While I have mastered the art of eating with my hands (to the point that I have been praised my locals for how well I eat), I am yet to master the art of pouring water into my mouth while holding the receptacle away from my mouth. Such is the custom in Nepal, where you don’t get given cups to drink from. Instead, on every table in a given café or restaurant sits a bottle of water that is drunk from communally. You just don’t dare touch your lips to it. The trouble is that the receptacles come in all shapes and sizes and I find it difficult to judge exactly where above my face I should be holding it. Half the time it ends up all over my face and I look like an idiot.
I have learned for sure that the local restaurant I happened to find is a very good one indeed. It is a favourite spot for a large number of monks. Tonight I chatted to one as I left. He told me the monks like going there because they can eat as much as they want, whereas in their monastery they are only served a limited amount. I asked if they need to collect alms (like monks in Myanmar do), but he said that they don’t. Instead, they buy their food (to be cooked) and clothing, and anything else they need using money they receive from offering prayers to the public.
Newsletter 10 has been delivered to my subscribers and I have been getting some pretty supportive feedback. It really makes me feel good when I learn others are enjoying hearing about my exploits. I started tidying my room and preparing a few things for my imminent departure from Kathmandu. I am very nearly able to leave with a clear mind.