I'm Cake

I've had a sea of tea, a mall of dal, and I have gone the distance. My daily Imodium is no longer optional and my polluted sinuses resemble a West Virginia coal mine. Instead of SDRs (Surveillance Detection Routes) like the old days, I now make sure the driver knows his DPRs (Diahrhea Protection Routes) so I can always bail and make a run for it. This morning there was a line of Sherpas at the house bringing me "small" packages to deliver to family members in New York. Enroute home tomorrow,I plan a high colonic in Bahrain, some weak tea in London, and plain boiled potatoes in Cork. The restaurant party sponsored by our New York guy, Mingmar Sherpa, was great fun. 25 Sherpas (ages 3 to 80) and me. It was held at a swank Newari restaurant complete with a pre-dinner floor show of traditional Nepali tribal dances. There was hysterics at the table from the older Sherpa women when a dance troupe of lithe girls (dressed like Sherpas but obviously not) pranced around. The next night was spent with Sonam Sherpa, whose husband Cammy used to work at my "local" in Tribeca, the Liquor Store Bar. Last night, at Lapka's (Gombu's brother) for dinner. He's the family drinker so it was the bottom-less San Miguel beer night. Tonite, I was hoping for a nice quiet evening with Gombu, Sumi, Sonam and Parmila--but honor has intervened and we must dine at Gombu's sister's house. This may be it for a day or two or I could be back right here tomorrow--there may be a nationwide strike shutting things down tomorrow...One never knows, but hopefully the next visit will be the family move here for 2010-2011. In spite of 26.3 million people living in a country the size of Greece, life expectancy of 61 years, female literacy 28% and 82% of the population living on less than $2 per day, Nepal is about its people and I highly encourage a visit. Sorry, didn't mean to be bleeding-heart preachy. I am feeling my time here coming to an end and saying goodbye to my hosts will be beyond difficult.