"I might still run into Andy but I think the possibility is more remote now. Including any trek I do I will stay around Pokhara for two weeks before coming back here for three or four days."
Follow Fred's day on the Daily Diary page.
After all his exertions yesterday, Fred has a quieter day but gets a few things organised. During the morning he makes his way out to the Central Immigration Office where he applies for a trekking permit. He also buys a mini-bus ticket to Pokhara for next Tuesday,
"I might still run into Andy but I think the possibility is more remote now. Including any trek I do I will stay around Pokhara for two weeks before coming back here for three or four days." Follow Fred's day on the Daily Diary page.
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Following on from his great travel story last month "Its Like Being on a Different Planet" we are honoured to feature another entry from John Rayburn.
In case you missed it in April, here is the short bio that John kindly provided: John Rayburn covered many major events on Radio/TV. Network credits include reports on “The Today Show,” “Huntley-Brinkley News,” “Walter Cronkite News,” “NBC Monitor,” and “NBC News on the Hour,” and others. He performed at Old Time Radio conventions in Newark, Cincinnati, Los Angeles and Seattle. Rayburn’s professional background led to constant research on myriad subjects and this carries over from his non-fiction books into his fiction. He uses actual people, places and things in a fictional way to add authenticity to the absorbing story lines. John covered major news and sporting events in part of seven decades on radio and television. His play-by-play sports credits include football, baseball, basketball, hockey, golf and boxing. He interviewed top names in news, sports, politics, business and virtually all walks of life. Read this great new entry on John Rayburn's travel story page. Another early start today as Fred decides to hire a bike and cycle around the Kathmandu valley. He has a really enjoyable day cycling through Kathmandu's sister city, Patan and many small villages along the way.
"Everything was so natural, fertile and full of a real joy of living. It is very difficult to explain all the impressions that I got today but they left me with a very fulfilled feeling." Read about Fred's adventures on the Daily Diary page. On an overcast and cloudy morning, Fred makes his way out to the Monkey Temple, Swayamblunath. Said to be 2000 years old, it is one of the oldest Buddhist stupas and is situated two miles outside of town. "I reached the top of the hill where there were many shrines and also the massive dome of the Monkey Temple topped by a square with the all-seeing eyes of Buddha and then a golden spire." As you read today's Daily Diary page, please spare a thought for the people of Nepal and the destruction around them after the earthquake. Pictured are before and after photos of Swayamblunath (courtesy of Alamy/EPA). We have another fantastic travel story entry for you. Thank you so much Nancy McBride for entering your story. If you don't know Nancy, then here is her introduction: Nancy Alison McBride Nancy’s life, like most of ours, has had its surprises and lessons, its traumas and hilarious consequences. Along her meanderings she realized she was free to just be, to observe life around her, and being of an artistic nature, to express it as wont in word or art. (QUIRKY R US ARTWORK) Raised in the country in Lebanon, Connecticut, USA, and after being literally knocked around as a teen (swept away in a hurricane, dangled off a cliff in a car, squashed by a dump truck and then struck by lightning through the telephone), she shook off those survival situations, gathered her wits and started to travel, and by herself. From the get-go she collected new friends and many are still in her life, today. She is eclectic and comfortable most anywhere from Africa to Mexico to Australia and Iceland. Be careful if you invite her to join you, because chances are high that she will do so! She’s raised two lovely girls to adulthood, and had more than a few interesting careers and loves along the way, but her “flights of fancy” to places and spending valuable time with ordinary folks, listening to their stories, are highlights. Now, in her retirement, which she refers to as “recalculating”, she writes and shows her art as well as works part time as a Standardized Patient Instructor for a renowned medical school, nearby. “Stories are the way humans share what’s important to them, usually through the symbols of words. Its how we share our values.” As a writer and artist she has no fear of straying outside “the lines” to set a mood, be playful, or add a twist to a tale. She’s been known to push perspectives figuratively and specifically and is most free when playing with a medium and letting the story out, then focusing it, but not much. Subject matter varies from in-your-face to abstract interpretation and fun—they’re all part of storytelling. Read Nancy's story on the Nancy McBride page. Fred makes an early start and enjoys the freedom of wandering around Kathmandu on his own. He tries to sell some of his gems from India, has breakfast at the Tibetan Eatery in Freak Street and buys some warmer clothes.
"It strikes a funny chord to see a Nepalese lad walking down the street with a walkman cassette player as I saw this morning." While enjoying Fred's observations about Nepalese life 34 years ago on the Daily Diary page, please give a thought to the despair and deprivation that the people of Nepal are experiencing at the moment. It is a real honour to be able to feature a travel story from international best selling author, Sarah Jane Butfield.
Sarah Jane was born in Ipswich, and raised in rural Suffolk, UK. She is a wife, mother, ex-qualified nurse and now an internationally published author. Married three times with four children, three stepchildren and two Australian cattle dogs, she is an experienced modern day mum to her 'Brady bunch' , but she loves every minute of their convoluted lives. As well as being an international best selling author of three travel memoirs set in Australia and France, Sarah Jane has recently released the first in a series of books titled 'The Accidental Author' for aspiring and debut self-published authors. In addition Sarah Jane is the inspiration behind Rukia Publishing, which helps authors access readers, reviews, interviews and promotes their books. Find out more on their website: http://www.rukiapublishing,com/ Read Sarah Jane's travel story entry on the Sarah Jane Butfield page. There seems to be a pattern to the weather in Kathmandu at the moment. It is sunny in the mornings before clouding over in the afternoon with thunderstorms later on. Allas and Fred spend most of the day together, getting to know each other better. Fred gets post from Andy and Rita.
"I wandered about for an hour or so doing some shopping, looking down some of the back-streets and at the many shrines and temples which are all over the city." Read about Fred's third day in Kathmandu on the Daily Diary page. It is an absolute pleasure to be able to feature our latest travel story entry from well known author and traveller Jackie Parry.
Originally from the UK, Jackie is now an adopted Australian. She grew up with horses in the UK until her world was shattered with a bereavement. Disillusioned with life she ran away to Australia and met and married Noel. They decided to buy a boat and set sail. So within her first year living in a foreign land she was getting used to a foreign husband and a foreign life on board! Find out more on her author's page http://jackieparry.com/a-standard-journey/ Read her fantastic travel story on the Jackie Parry page. After getting lost last night, Allas and Fred orientate themselves better in daylight as they start to explore Kathmandu. The weather is really miserable so they spend quite a lot of time in a pie shop and restaurant near Freak Street.
"Drizzle persisted most of the day and turned to heavy rain and thunderstorms later on in the afternoon." As you read today's Daily Diary page, please remember the plight of the Nepalese people as they struggle to recover from last weekend's earthquake. |
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