Bill's Travels

Back in NBO

2012-01-18T02:34:00.002-05:00

I am back in Nairobi. Mainly I am here for the North NJ- Kipingi water project, but I am going to stop n Kolunje to meet with the villagers. I will be flying to Kisumu tomorrow. For today I will be doing some tourist things in Nairobi.

From here

2010-01-17T04:28:00.002-05:00

It is obvious to all that these people are in dire need of help.

Going forward we have to design a water system, get it funded, and implement the design. it will be a long road.

1 good source

2010-01-17T04:19:00.003-05:00

This was the only source on Kolunje that there was no visible turbidity. It was drilled by KWAHO (kenya water and health orginization). Its 53 meters deep and maintained by a woman's group that charges 2 shillings for a 20 liter jug filling.

There ware only 5 other hand pumps in Kolunje. 4 also had high turbidity. The 5th was contaminated with diesel (and we assume more) from a latrine only 10 meters away.

Typical water source

2010-01-17T04:13:00.002-05:00

This was the typical water source. We called it a "spring" but only occasionally they ran. Most often they were just small ponds that didn't dry up. High turbidity and bio growth were prevalent. Most people claim that they drink the water without treatment. (OMG)

prospecting for water

2010-01-17T04:10:00.002-05:00

they put a lot of effort into finding new water sources. sometimes its harder than others. This is a well digging in progress. Its 40 ft deep so far.

2010-01-17T04:07:00.001-05:00

At every village we met with a local guide to show us around to all the sights. Some stayed with us most of the time.

Treking the whole site

2010-01-17T03:56:00.003-05:00

As of now, our best guess on the size of Kolunje is about 30 square kilometers.

We visited every water source, planned distribution site, and places of interest.

2010-01-17T03:55:00.001-05:00

Community Meeting

2010-01-17T03:13:00.003-05:00

There was a huge turnout to greet us at the community. The water committee was comprised of 3 members from each of the 7 villages in Kolunje. Alex Ogola was the committee chairman. In addition to them were also individuals and representatives of other groups, including the market managers, and women's groups. Also were the elected political reps, and 2 people from the Division Government. All totaled about 70 people.

Their presentation included hearing from each group, 1 person at a time, to explain why they need clean water and their current hardships. A translator was provided.

We were introduced and had our chance to speak.

After the general meeting the water committee was retained and we presented the goals for our trip, and a technical description of the project process.

short cuts make long delays

2010-01-17T03:10:00.001-05:00

on our way to the community meeting the van got stuck

On Site

2010-01-17T03:06:00.002-05:00

Before our big community meeting, we started out tour of all the water sources in Kolunje.

Meryl tried out operating the pump.

Meeting w/ our local NGO

2010-01-17T03:03:00.002-05:00

The first night they suggested a restaurant nearby, on Lake Victoria. Dinner was great.

From the left- Grace, Peter, Peter (our driver), Eunice

On the Way to Kisumu

2010-01-17T03:00:00.002-05:00

On the way out, the drive across Kenya was interesting.

Near Kericho, there were tea farms as far as the eye could see.

Lake Navaisha Chalet

2010-01-17T02:58:00.001-05:00

Kolunje Water Supply

2010-01-07T13:58:00.002-05:00

I am in a volunteer orginization called Engineers Without Borders. On the Kolunje project, I am a senior advisor to the Rutgers Chapter. Our project here is to drill a water well, and distribute water to points in the community where villagers can go to get their jugs filled for drinking water. Currently their shallow wells dry up in the dry season and drinking surface water causes much illness.
I am here with 4 students, and another senior engineer. For this trip our goal is to meet the community, and gather information so we can proceed with the design. An estimate on the population that we have to serve is 12,000 people.

