We stopped briefly in Kuwait but didn’t get off the plane. The cleanup crew came on and just worked around those going on the Bahrain. They followed the same policy in Bahrain but we departed there and encountered a minor problem. Apparently NWA never gave us baggage tickets but they have the numbers printed on the boarding pass which was not initially recognized by Gulf Air here in Bahrain. Several phone calls and discussions later we were finally issued a local boarding pass. This is the first time we have landed in an Arab country since we returned home from Saigon in 1969 and after using the restroom here at the airport I would have to say they need to divert some of their oil money to that area. We are beginning to wake up now but unfortunately here it is the middle of the night and we will not leave here for another hour and a half and then another four and a half hour flight to Kathmandu where it will be 7:30 am when we arrive. Hopefully our four bags will arrive at the same time.
I have switched my watch to Nepali time and it is now Sabbath morning the 5th here and I must complete my travel to Nepal notes.
The concern about our baggage tickets did not turn out to be a problem but what appeared to be a considerable mistake turned out to be quite wonderful for us. Only until we resolved the baggage question were the personnel of Gulf Air willing to give us boarding passes and once we had those, labeled K1 and K2, we only had to wait an hour or so to board. As the waiting area filled it was clear the great majority were Nepali men returning home from work in Bahrain. We asked a few and found they had been in Bahrain for three years and now they were excited about going home. We were just glad to get on the plane. Bahrain international airport is neither extensive or overly sophisticated and we boarded from the tarmac. One of the Nepali men insisted on carrying up one of our carry-on bags; I am afraid my white hair had something to do with it! Lora had said the seat designation of K1 and K2 must mean they number aisles with letters and we would be about half way back. Imagine our surprise when upon entering the plane they directed us to the left, further forward, into the business class section. Then the stewardess motioned us further forward to the first class section of only eight seats with more amenities than we knew what to do with.
K1 and K2 were the first two on the right side. I was about to take the front one when she asked if I wouldn’t like to sit across the aisle from Lora. There was already someone in that seat and she asked him if he would mind trading with me and he agreed. A three course meal followed and although I had to have some help with the buttons, the seats recline fully. Pity the flight was only four and a half hours. Both of us got a short nap and were awakened by the pilot saying we would be landing in less than an hour. We would have been happy to sleep a little longer but he knew better. Sunrise was just coming up ahead over the Himalayan range. About 40 minutes before touchdown they began to appear, glistening white, like pristine islands poking up through a sea of clouds. For at least 30 minutes they appeared first on the left then also on the right. The windows did not lend themselves to picture taking that would do them any justice so I just sat back and enjoyed the scene.
All too soon we began to descend down from the magical splendor of pristine mountain tops, through the broken clouds and into the miasma of human chaos. Ok, it wasn’t quite that melodramatic, but to cap off the experience there was the exodus from the first class section. The few Nepali men rushed for the main exit and as we waited, getting down our heavy carry-on luggage and collecting ourselves, the crew motioned us to come further forward to their section where they were arranging for a separate stair to be brought to the plane. The the large cabin door was opened and we exited in style, albeit carrying our own bags; the only ones to leave the plane from that location. If “every dog has its day”, maybe that was ours.
September 14, 2009
We have now been here almost two weeks so time for some kind of update. Actually seems much longer with all that has transpired. Our shipment is not here yet and we are hoping it will come within a week but no one seems to know. The washing machine that broke down when we were here in the spring was removed from the apartment awaiting new parts and is still non functional. A different washer was put into the shower area since it does not lift the water up to a sink but only drains onto the floor. The floor of course has a drain, in fact two of them, but the floor is not level so pockets of washer effluent accumulates each time you use it requiring scrubbing the floor. As you may perceive, we really don’t want the washer in the shower and are still hoping to have it moved out. There is another doctor in the building whose washer is also not working and we are sharing the remaining working washer located in a vacant apartment. Ironically, it will drain up into a tub but it is now also located in a shower area and emptying onto the floor. The light switch in the bathroom was finally replaced today so no more shocks.
The biggest problem however is vermin; we think bedbugs. The place was fumigated just before we got here but only the mattress was replaced and not the bedspring. We are thinking this is going to be on on-going issue. We have been in to the capital and found the trip tedious at best with the bad road and traffic so we are trying to find more of what is really needed here in Banepa.
The most interesting patient so far is a 12 yr old boy reportedly bitten in the neck by either a tiger or leopard. The villagers insist this same animal is responsible for the death of six adults over the last several months. Actually I have a hard time believing it was a tiger. The boy is small and one bite I would think would have killed him immediately since it was on both sides of the neck. This happened about five miles from here. Other less exciting cases include hemorrhoids, anal fissures, perianal abscesses, appendicitis and cholecystitis. It seems everyone has peptic ulcer problems and Tb is very prevalent.
I joined a group holding a “branch SS” Sabbath afternoon. This amounted to a one hour hike to a small village nearly 1000 feet higher in the hills. There does not seem to be much concern to doing this kind of evangelism but it is still recommended you develop some relationship with people before trying to hold a meeting. There were nearly as many of us as those in the audience. Local young people from the hospital church family translated. A brief presentation was made regarding dental health and the pediatrician for the hospital gave a talk on the importance of the Bible and a number of songs were sung. I’m not sure how it all came across but we certainly got some exercise.
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