. There are days when it is a hit or miss. One is however, guaranteed some great atmosphere. Most of the restaurants are indoor/outdoor. Some of them are housed inside refurbished stables and old buildings from the time when kings of old ruled Nepal. There are always candles on the table and fresh flowers in vases.

A few of the local favorites play jazz on certain nights of the week. That is where this whole blog was inspired.

A guy named Sean Michael came to KTM just a few weeks ago. He is "internet famous" for auditioning in season 6 of american Idol. It is with this "fame" that he is able to get into just about any bar, cafe, or restaurant to play his music. He is a strait forward Christian and his music clearly shares his love for Jesus. A bunch of friends and I went down to a restaurant called New Orleans cafe to hear him sing.

To my happy surprise my friend "Kav" opened for him. While Kav lived in KTM she lead worship for our house church. Let me just tell you this girl can sing.


You would think that living in a third world country a girl might get skinny from lack of food. Suffice it to say that this girl has no problems finding good places to eat. If you are ever in KTM here are a few of my faves....

* Fire and Ice-the pizza, lasagna, and ice cream are some of the best in town. It is the only place that serve soft serve ice-cream
* Road House-it's a pizza place as well but I love them for the hummus and ranch chicken wrap
* Downtown-the best Indian food...and mashed potatoes
* The Red Dingo-Australians run this place and they have a great chicken pot pie...and it is rumored that Orlando Bloom eats here when he is visiting Nepal
* Mikes Breakfast-waffles
* She' Caroline-Amazing Italian food and great atmosphere
* The Lazy Gringo- the ONLY mexican food place in town...and it's family owned (wink wink)
* Tsherigns Resteraunt-the best Nepali food around and her kids are likely to entertain you while you wait.

WARNING
***many of my favorite foods are dependent upon electricity
***restaurants are not liable for food poisoning
***hair found in food is not grounds for making a restaurant bad
***there is ALWAYS a charge for refills.