To Kisumu

2010-01-07T13:45:00.002-05:00

Today we took a 6 hour journey by van to Kisumu. The way led through the Great Rift Valley, and Kericho where there were tea farms as far as the eye could see.
We found our hotel called the Milimani Resort. The room is nice. It has air conditioning and a mosquito net over the bed.
We had dinner at a restaurant on Lake Victoria, which is the 2nd largest freshwater lake in the world (Lake Superior is the 1st) and the headwaters of the Nile.
WIFI only works downstairs in the TV room so thats where I am now, hangin w/ the folks. Its 80+ deg @ 9:50pm, and one of the guys is sitting on the couch with a winter coat on. This is cold for them. There is no A/C here so the windows are open and the mosquitos are flyin. Luckily, we were told that the mosquitos that carry Malaria only come out between 7:30 and 9 pm. There is no daylight savings time here so the mosquitos dont have to adjust.

Lake Naivasha Resort

2010-01-04T11:02:00.003-05:00

On the way out, We stopped by a friend of Peter's that manages a Resort next door. This place has been around since 1902 when it was owned by King George. They have rooms and tents to rent. We had lunch there. The picture is Peter and I.

Lake Naivasha

2010-01-04T10:52:00.003-05:00

For a day trip, we went to Lake Naivasha. Its about 50 miles northwest of Nairobi. We went straight to a boat tour. The lake had dropped 30 ft in the last 3 years so we had to drive out to the current lake edge. We went in a small boat and saw hippos and plenty of birds including egrets (2 kinds) eagles, egyptian geese and plenty more. There were also plenty of hippos. I took plenty of pictures, but my camera doesnt have a great zoom so I need to crop the images but I dont have that software on this laptop.

Across the lake we went on a short hike. We saw Giraffes, wilderbeast, impala, zebra, and a bunch of other animals.

dinner- yum

2010-01-04T10:46:00.002-05:00

The first night I had to go to a restaurant called "the carnivore" I invited my tour guide, Peter to go with me.

As you can imagine there was plenty of barbequed meat. the waiters kept coming around with different meat on skewers. Pork, chicken, steak, turkey, ostridge, and more. We ate until stuffed.

The picture is me and the chef with the huge bbq behind us.

Arriving in Nairobi

2010-01-03T07:32:00.002-05:00

I arrived last night. It was raining lightly, in the 60's. I was met by a recommended tour guide, Peter. He runs Elite Travel, and Jambo Taxi.

For the first few nights, I got a really nice hotel, The Pan-Afric. Its resort-ish right in Nairobi. There is a swimming pool, a bar and a restaurant.

I checked in, dumped the bags in the room and went to the bar with Peter. There was a nice band playing calypso music.

Stayed till about midnight. Its a little late, but body time for me was 2 hours earlier.

Peter met me after breakfast and we went on a city tour and in search of accomodiations for the rest of the EWB group when they arrive on the 6th.

Tonight we are going to have dinner at a restaurant called "The Carnivore" Its famous in Nairobi. Vegetarians not allowed. I will try to get a picture or 2.

Slide show

2009-11-02T09:00:00.001-05:00

Click on the link below to see a slideshow of the pictures I took on the trip.

http://picasaweb.google.com/controlsbill/Nepal?authkey=Gv1sRgCOHeoJjk8azM5wE&feat=directlink

Bill

Home Safe !

2009-10-25T17:49:00.002-04:00

I made it home. Left KTM for a 4:00 flight, a 5 hour layover in Delhi, and my 18 hour flight to Newark. Arrived home at 5:30 AM thursday the 22nd.

I will eventually post the full picture set, about 600 images, on my website with the notes from the trip.

Bill

Back from Langtang

2009-10-18T10:51:00.002-04:00

I made it back from a 8 day adventure. 1 day each way on the local bus, and 6 days hiking in the Langtang National Park. I took the bus to Shyaphru Besi and found a hotel for the night. I asked the lady ther, Chungu, about a guide and she recomended her brother-in-law, Temba. He showed up early the next day, we made a deal for his rate, and took off. He had no gear except for what he was wearing. He carried my pack, and I carried my day pack.
The highlight of the trip was a day hike fromKanjun Gumpa to the Langtang base camp at about 4400 m. The following day we hiked to the Tserko Ri summit @ about 5000 m. That was over 1100 m up and back in a day. 4 hours up and 2.5 hours down. We left at 4:00 am. At the summit, the air was clear and warm, no wind. We spent an hour at the top and went back to Kanjun Gumpa to th tea house we were staying at.
After that we headed out.

