Safe and Sound!

Well, after recovering from our 25-hour whirlwind tour through Asia's most nondescript airports, I am happy to report that we are back in California and full of hugs and stories to share! I will be on the West Coast until August 18, so if you're around here -- call or email and we'll meet up! I'll see all you East Coasters soon enough :-)

xo,
Jeni

Nepal Meets Jeeni and Jeni

Our Nepali experience is difficult to blog... We have had every free second monopolized with either work for NGOs, research or outrageous and lavish plans, not that we're complaining. Although we have been on the go non-stop, most of our experiences have been absolutely surreal. Not a normal day has gone by. I will leave you all with a few snipits and conversation leads for when we return. Nepal is much too rich in detail and outlandish that it is an in-person conversation must.

We received the biggest compliment a few nights ago. Jeni and I were sitting at a table with one of our Nepali "brothers," a Canadian filmmaker documenting human rights violations, and a Spanish musician and his well traveled father. As we were simultaneously maintaining conversations with everyone at the table, from Jeni talking about Depleted Uranium to me testing out my Spanglish, the Canadian blurted out, "someone should really make a documentary film on you two, you're like real life cartoon characters!" He insisted on getting our contact information and we were flattered.

Like I have mentioned to some of you (there are over 50 people we've counted that are visiting this blog), we have been living the VIP life here in Nepal.

July 18, Monday. We arrived in Nepal and had yet another harrowing experience with a taxi driver who wouldn't take us to our hotel. He claimed that it fell down. I was about to make him fall down. We ended up getting out of his taxi, getting a police officer involved and walking to our hotel, which was still standing. We received a very warm welcome at Hotel Karma, where the management immediately recognized Jeni from her and Karen's visit three years prior. (Karen everyone says to say "Namaste", including the folks down at New Orleans!) We were escorted to the "Penthouse," a small but nice room on the top floor with an incredible view of the city and mountains. After some relaxing and intense shower time, we treated ourselves to a fancy meal and stiff drinks at a nearby Thai restaurant. Delicious. During dinner an American at a neighboring table started up a conversation with us. After a few minutes of getting to know ya questions, Jeni guessed that he worked for NDI, the National Democratic Institute. He was astonished. Turns out he runs the Nepal branch and was currently arranging Tom Daschle's week long visit, including a meeting with the King of Nepal. A great contact in this small world. Next, Jeni and I headed to an Irish Pub we had passed earlier for some Guinness. The only thing Irish about the place was the big green sign. It turned out to be a local disco with nothing on tap and only local or Spanish beer. We settled for some cocktails and got the place dancing within 5 minutes. They didn't have smoke machines, but they did have a guy with coals in a metal dish walking around the place to make it foggy. Bizarre. We weren't in appropriate dancing attire, so after a few songs we headed off to the next joint. We chose a place blaring good American rock music and we were fortunate enough to meet a local social elite/young business man. We all bonded over our shared love of Corona with a lime and American politics! This guy became our first Nepali "brother." He runs a very successful travel agency, is part owner in several hotels, has side businesses in Nepali crafts and Samsung appliances and is a past politician with friends in high places. He sounds just like Austin Powers with a Hindi accent, so we have nicknamed him Austin. Austin is a bit obsessed with the western world and immediately volunteered to be our personal social and tour guide in return for our entertaining conversation skills and being spotted around town with mysterious Cali girls on each arm. Lucky us!

Here are some of the crazy situations we found ourselves in during the past two weeks.

We had a 21" TV and DVD player delivered to our hotel room because we complained to Austin that there weren't any American movies at the local theaters.

On a brunch date with our second Nepali Brother, a military officer, we nonchalantly mentioned that we missed swimming. Within an hour, we found ourselves in a car with the owner of a local fancy resort. We spent the afternoon at a Vegas style pool, complete with drinks with umbrellas, a waterfall and hours of swimming and laying by the pool.

In addition, when we mentioned that we couldn't find any bars or restaurants that had hookah, our second Nepali Bro had one delivered to our hotel, complete with a year’s supply of tobacco.

Our third and final Nepali Brother, a colonel and second man to the King was intrigued by our passion to save the world and arranged for us to have a meeting with the Environment Minister so Jeni could conduct an interview. An amazing display of pulling of strings. When we first arrived, we were treated like little girls. After a few minutes of discussion, we had their full attention. I think Jeni even taught them a thing or two about environmental security. They have asked us to stay in contact.

We have been asked to be advisers to a large local non-profit that deals with conflict-victim children (like kids hurt by landmines and former child soldiers). When we arrived at the meeting we were presented with bouquets of flowers and cold Coca Cola!

We have met Nepali pop stars, high ranking politicians, had drinks two tables away from a princess, been to every good restaurant in town, watched local Nepali dance shows, been to 5 star dance clubs, been escorted by military men or police officers nearly every time we have gone dancing (a necessity for safe booty shakin'), a driver is sent every time we need to go anywhere or do anything and I have been all over the country side on a motorcycle!

Ask us about all of the above and more!

I can hardly wait to down a yummy venti iced Caramel Machiato, non-fat, no whip, extra caramel!

Love Jeeni