Today we ran into a few problems with the computers. While the WiFi worked flawlessly in Hong Kong, the computers are all having trouble connecting to the web. We’re trying to figure out if it is a problem with the hardware, Ubuntu, the router, the ADSL ISP we are running the floor below…whatever it is, problems with internet connectivity are always the most frustrating. If you have a problem with your printer, you can go online and download an update. Problems with WiFi require a lot more work to figure out…
Regardless, we had a good day today. WiFi problems aside, the computers are doing their jobs. While I will be happier after a few more days of work to get them ready to distribute, we did a little bit of sight seeing today as we were waiting for some drivers to download. We went to a few historic temples, including the temple of the Living Goddess which was jam-packed!
Because of the holiday going on this week, there were police on every corner, with full riot gear and automatic weapons. It was an interesting juxtaposition of four-hundred year old Nepalese architecture and men resembling Storm Troopers behind barbed wire. As we were returning home later in the day, we turned the corner to see a large grassy area with flags and armed guards at the gates. Inside the park were hundreds of army men, about to start a annual “Boomerang” — firing their weapons one by one, down the line, so that the sound echoes around Kathmandu like a boomerang.
Another tradition of the holiday is the slaughtering of goats. All around Nepal this week, you can see goats for sale, some reaching as high as $200 USD (15,000 Rs). The goats are lined up on the streets, and potential buyers walk around piles of hay and through long lines of people to find the goats that they want. Not that I’m homesick (yet), but it reminded me a lot of picking out a Christmas tree in the big rush before Christmas Eve. Hurried by the approaching holiday, men were rushing around, picking goats up, pointing, shouting, hanging colorful ornaments (wrong holiday!), bargaining.
Once we arrived back at Muni’s house shortly before dinner, we thought we heard the army men firing their weapons. Turning around, I saw nothing — perhaps I’d missed it. Waiting a few seconds to hear the noise one more time, I was surprised to see a bright fork of lightning illuminate the sky over Kathmandu. A large storm front was rolling in, with rain starting to obscure the mountains off in the distance. For me, it was a welcome sight; it meant that the weather would be cooler in the days to come.
That’s all for now.
Charles
I was born in London, England. At the age of ten, I moved to Hong Kong, which opened up a whole new part of the world: Asia. Since then, I have enjoyed traveling to different locales around the world. Having graduated from High School, I am taking a gap year to work on a computer project in Nepal, and later a cultural immersion trip in Ghana. This is the blog I am using to keep the world notified. 
Hey Charles, your father just notified me of your blog and it’s great. Just one question, who are “we”, where are you staying, stuff like that. Much love and namaste, Jeanne
“We” usually refers to Muni (my host in Nepal) and I, or his company (Hi Tech Pioneer) as a whole.