Going trecking in Langtang

2009-10-09T11:28:00.002-04:00

I have everything that I need, a trecking permit and buss ticket to Sabryo Baise. Thats where the road ends and the treck begins. My plan is to get a hotel for the night there and then ask at the hotel for recomendations on a guide and porter. My goal is to be back in KTM by sunday. I dont think that I will have internet until I get back.

At Koshi Dehka

2009-10-09T11:17:00.002-04:00

It was a 4 hour travel by car to get there. The paved road ended 8 km from the villave. The taxi took us another 6 km, so we had a 2 km walk. The NGO had a field office in a school building where I slept with Krishna.
My part here is to study the water situation and make recomendations for improvement. We toured the water distribution equipment, measured water flows, and consulted with the residents. I wrote the report as sooon as I got back to KTM.
Leaving in the morning was more of a problem. Although very unusual, it rained hard all noght. the taxi couldn't make it in to us so we had to walk the 8km out to the pavement. Our journey started at 7:30 am. As we were waliking, it started to rain again. We met the taxi by 10:30. Stopped at the village by a temple for breakfast, and headed to KTM. Traffic by Bachtoupr was slow because they are building a highway.

To the village and back

2009-10-08T13:17:00.001-04:00

I am back in KTM from the village.
the internet cafe is closing. more later.

laying low in KTM

2009-10-04T08:34:00.002-04:00

I picked up a cold in Kathmandu so I am resting in my hotel room alot trying to get better soon. We had another design meeting about the village water system today. The site visit is scheduled for wednsday. The trip will take me away from KTM for 3 or 4 days to a village called Koshi Dekha. Its about 50 miles east of here, and 1 hout walk from the nearest road.

Pashupatinath

2009-10-02T03:28:00.002-04:00

Here are some shots from Pashupatinath, Nepal's most important Hindu temple.

in the foreground are creamation platforms along the Bagmati River with ongoing funerals. The families are in the rooms behind.
The background is Mother Threasa's hospital.

I am sitting next to a sadu, a hindu holy man. They hang around here all day smoking ganga.

This man is 103 years old.

Dassain holiday

2009-10-02T03:21:00.002-04:00

playing cards on the porch

Tim & I

Tim was just finishing shooting a documentary about life in a lower caste village

Walking through the rice paddies

2009-10-02T03:16:00.001-04:00

me & the boys

2009-10-02T03:13:00.001-04:00

Assok, me, Bhuvan & Anil

2009-10-02T03:10:00.001-04:00

Curry goat & dal bhaat

2009-10-02T02:49:00.003-04:00

Buffalo & goats

Punney & Puma

Back to KTM

2009-10-01T23:50:00.000-04:00

The trip back was worse than the trip going. This time we came down to Pokahara on a jeep. Had to have a white knuckle grip on the seat in front to keep from getting thrown around. The jeep took us right to the bus.

Even though I had a seat, it was rough going. The bus seemed not to have any shocks and the road was brutal- bumps, craters and 1st gear going up hills.My seat was broken and it kept going all the way back and the seat cushon was flat. Impossible to read, write, or sleep. mid-day temperatures were above 80. we stopped 2 times at the same places as the other way. I had the chow mein for lunch.
We booked a room at the KTM guest house, but by now I realize that the place is overpriced. We will look for a cheaper place.

