This is  double post again.  I think I've finally got the hang of the internet up here

It's my first full day in Gasa! Luckily Heather was here overnight to help set up. If she hadn't been I'd probably have starved to death. I'd definitely have died of thirst. I think keeping a supply of fresh water might just be one of my biggest projects for the year. So I'll just pretend I'm Susan in Peter Duck. I'm also pretending I'm in Winter Holiday because my bukari (wood burning stove) has a few leaks in it so smoke is enjoying escaping into my room and my eyes are smarting but that just makes it more authentic. I was also more like the Ds than the Swallows and Amazons when it came to lighting it.

After seeing Heather off to Punakha I got a few visitors. I heard them moving around outside so I went to see what was up. I was slightly impolite because I didn't invite them in but I wasn't sure that their feet were clean.

I've met the VP and some other staff members who have been so kind and have again made sure that I won't starve. I feel slightly guilty because I'm being slightly anti-social because I'm pretty sure I'm getting a cold so my next entry may be laryngitis-y. I have no idea when this will be posted as I'm having slight internet problems but I was half expecting that and it just means there'll be more xkcds to catch up on.

The most important news of the day I've saved for last. I saw my first Bhutanese reptile! Okay, it was a garden skink just like the ones we get in Australia and not a gharial or anything but it was still the first reptile I've seen since leaving Australia! I miss T'eo. I'm hoping my BCF colleagues will help me out with a pet project of trying to start cataloging the Bhutanese reptiles, amphibians and various cool invertebrates. I'm not sure I've asked them all yet but who wouldn't want to take pictures of adorable geckos and things? And T'eo would like to see pictures of his subjects.

Hugs Hugs 

Second Entry

I'm writing this latest blog entry, still in open office, sitting by my bukari singing various songs loudly knowing that I won't be disturbing anyone as the only other people staying here are on the other side of the campus. I've made my way through bits of The Messiah, Orfeo, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, a bunch I learned from Jenny Barnes (singing teacher), various G and S tunes and some S and G tunes as well. Aren't you glad you're not here for once?

Hopefully I should actually be able to post soon as, though the internet is functioning, nobody I've talked to can remember the password. I also can't access the net inside my quarters so I'll just have to blog while sitting on my porch/veranda thing enjoying the view of the Himalayas around me. Sigh.

So my bukari is lit, but not by me. Some Bhutanese Susans (see Winter Holiday. Now) came and helped me. Bhutanese Susans do things differently to English Susans as they use kerosene as an acceptable lighting aid. No, I won't be posting pictures of me with no eyebrows, should that occur, unless you are very nice and promise not to laugh. I'm really not planning on that happening so don't get your hopes up.

I've also found my local store. It doesn't sell cornettos so I'll have to find them elsewhere come the zombie apocalypse, but it is quite small and cute. Emphasis on small. I think it's about the same size as my bedroom in Canberra. I realise that won't mean much to many of you, just like some of the references I keep making, so just imagine the size of a fifteen year old girl's bedroom and then imagine that being turned into a corner store.

Another thing I've been doing that will probably annoy my neighbours when they arrive is practising my ukulele. I've mostly got Yellow Submarine down and I'm even practising Waltzing Matilda as it may be the only Australian Folk song I kind of know. I think the rosebush out the front of my place doesn't appreciate my playing as it unkindly speared me in the finger making it hurt when I play. Hopefully I'll be able to keep up with the Cabra Ukulele Group so I can rejoin when I get back.

Hugs hugs

p.s. Though they will also have an alternative Bhutanese name, the yak is Randall after my 1^st and 2^nd grade principal, the serpent is Esther, which is my 4^th grade teacher's real first name (sorry Jane but I already have a turtle with your preferred name) and the tortoise is named Laura after Laura Ingalls Wilder even though I want to be a teacher and she didn't.

