Spent the last four days in Kathmandu. Hot and dusty but great fun. It is great spending $2 on a beer and $7 on a good meal.
Things have got run down since I was last here and that is sad but still lots to see and do. Most people I have talked to are very excited by the Maoists taking over as the see the previous leaders as corrupt and doing nothing for the people.
Going by the newspapers and the reaction of the previous leaders the people's views are probably true. There is a sense that things can improve from here.
The place is still wonderfully exciting and interesting and really hits you in the face.
Tomorrow we head off on the trek. Five hours on a bus and then into the mountains. Can't wait.
Next blog will probably be after the trek in 20 or so days. Although it may be possible to write some thoughts in the mountains.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Friday, April 25, 2008
Bangkok
So the first part of the journey begins. Found a free wifi in the motel so can do a blog.
The house may of sold the day before leaving so a huge job packing up the house and getting things organised. Then to a lawyer and off to the airport. Except the plane was leaving an hour earlier than we were given so we were the last people to check on.
Never was able to make all the phone calls we wanted to make from the airport.
Long flight to Bangkok. I hate the last hour of those flights with 'cabin fever' taking over. Nice food and service on Thai Air but all well and good. Easiest customs ever.
Nice cheap hotel near the airport. Very quiet!
And cheap bar and food down the road. $NZ10 for food and beers for two. Warm but not hot and poured with rain last night.
Next posting Kathmandu.
The house may of sold the day before leaving so a huge job packing up the house and getting things organised. Then to a lawyer and off to the airport. Except the plane was leaving an hour earlier than we were given so we were the last people to check on.
Never was able to make all the phone calls we wanted to make from the airport.
Long flight to Bangkok. I hate the last hour of those flights with 'cabin fever' taking over. Nice food and service on Thai Air but all well and good. Easiest customs ever.
Nice cheap hotel near the airport. Very quiet!
And cheap bar and food down the road. $NZ10 for food and beers for two. Warm but not hot and poured with rain last night.
Next posting Kathmandu.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Shave 08
The senior learners at the school have been raising money for Shave 08 which is for child cancer. If they managed to get to $3500 I said I would also get my hair cut.
So over $7000 later on the last day of term it was the big haircut.
I was hugely impressed with the way the learners organised this especially Head Boy Max. A politician in the making.
I feel a little cold around the ears especially with a change of temperature. But two days till I am off to Kathmandu where the temperature is over 30 degrees C.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Nepal
With the end of term racing near my thoughts are moving towards the next few weeks. This term I have a sabbatical for one term.
The first part of this is travel in Nepal and India. So there will be a few posts coming from the Nepal when I can get near some civilization. We are planning to be trekking around the Annapurna circuit. There are interesting environmental developments in this area so this will be good to see.
I have been keeping my eye on what is going on in Nepal. As many people may know there has been a Maoist insurgency there for the last 15 years. A ceasefire last year resulted in elections last week.
Well amazingly the Maoists (or terrorists according to United States) are winning the election and look likely to set up the next government and then write a new constitution. Hard to get news over in New Zealand (nothing ever heard or read) but you can keep up to date here. Even more surprising the election appears fair and not corrupt. The election observers were from the Carter Institute (Jimmy Carter ex-US president).
Is this the first time a Maoist party has ever cooperated in election and then won the election? Who said communism (let alone radical Maoist thought) had no place in this century?
Should be a very interesting time to visit!
The first part of this is travel in Nepal and India. So there will be a few posts coming from the Nepal when I can get near some civilization. We are planning to be trekking around the Annapurna circuit. There are interesting environmental developments in this area so this will be good to see.
I have been keeping my eye on what is going on in Nepal. As many people may know there has been a Maoist insurgency there for the last 15 years. A ceasefire last year resulted in elections last week.
Well amazingly the Maoists (or terrorists according to United States) are winning the election and look likely to set up the next government and then write a new constitution. Hard to get news over in New Zealand (nothing ever heard or read) but you can keep up to date here. Even more surprising the election appears fair and not corrupt. The election observers were from the Carter Institute (Jimmy Carter ex-US president).
Is this the first time a Maoist party has ever cooperated in election and then won the election? Who said communism (let alone radical Maoist thought) had no place in this century?
Should be a very interesting time to visit!
Last Weekend
Last weekend drove to Palmerston North for a rushed trip for the opening of an Art exhibition at Te Manawa. The exhibition was a retrospective of the work of John Bevan Ford. John died in 2005 and is the father of my wife. I had known John for only a few years but he had influence on most people he met through his vision and ideas.
It was humbling to see so many pieces of art depicting John's work over many years. With about 70 works on display (a couple from our collection) it is an exhibition well worth seeing. If you are in Palmerston North drop in and see it (is there much else to do in Palmerston North). I think it is also going to tour.
It was humbling to see so many pieces of art depicting John's work over many years. With about 70 works on display (a couple from our collection) it is an exhibition well worth seeing. If you are in Palmerston North drop in and see it (is there much else to do in Palmerston North). I think it is also going to tour.
Year 12
I got some interesting feedback from a previous post about 'role modelling' of our older learners. The comments were probably warranted.
But something is different for teenagers around 16 or so. They see their role as individuals in the school as quite different and are developing an understanding of their place in the world. I have always found people of this age wonderfully stimulating with their energy and thought.
With that age group not in our school for four years it is great to see things happening based around their enthusiasm and ideas.
But something is different for teenagers around 16 or so. They see their role as individuals in the school as quite different and are developing an understanding of their place in the world. I have always found people of this age wonderfully stimulating with their energy and thought.
With that age group not in our school for four years it is great to see things happening based around their enthusiasm and ideas.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Some interesting posts
Those of you are little older, about my age can identify the changes that have occurred in computer technology. Two interesting posts one looking forward and one looking back.
The history of memory storage gives a visual picture of how computing storage has changed. Way back when I was at university in the late 70s we were the last student to use punch cards. We were also told as it happens (by the university professors) not to do computing because everything had been done. This was pre-PC, the Internet was not even a word, and Google was just a big number. I listened to them, I wonder how my world would be different if I had not.
The second post is about super fast internet being developed at CERN laboratories in Europe. The entire Rolling Stones back catalogue in 2sec. Bring it on.
The history of memory storage gives a visual picture of how computing storage has changed. Way back when I was at university in the late 70s we were the last student to use punch cards. We were also told as it happens (by the university professors) not to do computing because everything had been done. This was pre-PC, the Internet was not even a word, and Google was just a big number. I listened to them, I wonder how my world would be different if I had not.
The second post is about super fast internet being developed at CERN laboratories in Europe. The entire Rolling Stones back catalogue in 2sec. Bring it on.
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