Kathmandu - STILL!!

Howdy Folks,

Long time no write! I have spent the past few weeks in Kathmandu, living at Happy Home guest house. Although I finally got my India visa, circumstances suggested that I stay in Nepal just a little longer. For a while I was feeling lost, wandering the streets of Thamel (tourist section of Kathmandu) and feeling overwhelmed with the noise, beggars and consumer culture. So I took myself to a yoga class where I met Catherine (an aussie who has been volunteering for 5 months) and later, in the yoga teacher's office, Robert (from Spain, who will be volunteering for 5 months). Turns out that Catherine was about to run a Leadership course for Trekking Guides through the Kathmandu Environmental Education Project. I cheerfully offered my help, and eventually she agreed. I assisted with the course preparation then attended the five day course, running the practical exercises and other activities. It was great to spend time with the trekking leaders and I found that the course material was all very familiar from my previous studies - leadership styles, assertiveness, problem solving, conflict management... etc etc. KEEP ran a beautiful closing ceremony, where the 'respected teachers' were offered Kata (scarves), a certificate of appreciation and a present! I felt very warm and fuzzy.
Have also been spending time 'getting to know' my singing bowls and have reconnected with my inner healer, offering reiki to a friend and helping to set up a reiki practice group with Robert at a local Osho-based healing centre. Have also been practicing some Osho meditations and went out to the Osho retreat at Nagarjun Forest Reserve yesterday - absolutely gorgeous setting! Am not yet convinced that the meditations are for me though.
I have met so many lovely people in this town, have got a decent grasp on the Nepali language (tourist-basics!), have learned to love dahl baht for lunch and dinner, and no longer mind the harrassment to buy tiger balm, smoke, necklace or take rickshaw (Chine Dai Na - I don't need). It will be very hard to leave, but I had set myself a deadline regarding volunteer work and I will stick to it: if I didn't find any health-related volunteer work by Wednesday, I go to India with Katrin (my Annapurna trekking partner)... So, we go to India!
We will take the bus to Sunauli then train to either Varanasi or across to Delhi then north to Dharamsala and Mcleod Ganj. Everyone I meet who has just arrived from Varanasi says we are crazy to consider going there now as it is about 45 degrees, however I feel that Varanasi is essential India and I don't want to miss it! Dilemmas!
Chat soon!