Quick post

Yesterday we left Thimphu and headed off into the wild, green yonder.  I was one of the few, actually one of the two, I think, who actually got to see their placements/accommodation.  Most people had a civilised 3 hour journey to Punakha.  Andrea, Senge and I with the greatest driver in Bhutan, set off for Kabesa and then to my Bjishong school.  Senge and I were very kind and did not sing all the way.  I was very kind and made sure I took my travacalm at least an hour before leaving.  The Kabesa school is beautiful and shiny and new.  Senge was told by the principal that his house (which isn't quite finished yet) is 1.8 metres from the school.  Not quite right.  There should be a 'ki' and a 'lo' added somewhere in that statement. 
After a long, windy, unsealed and absolutely stunning drive we reached the Gasa and the Bjishong school.  It is so amazingly gorgeous up there!!!!  And my quarters are much bigger and more luxurious than I was expecting.  I even get a bed!  I thought I was just going to put my mattress on the floor.  The only minor, tiny problem is, speaking of mattresses, I don't know where mine is.  Or my stove.  Apparently they were hidden for safety in a very sensible and secure place.  I just have no idea where that is.  I couldn't stay in Gasa last night as I couldn't cook, didn't have a mattress and mu wood stove's chimney wasn't attached so I would have starved, froze and got a bad back if I had stayed but neither Senge or I were planning on staying at our homes as we don't need to be there for a little while and nobody would really be at our schools.  Hopefully I'll return tomorrow though, as some BCF teachers want to see Gasa before first semester starts and since there are no hotels in Gasa at the moment, my quarters will act as one for now.
If we do go up tomorrow it will mean that I probably won't have internet for about a week so many hugs to all, fair winds to the sailors and I miss T'eo.

How not to die, kiras and Alfred

Yesterday we got treated to a 'What to do if you get bitten by a dog while falling down a drain during a bout of typhoid.' Many of us went into hypochondria ranging from mild to 'Oh god my appendix is bursting right now!' I know many of you won't believe this, but Arwen will not be making friends with any dogs. No matter how sweet the tail-wags or how puppy dog the eyes, I shall not be petting, scritching or even just telling them how adorable the are. I will also be boiling, filtering and saying prayers to the FSM over all water before drinking it and my head-torch will be with me wherever I go. That should keep me vaguely safe, shouldn't it? Mom should also be quite impressed with all the cleaning products I bought today, including an enormous bottle of dettol. I'm sure my dad will now be making mean (but pretty deserved) comments about my house-keeping abilities.

Yesterday also marked the first time I wore a kira out in public. I don't know how many of you know what a kira is or how interesting it can be to put on but it's basically a large rectangle of cloth which you wrap around yourself in a slightly complicated way and then tie tighter than an 18^th century corset, or at least that;s what it feels like. You can get them with velcro and hooks and eyes but in my infinite wisdom I decided both of mine would be traditional. I should have gone down and asked one of the hotel staff to help me but I wanted to do it myself! 

I think the beret really finishes it off

 I know many of you are waiting/hoping to read that the whole thing came undone halfway to the restaurant but, sorry to disappoint, it didn't. And I was wearing thermal leggings under it so it wouldn't have really mattered too much though there would have been tons of pictures on other BCF teachers' facebook accounts. It stayed up perfectly well but I wasn't walking with my usual confident stride. Plus the kira was just long enough and heavy enough that just rubbing against my shoelaces was enough to undo them. So I walked the majority of the way to the restaurant with untied shoelaces (and odd socks) because bending down to tie them up just didn't seem like the best idea. Again the potential for hilarious photos appearing on my colleagues' facebook accounts was there. The rest of the evening passes kira-stress free and at least I could show off that I put it on all by myself! Huzzah!

This has nothing to do with kiras, I just liked the demon deer who watched us eat.

Now some of my colleagues decided that a night at a local pub would be the best way to pass the time after dinner but I was afraid, as were others, that kiras and pubs didn't mix. At least not until we'd learned how to wash them. So three of us decided that a pyjama party was the thing to do. I must apologise to the BCFers who would have liked to join but it was a spur of the moment thing. We should have braided each other's hair and eaten cookie dough but we weren't that organised so we settled for telling date disaster stories and no, I won't be blogging about those.

Finally, I'd like to introduce you to my travelling companions. Firstly, this is Alfred.

The adorable pillow, not the bed. (n.b. this was in Paro - the first place we stayed in!)

