Are We There Yet

The  week with our grandchildren went far too quickly and before we knew it, it was time to board the train and continue our journey home. Still a few stops to make before we are in Penticton.

We have over time developed a serious fondness for train travel. Over the past three years, we have flown mega air miles,  circling the globe three times and we have come to one single defining conclusion regarding air travel. Flying coach sucks. The seats are small and crowded even for one of average height and weight. The air quality on board the plane  should be considered hazardous to your health and on occasion so can the attendants. Don't get me started on carry on luggage. Trains are so much more civilized. Of course, civility can depend on where you happen to be catching the train. The top picture is the train station in Harbin and the adjacent picture is the train station in Ottawa. Who can spot the differences of train travel between the two countries. E-mail us your answers.

The train ride to Toronto was four hours downtown to downtown. Cost was about the same to fly but with out having to be frisked or your luggage pawed through. The attendants were not surly and even helped take one of our bags on to the train. The seats were enormous, comfortable with leg room that Kobie Bryant could relate to. The beverage and munchies lady was by every hour and with reasonable prices. Everyone lined up nice and politely with no pushing or shoving and our reserved seats were not filled by strangers . Ahh, Canada,  a more gentler and kinder rail travel. Sadly it is only available in Ontario.

A short overnight stay in Smith Falls to visit an Aunt with another overnight stop in Toronto for another Aunt and cousin then landing in Beamsville with Nonie's sister to complete our obligatory family visits in Ontario. No rest for the wicked as I had agreed to install a simple light fixture during our stay. It turned into an ugly, all day job with nothing simple about it. My Crazy Uncle Brett title was reinforced big time with perhaps a little blue language for effect.

. We did have time to make a whirlwind trip to Windsor, Ontario to visit Mr. Doctor J who was currently working as a Visiting Scholar at the University there. He and his wife Mrs. Doctor J were a significant part of our extended family in Harbin.  Spent a lovely sunny day in Windsor, walking along the Detroit River after enjoying a  fabulously home cooked Chinese meal.  Doctor J rooms with three others, one of who can cook up a storm. Nonie and her sister tried to bring some elephants home but they were not cooperating.

One more stop before we land in Penticton. Two days in Vancouver to visit with our youngest son and another Aunt then home to Penticton. I am so looking forward to becoming intimate with my LazeeBoy once again. 

FRISKY BUSINESS

There were no mixed emotions about leaving Nepal. It has been 210 days since we last saw our grandchildren and our grand parenting addictions were screaming for a fix.

Leaving Nepal was not a simple task. It involved four separate and equally invasive hand frisks. The first one came at the entrance to the airport. Not quite in the parking lot but close. Frisked again before entering the secure Departure area. Frisked again, for the last time we thought, as we left the boarding gate to get on the bus that would take us out to our plane. I am willing to swear that the guy who frisked me at the departure gate was the same guy who frisked me out in the parking lot. But no time to dwell on that as to our surprise, we were met on the tarmac by another gang of rubber gloved security Gestapo's who not only frisked us but gleefully pawed through our carry on luggage with impunity before letting us board the plane. I didn't know whether to feel violated or in love but I have certainly never felt safer from hijackers.

 Our original plan was to spend a few days in India but due to time and some silly visa rules we opted to only fly through Delhi to Montreal with a 10 hour layover at the Indira Gandhi International Airport. This decision was a fateful one. Arriving, we were greeted by a very shiny, state of the art airport that had just opened for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. We were changing airlines here so needed to pickup our luggage, go through customs then recheck our luggage with Air Canada.

