David's AW News: Return to Kathmandu!

Greetings from Kathmandu

Hope you are well and didn't get fooled on April Fools Day.. I did!

Yesterday morning, I took a Batik Airways flight from Denpasar to Kuala Lumpur, changed there for Malaysia Air to Kathmandu. Arrived about 10pm local time.

Toni from Spain arrived just before me and was waiting in the lobby of our hotel in downtown Kathmandu. We went for a late night beer to catch up.

Last week, I was telling you about the Melasti Ceremony, which was taking place right by our beach office. No tourists were allowed, but we got a pass. If you missed it, you can catch up here. Or check the YouTube video here. Back in Kathmandu!

This morning, we went to see our delightful shipping agent, Mr Padam. He told us our orders from the last visit are being shipped right now.. and as we progressed to visit one of our other suppliers, we saw our products being loaded onto a truck.. Toni, who has lots of energy, got stuck in to help load. I'm a bit tired from the travelling, and Toni is seriously jet-lagged, but it's great to be back in Nepal, and the people are so happy to see us and welcoming. The maze of alleyways and back streets that is Thamel and home to many giftware artisans, is like a land of opportunity; anything could happen.

After the Melasti cleansing ceremony I was telling you about last week, I went up to Ubud to see the magnificent Ogoh-ogoh parade and dramatic show.. Wow it was epic. The town was crammed to capacity and amid fireworks, incense and light shows the monsters were carried through the streets by youngsters with huge energy.

After the excitement, I checked into a local hotel because at 9pm they already start closing all the roads and the lights are going off - ahead of the Day of Silence, which starts at 6am the next morning.

During this period, after the Ogoh-Ogoh and before the Day of Silence, secret mysterious ceremonies take place in hidden temples. I know because four years ago, during the pandemic, I was here with our guy Bondhan and his wife Debbie, staying in the same hotel.

This was the pandemic, the Ogoh-Ogoh parade had been cancelled - but we heard something was happening in the heart of the monkey forest. So despite restrictions we clambered over a fence and in pitch black sneaked into the Monkey Forest, we could hear gambalan music and chanting and drums..right in the heart of the forest is an ancient temple, weird things were going on there we sneaked as close up as we could.. boy it was scary.. if we got caught I don't know what would have happened. I remember seeing a fire, leaping shadows, incense smoke, and strange dressed priests ringing bells.. I joked it looked like a human sacrifice was happening..

Then a security guy spotted us or heard something and came to see, and we scarpered back to the fence, hearts pounding and escaped.

Anyway, this year after the parade excitement, I'm back in the hotel. So from 6am on Saturday until 6am Sunday, there is no internet, access to outside is not allowed, I can walk around the hotel grounds and that's all, they tell me if I talk to any other guests it should be in a low voice. But I only see a couple of people by the pool reading books. No one talks. One day alone, in total silence - overlooking the Monkey Forest. Actually, it was amazing. I was kind of sad when it was over, but I went for breakfast in a local cafe and several local people I met on the walk there remembered me from the time in the pandemic. So nice in Ubud.

Thanks for your help!

I have to say thank you to everyone that has filled in the questionnaire so far.. So many useful suggestions and insights. I'm studying every day.

Upheavals.. If you don't have enough drama in the world with devastating earthquakes and volcanic activities. Now, the Trump tariffs are shaking the world's financial systems; who knows what the fallout will be and how it could affect us.

Wishing you a wonderful weekend.

More news and an update from Nepal next week.

Take care

David