We found him in Sydney airport but there was instant controversy on what type of creature he is. Mom initially thought he was a snake but he clearly has legs. 

Four of them!

We then wondered if he might be a lizard but his eyes and tooth just didn't look right. I think someone suggested 'dinosaur' next but that wasn't a good fit either so we finally decided that he is a slightly odd crocodile with a very odd tooth. He has since been mistaken for a frog on a few occasions but that could be because since I have a Kermit beanie, people assume I have a thing for frogs. His name is Alfred because creatures called Alfred just seem to get used as pillows in my family. He did seem lonely though, so I found two little friends in a tourist shop. They don't have names yet so suggestions would be appreciated. 

Here we actually have two creatures - a tortoise with a serpent on its back.  Two reptiles for the price of one!

You can't quite tell from this angle, but this is obviously a male yak.

 Hugs to all!  And I still miss T'eo

Still back in time

I believe I was in Bangkok during my last blog entry, even though it was completely written in Thimphu, as this one will be. I may as well continue on with what happen after the clown and saxophone adventure and it seems unfair to not write about the Druk Air flight even though my mom probably won't like it very much.

The day began with me waking up at 3am and enjoying what may be the last beautifully hot shower with good water pressure for about a year. (The showers in our hotel in Thimphu are actually pretty good but I can't as frivolous with how much time I spend in the shower as I was in Bangkok)

I left the hotel of friendly, incredibly polite staff and went to the airport where, and maybe I should keep in mind that it was about 4am, people looked at me like I was specifically put on this earth to make their life more difficult. (Yes, I know, at least half of you are saying 'But you were!)

Druk Air check in wasn't open yet and I did see another Caucasian person hanging round and wondered if they were another BCF newbie but was too nervous to ask them. This person turned out to be Valerie who was thinking the exact same thing about me but was also too nervous to ask. Huzzah for introverts!

Now, if you pay the extra $60ish dollars and upgrade to business class when flying Druk Air, which I highly recommend you do, read the little extra cards they give you. One will say you get priority when going through immigration or customs or whatever it was. I didn't read the card and, here's the introvert again, waited patiently, not saying anything when people cut in front of me, though I was mentally filling their bags with treacle, and was slightly tired and flustered when I finally got through. Imagine how delighted I was when I looked at the card later and realised I could have missed that fabulous experience.

Fortunately, I did read the other card which informed me that I was allowed into the Air France lounge. Yes, I took advantage of it. No, I didn't have any of the alcohol they had on offer as the sun was nowhere near the yardarm but I did enjoy the buffet numerous times while looking for other teachery looking people. Nobody else seemed like a teacher in there, so I just enjoyed the mini pies and sandwiches while occasionally looking at the huge collection of spirit and liqueur bottles near by. (I did have 2 Singapore Slings on the flight from Sydney to Singapore though) I think I deserve points for not cramming my hand luggage full of the adorable sandwiches, quiches and pies. It would have been the classiest thing I had done all day!

After tearing myself away from the buffet I found I was the last of the teachers to get to the gate but since none of the others took advantage of the Air France Lounge, that's pretty understandable. If I remember correctly there were 5 of us on that flight, Sarah Shmidt, Matt and Lucy, Valerie and myself. The first thing I will say about the flight is 'Leg room! Sweet beautiful leg room!' and the next will be an apology because I can't find the photos which Steven and Mary know all about. So just try to imagine mountains. Lovely mountains, some with a bit of snow on both sides of the plane. Mom is not allowed to be sick. So I'm going to post this without the photos but I will go back and put them in as soon as I find them.

Hugs and Tashi Delek!

Here are the photos from the Druk Air flight.  Sadly, mine didn't come out so I'd like to thank fellow BCFer, Matt Stretton, who I think was seated two rows in front of me, for these photos.  Aren't they cool mom!

 Make sure you get a window seat when you come to visit!

