Movin' on...

Its been a while since i put an update out, but tonight seems fitting-

overnighting in bangkok, my first stay in an airconditioned room in almost 6 mons! (the plane ride today, i realized was the first climate controlled space i'd been in since landing in Kathmandu... bizarre! strangest thing is, after a while, it just seems normal to always be a lil bit too hot or cold.

a quick run down of the last 4 weeks, after coming down from the mtns-
-bus trip from hell! tumlingtar to pokhara, 2 days, 20ish hrs of travel on dirt, rock, and super scary exposure rds, riding up on top for much of it, because the seats inside just ain't made for long legged westerners- realizing a few hrs into the bus trip that the reason we were flying maoist flags off the bus corners wasn't to ease our passage thru potential road blocks, but that all my fellow passengers (i.e. comrades) were maoist supporters heading to kathmandu for the big transportation strike planned for the following day (which ironically enough, is why i was on the bus in the first place- tourists usually aren't harmed by the conflicting political factions, but being alone in a maoist hotbed during times of conflict still ain't all that smart).....gettin' puked on by the cutest little nepali baby that just couldn' t handle the jostling and heat... actually, i wasn't alone- she also managed to cover her father, and three or four other folks sitting in the back row... this was about the same time i decided to ride up top again... i'll take my chances with low hangin wires and possible ejection any day over heat, dust, and sharing a seat with 5 other folks that outta seat three. ;-)
- riding out the 6 day maoist strike in pokhara- no motorized transport, big, sometimes intimidating protest marches down the empty streets- all businesses officially closed, so we'd sneak around to the back door, give a lil knock and the restaurant owners would let us in fosome "speak-easy" dining... must be sorta what prohibition was like, eh? best part of the strike though, was the biking on completely car/bus/lorrie free roads! kids and their parents playing soccer in the rds, adults learning to ride bikes on all that open asphalt, and amazingly clean air! it did have its finer points...
-kayaking clinic w. my buddy jason on the seti river, meeting up w. some super cool folks from round the world, and trying our hand at running some small rapids and learning the eskimo roll...
- bat cave explorin- nepali style... better bring your own headlamp, because there ain't no guided tours here- you pay your fee- they turn ya loose to go exploring!
....thats the short and sweet on the last few weeks in country, folks... its all somewhat of a blur, in need of some time to digest....

a glimpse into today:

last morning
a day of celebration
and sadness
lil morning chi-gung
rooftop
prince hotel

breakfast burrito in
sagarmatha bazaar
feeling the buzz-
not quite anxiety-
more excitement,
with a time-frame...

some last minute purchases
oil paintings
of the mountain gods
bit of
internet-skypin
n' smoothin' out
travel plans

feelin' such longin
and disbelief that
re-union
could be so near-

and then
frantic airport rush
check-in
the hustle and bustle
clock tickin away
hour n' a half- 30 mins
extra baggage me-lee

finally-
clamoring aboard
brightly coloured
Thai-Sky
train
stepping into
a different world
clean and glossy
nothings tha same...

lookin' out
my
portal window
kath-valley surrounds
feel wizened eyes
moisten
nostalgia?
for this dirty town??
for the rawness
of life here
and the beauty
it unveils

feel my soul
cracking-open
with the richness
it has known
when i came
it was as foreigner
now theres a sense
of leavin home

touch folded hands
to third eye center
n bid farewell
to those i've known
and to all
who rise each morning
ek cup chia'
their fates unknown

tho i guess
this could be said
of us all
to speak the truth
in this land
of snows n majik
every day
one's shown tha proof-

as i journey
cross the skies
smooth as glass
o'er ridge n ravine
mind thinks back
on hard fought
travels
sweat and blood,
so much i've
seen

known the
bitter and the sweet
n' paid my share
of dues
but i wouldn't
trade one moment
'cause tha path
its been true-

look forward to seeing you all sometime soon. i'll put up some last pics of the adventures when things settle.
thanks for all the encouragin' comments, emails, thoughts and prayers you've all sent out these last months- it meant so much to recieve some warmth and well wishes from back home.
peace, y'all-