What's Jewish life like in Nepal?

Friday we stopped off at the Chabad House to buy grape juice for shabbat. It seems like an interesting place; we didn't spend too much time there but I met one of the shlichim as well as the Rebbetzin (Chani). They have a restaurant there,Glattmandu, (how corny can you get...) but they have kosher chicken, which is kind of exciting. On the way back we took a shortcut through some slums. I saw a group of people sitting around and shooting up. Me: (pointing and staring) They're doing drugs! Michael: (gently steering me away) So, that's not really the kind of thing you want to do ever again.

Friday night we had a beautiful Kabbalat Shabbat on the roof, overlooking the mountains. There's something really weird yet also comforting about practicing a familiar ritual in an entirely strange place. After Maariv we had an awesome Shabbat meal and chilled a little until bedtime.

Shabbat morning- after Kriat HaTorah (having a sefer torah here is a rarity) we had a shiur by Micha and then another yummy lunch. Menucha time until four and then a talk on cultural relativism and what to expect from the village we're going to tomorrow for four days. Most importantly- no toilet paper. Also, no showers. Also, we have to eat everything we're given (rice is a biggie here; it's actually holy) and because it's part of the culture to treat guests like gods, we're going to be given a lot of food. Can't wait.

After a musical havdalah a bunch of us went into Thamel for some errands and dinner. We ate at an amazing Israeli restaurant (Or2K); my dinner of a veggie burger in mushroom cream sauce with steamed vegetables and spiced potatoes cost about three dollars. Yummy. Of course, on the (50 cent) cab ride back we fit eight people into a car half the size of a Toyota corolla. I'll say it again- driving here is insane. I'm actually really sick of the noise and dust and pollution of Kathmandu and can't wait to get to the village tomorrow. Even if it does mean an eight hour bus ride.