A Belated Post

I've decided to go back in time for this blog as I haven't yet mentioned the rest of the trip to Bhutan. I think I was just getting on the plane to Bangkok in my first entry so I'll just continue from there. Because my mom rocks I didn't have to stay in the airport for the 20 or so hours in between flights. The only thing was, and I realise this is a strange thing to complain about, it was a really nice hotel. I'm used to backpackers where they give you your key and sometimes your bedding and off you go. I'm really not used to having my luggage carried for me, the lift button pressed and even my napkin placed on my lap for me. Of course, as one of the world's most important people I deserve it, but it still made me feel slightly awkward.

Sadly I don't have any wonderful adventures to tell about wandering the streets of Bangkok as food, shower and sleep were really the only things on my mind (and T'eo's welfare of course) so you'll have to make do with the slightly dull events that took place in the hotel.

Lunch was pretty much the main event. After the waiter insisted on pulling out my chair for me and putting my napkin on my lap (yes that was at lunch. A hotel employee didn't just randomly come up and put a napkin on my lap) I discovered that I had slightly forgotten how to read. Sleep deprivation is a wonderful thing. So I pointed to something in the soup section, asked if it was spicy and when I was told that it wasn't decided to go with that. Yes, I know, you all want some strange eel and urchin stew (neither of which I think are even staples of Thai food) to be placed in front of me but sorry to disappoint, it was just beef noodle soup. The fun things about lunch were firstly the little band they had playing which gave us things like 'Fly Me to the Moon' and some Burt Bacharach. They had an interesting way of playing that gave the impression that they weren't sure if they wanted anyone to hear them. Kind of like when you're practising when there are other people in the house and you try and play just loud enough to actually get the note out but desperately trying to be soft enough so they don't know you're playing at all. This style of playing can also give the impression that you aren't quite sure what the note should be. I'm sure they did know but it sounded like an elementary school band who suddenly realised they really didn't practise enough.
The other form of amusement during lunch was a clown. At the Novatel in Bangkok they have a clown. More accurately they have a guy dressed up in a clown costume who looks as happy, relaxed and natural as a cat who has been dressed up in dolls' clothes by a seven year old. He was making balloon animals and things for the diners. At one point he came up and gave me a balloon flower, which was very nice of him but I was reading 'Coraline' at the time and those of you who have read 'Coraline' will know that you don't want someone to come up and touch your arm with a balloon flower while you're reading. I jumped quite noticeably which, in turn, startled the clown, but I was able to laugh and thank him and fortunately the half dozen Australians at the next table were very receptive and kept him busy for the next fifteen minutes making all sorts of balloon artworks. Sadly I couldn't quite put the flower in my luggage but I did take a picture of it! 

And Mr Gideon had a friend to keep him company.

Hugs to All and take care!

P.S. All hikers returned safely but none of them actually found the Buddha!

The Lost Buddha

Well, here was the plan: Wake up at 5, meet in the lobby at 5:30, hike up to the giant Buddha on the hill, watch the sunrise and then come back in time for breakfast.  Simple and easy, right? 
First problem: No one actually knew how to get there and it was, of course, still dark.  Fortunately, Brick had a map in his room which he was able to get so at least we had something.
Second Problem: Although I'm obviously the fittest person in the world I'm still getting pretty out of breath even on normal walks so at times I felt like an 80 year old asthmatic with a 40 a day habit.
Third Problem: It soon became obvious that, as pretty as the map was, it was not a highly detailed chart with a passage plan attached.
Fourth Problem: I hadn't had breakfast.  I may not be a hobbit but breakfast is still quite important to me and a little smackerel wouldn't have gone amiss.

So things didn't quite go to plan and I was feeling slightly worried about my lungs and my ability to complete the tasks coming up after the hike (shopping - no, not frivolous shopping, stuff to live in Gasa shopping) and the map was coming out again.  For anyone who has read 'Three Men in a Boat' - if you haven't your life is not complete - I was getting flashbacks of the Hampton Court Maze bit and was trusting the map we had about as much as Harris' map.  Perhaps if we had actually known where we were and knew exactly where to go I might have soldiered on a bit more but my love of oxygen got the better of me so I apologised profusely and decided to head back to the hotel.

Now this is where I should write an account of how I got horribly lost on my way back by myself and ended up hitching a ride with a yak herder who spoke no English but, mom will be glad to hear this, I'm afraid I didn't actually get lost at all.  I still didn't trust my sense of direction so I double checked a couple of times by asking some friendly joggers, but I was on the right path.