Leaving the Arrivals area, we were directed outside the airport and told we must enter the airport's Departure area from an outside entrance. We went to the first entrance and were met by two seriously armed soldiers and told that we were not allowed to enter the airport until 3 hours before our next flight. Seems that Delhi had been experiencing some social upheaval so the airport was on some sort of minimal lock down. We attempted to return to the Arrivals area but were told by more soldiers that we could not reenter the Arrivals area.  We were directed to a small glassed in area located within a small corner of the Departure waiting area. There was no food available but it didn't matter as we had no Rupees to buy any. To go to the bathroom, you had to show your passport and the seating had been recycled from a torture chamber. So for the next seven hours we were crammed into to this tiny, sad excuse for a waiting area, staring through a glass security wall at the empty Departures area, tantalizingly close to restaurants, coffee shops, currency exchanges and bathrooms. To add salt to our wounds we forced to stare at this gaudy pink neon sign inviting us to Relax, Enjoy, Unwind and Explore all the services of the new airport. Not a pleasant welcome to |India.

 But the 30 hours of travel time was worth it, because for the next six days we got to have a fabulous fix of our grandchildren while enjoying all the amenities that Mount Tremblant had to offer. Mount Tremblant is a year round playground located about 70 kilometres North of Montreal.  Lakes, trails, fishing, skiing and some great hotels and restaurants.








We had pre-booked a car with driver to deliver us from the airport to the condo that we had rented in the hills above the village of Mount Tremblant.  Much to our pleasure the car turned into a stretch limo. Very civilized. Could get used to that lifestyle. Got lots of stares.

The jet lag and the sucky weather didn't stop us from enjoying our selves. Took a few hours out of our busy schedule and ran in the Mount Tremblant 1/2 Marathon, completing the 10 K race in 55 minutes. 

Where Funerals are a Tourist Attraction

 Another day, another temple. But thankfully with lots of free time to explore the world around the temples.

This lady is proudly showing us tonight's main course. A little soy and lots of ketchup please.

This enterprising street seller is hawking Durian fruit or as we affectionately know it as, "stinky fruit".  Cut into it's thick rind and it releases a smell that will waken those long dormant memories of your child's worse diaper. Taste, well its nothing to write home about if you can get past the smell.

Nonie is getting a few knitting tips from some of the ladies. They are knitting those cool Nepalese wool hats that you will find in any country around the world. A traditional Nepalese export.

Death as we discovered, can be a spectator sport. For a small fee you can enter the Kathmandu crematorium site at Pashupatinath Temple and take part in the multiple cremations that go on 24 hours a day.

The body is prepared  and brought by a procession to the Temple which is located on the banks of the Bagmati River. Hindu custom requires that the body is prepared and cremated within 24 hours of death.

Exactly one cubic metre of wood used to cremate the body.  Sandal is the wood of choice but due to it's high price, many cannot afford it. This tradition is leading to some of the deforestation of Nepal

According to the Nepalese Hindu tradition, the dead body must be dipped three times into the Bagmati river before cremation. The bodies are usually dressed in white and orange as orange is considered a holy colour.


The chief mourner (usually the first son) lights the funeral pyre and must take a holy river-water bath immediately after cremation. Many relatives who join the funeral procession also take a bath in the Bagmati River or sprinkle the holy water on their bodies at the end of cremation. The Bagmati River is considered to purify the people spiritually.The pyre is allowed to burn to embers which can take 3 or 4 hours with a little judicious poking.

Once the cremation has been completed the ashes are pushed into the Bagmati River as it will ultimately flow into the holiest of rivers, the Ganges. The personal effects of the deceased are also packaged up and place into floated down the river to join the dearly departed in to here after.

Holy Men for hire. These colourful holy men are waiting to to carry out a Shradh. The Shradh is practiced one year after the death of the person. This can either be an annual event or a large one-off event. This is the Hindu practice of giving food to the poor in memory of the deceased. A priest will say prayers for the deceased and during this time, usually lasting one month, the family will not buy any new clothes or attend any parties. Sons are responsible for carrying out Shradh.







We are leaving Kathmandu in few days. Our plan it to rest and sleep a lot because we are looking at 30 hours on the ground and in the air before we reach Montreal and some serious grandchildren time. Can't wait.