First full day in Nepal

For our first real day of travel in Nepal we woke up at 4.30 to go to Nagarkot. Travelling through the dark streets it started to brighten up as we got closer. We arrived at the top of the mountain to look out onto the white covered tips of the Himalayas. They appeared to be floating in the clouds. As the time went on, the view became clearer and clearer. We stayed at the peak of Nagarkot for about an hour and a half before moving on to breakfast. We drove down the winding road to a small restaurant looking out onto the mountains. We ate toast, potatoes and eggs before starting our orientation games. We played hot potato and a dance game earning prizes along the way. Next was a lunch of rice, stew, curried potatoes, cauliflower and chicked. Then, we moved on to our next activity. Henry Lee.

Our time spent walking between the centuries old temples and tourist stores presented entirely novel experiences: architecture, language and culture all function in turn to create a sensation of dissasociation from life at home. Traversing the busy streets and alleys bombarded by smells and sound of unknown origins, the recognition that not only are we foreigners but also that we are regarded as moving money presents obstacles in assimlating and truly diving into Nepalese culture. However, by parting with conceptions of privileges and societal divides it seems that we are able to begin our connecting with the local people.
As Robert Darnton said "the best parts of entry into a foreign culture are those which seem most opaque". Accordingly, by visiting the temples and shops, unlike anything we see at home, we are beginning our entry into understanding Nepal. Jake Sosne.