At one point, just before sunrise, I did meet some locals who I suppose were worried about my safety because they insisted on giving me an escort.  They were all tail-wags and very sweet but I decided not to pet them as I've heard too much about the lovely fleas in this country and I didn't want to encourage them to stray too far from their home.  Soon after sunrise they must have decided I was fine as they left me to fend for myself.

I'm now back in bed waiting for it to be breakfast time and I have no idea if the rest of the party has returned or is still wandering in search of Buddha.  I'm sure we can send out a search party if they're not back by the end of breakfast.  Maybe we'll save them something.
So all's well that ends well, and hopefully it will end well for the rest of the party too, and hopefully I will get to the Buddha but perhaps with a guide and in daylight.

Hugs and I'll leave you with some pictures of what I saw on my way back

I'm not entirely sure what they teach in this school but it does sound interesting!

Padraig and T'eo's house in Thimphu

I hear it's quite lovely

One happiness please!

So how do I blog?

This is going to be kind of a cheat post because I've already written 2 entries in openoffice which I shall now copy and paste for your reading pleasure.

Entry 1:

I'm writing this first blog entry sitting outside gate 58 at Changi using OpenOffice because I'm too tired to try and find out about wifi. It's going to be very short because I'm meant to be lining up to go through security but standing seems very unnecessary right now and sitting on a plane for an hour before it departs seems even more unnecessary so here I sit by and Hey! A girl with tetris leggings just joined the line! Whoever designed the leggings is either really bad or they designed it on level 9 or something because there are lots of gaps. I really hope her ringtone is one of the tetris themes. And now I'm annoyed because I can only remember two of the tetris themes.

It's probably become apparent that I don't really know how to blog. I'm guessing I'm not really meant to write down everything I see because I don't think there are too many people who want to know that the carpet here has a pattern that seriously looks like moth feelers. Maybe they thought moths wouldn't attack the carpet if it kind of looked like them. I could write down what I'm thinking but that's mostly 'I miss T'eo' and Divvies said I'm only allowed to say that once a day. Or was it once a week? I'm also thinking all the normal things like 'Oh god, what have I forgotten? I'm sure I've forgotten something but I can't think what it is. Botherbotherbother.' And now I'm realising just how different Dawson is to Benjie because that's the fifth time I've hit the up button instead of shift.

Well, there's no line now so I may as well get up before I really start rambling. Any constructive criticism will be appreciated unless it recommends not mentioning reptiles.

Hugs

I miss T'eo 

Entry 2:

Well I'm still on open office so I'm not sure if this will end up being part of my first blog entry or if I will be bothered to make it separate. You probably know by now but I'm still in the dark! I don't know if I've been suffering the effects of being at a high altitude or if I'm just tired but I'm afraid I don't have a magnificent tale to tell about walking up to Tiger's Nest this morning which most of my colleagues do. I, sadly, had a nasty headache and I didn't want to go to Tiger's Nest with a headache because I would be all cross and wouldn't enjoy it.

The drive from Paro to Thimphu was lovely and there were some very polite road signs that said 'Inconvenience Regretted' and others that simply said 'Thanks.' I'm not sure what the inconvenience was or what I was being thanked for but it was still very nice of them. I just won't tell my mom that there was an overturned car on the road at one point but no one was in it so I'm sure everything was just fine.(update - the driver walked away with minor injuries)

Going back to yesterday, the flight in was everything that had been promised. The only problem with it was that it was much too short. I would recommend an aisle seat for mom. And, not through lack of trying, the chillies have not quite made my head explode. I was very careful about breathing though, as they were certainly capable of making me have a coughing fit to rival the one I had during St Nicholas.

And if Ethan is reading this – there are 3 ukuleles here! I'm the least proficient but at least the uke is invading Bhutan! I realised that I probably should have got extra strings and learned how to replace them but I'm sure I can fashion something out of yak hair if I manage to break one. Or I'll only play song which don't require that string. The yak hair option will probably be easier.

Well, those were my first tries and now off to dinner!

Hugs and I still miss T'eo