Monday: The micro-bus and Hindi music, the blessings of grandma

Up at dawn once again to take breakfast in the same restaurant last night, because the waiter apparently liked us. He gives us the tika, tika because today is day where we receive the blessings of elders in each family.

We want to take a bus down the mountain and join the main road, where another bus will take us back to Kathmandu. Buses leave here once an hour and only if they are full. Planning anything is therefore sheer folly.

Arrived at the village entrance, the only place where vehicles are allowed to drive, a guy tells us there is space on the bus is leaving. Space? Jeez, we wouldn't call that space. We sit all crowded next to the driver, not to mention both my legs are twisted inward and slightly backwards. Inside the bus it's quite antiquated (like most things rolling here) and decorated with colorful garlands and images of Ganesh. The driver puts the Hindi music in background. I love this kind of moments so memorable and unique: we are in Asia, in a rotten decorated bus and listening to Bollywood Indian music.

We arrive at the road one hour earlier than we were planning. A bus is leaving for Kathmandu but there are no normal seats left. We are proposed to sit with the driver. So we end up packed in a mini seat just behind the driver's seat, with the gear shift between our feet. Sore back, buttocks, but at least we can see the road:)

Kathmandu, in the rain. I've been working the last few hours of the trip and continue working back in our flat. Straight after work in the evening we go to our owner to receive the blessings of his mother! Double tika today. Except that our owner is absent: for this day, the idea is to get maximum blessings of the elders (grandparents, uncles, aunts etc.). Nepalese therefore wander from house to house. Each time they are offered food and drink excessively.

Despite his absence, we are prompted to enter: the sister of the owner is there to ensure the "permanence". I must say that 150 people are expected to receive their tika today... The granny gave us a big smile. She is 89 years old; she got up at 4am and did not stop to give her blessings every day. The wife of the owner, she got up at 6am to prepare food for 150 people. Now that's dedication! Note: Nepalese are not usually keen on organization, but when it comes to celebrating, eating and drinking, they force themselves to use the time and they keep looking at their watch!

The grandma makes us therefore enter her small apartment (here in Nepal, parents lives with the son). There are cushions placed around the ground for the”queue." Fortunately, we arrived quite late and are therefore alone. We received tika, some small herbs to be placed behind the ear, and 100NPR! I'm a little annoyed: Rs 100 is a lot for us as neighbors, right? The sister told me that her grandmother gave each person money, a note that brings good luck and we do not have to spend but have it as safekeeping. She gives less for children, and after it depends on the degree. Apparently, white neighbors is a good degree. Sisters and daughters get a new sari. Basically, this day of blessings makes the grandma poor!

She continues to smile and tell jokes in Newari / Nepalese. Then we get to eat: a huge amount of a lot of things, along with copious amounts of rice alcohol, beer, pepper soup and apricot brandy.
Then the owner returned, and more family is arriving for the tika. The place fills up fast, and we are talked to from all directions. We finally take off, but not before being invited to the next celebration in early November!