Holiday as a family guest

2009-10-01T08:16:00.002-04:00

Posting the pictures was more difficult than I expected last time. There was a scare that I put a virus on my memory card from the public computer. Any way, since the last post, I traveled to Lhatzok (sp) through Pokahara. From KTM to Pokahara it was a 7 hour trip by bus. The bus was packed with people returning home for the holiday Dassain. From Pokahara we took a short taxi to the end of the road, then walked 1.5 hours to Bhuvan's family's house. The last bit is possible by jeep, but its expensive, 1500 rupees, or about $20.
When we arrived, preparations for the holiday were well under way. The goat was already killed and cleaned. Bhuvan's job was to butcher it. He worked till past dark cutting up all the pieces, saving the 4 legs for the next day. There was nothing wasted. Some was stewed for that night. the rest was cut up in strips and hung up to dry.

We ate after dark. Men sat at the table and the mother prepared the meal and ate sitting on the floor. Curry goat, dahl bhat (lentils & rice), curry vegetable was the menu. and were in bed by 9:00. I was given a spare bedroom.
Dassain holiday revolved around sharing blessings from older to younger. This was marked by receiving Tika, a mixture of rice and red coloring, stuck in a blob on the forehead. Once this was complete with the family we ate. Then we (myself & a visiting englishman, Tim) were taken around to the rest of the houses in the village to recieve tika. The blessings was for health and prosperity and was slightly different everywhere. After Tika, a bit of light eating was required. Possible finger food was curry goat, rice, fried raddish, curry potatoe, curry vegetable, roti (fried rice batter) and peanuts. Curd was given to drink, which was buttermilk/yougart.

Morning starts at dawn, with the rooster and milking the family buffalo. Tea was made (homegrown black tea, buffalo milk, sugar). Then the fresh buffalo milk was boiled and cooled. Warm milk was drinken. Breakfast was around 10:30. Curry goat, dahl bhat (lentils & rice), curry vegetable was the menu. During the day we would visti, go hiking, play cards, etc. Dinner after dark. Curry goat, dahl bhat (lentils & rice), curry vegetable was the menu.
got to go.
more later

2009-09-25T03:16:00.002-04:00

2009-09-25T03:15:00.002-04:00

2009-09-25T03:12:00.000-04:00

Exploring KTM

2009-09-25T02:58:00.001-04:00

Friday 25 Sept
Walking around at night, I met a rickshaw driver named Deb (male) that
offered to be my city guide. We met the following day, thursday, at 1
pm, hired a taxi driver and went ti the monkey temple, Swayambhu.
There were many stairs up, and many tourists. The site is popular for
Buddhists and Hindus. That day, the monkeys were hiding, we only saw
1. But there were a lot of dogs.
We also drove to Durbar square, KTM, which was an old palace, now
goverment and army headquarters. Then we went to another Durbar square
in Patan which was also a palace, now a museum.
We will hit a few more close spots today.

2009-09-25T02:51:00.001-04:00

2009-09-25T02:48:00.001-04:00

Settled into Kathmandu

2009-09-24T03:08:00.001-04:00

It was a long trip here. spent the night in new delhi, not even 12 hours in the hotel. What a scene!
Got to Kathmandu OK. All paperwork was in order.
The ride from the airport was pretty scary.
The hotel that I am staying at is really nice- The Kathmandu Guest House. More like a resort w/ shops, restaurants, money exchange, tour broker, etc. all on site. They upgraded my room because I had to wait at the pickup van for an hout to wait for the others on my flight. I got out early because I accidently cut a line of about 200 people.
the computer here is pretty basic. I dont know if i can upload pictures. I will try later.
Bill

2009-09-21T17:13:00.002-04:00

All packed

2009-09-21T16:13:00.000-04:00

all lists were checked, everything stuffed in the pack.
visas, passport, rupees, all good!

Another Visa

2009-09-17T19:34:00.001-04:00

Good thing I got to the Consulate of India early. There was already a big line which I waited on. After a while, the line started to move. It snakes up a sidewalk and down stairs into a basement office. When I got to the front of the line, an official looked at my parerwork and told me that I had to go to another address, about 17 blocks away. Of course the address on the application was the wrong one. Off I went, to 53rd & 2nd ave. Up into a 2nd floor office, backpacks were not allowed. I had to leave it in the hall. Filled out a new application, 2 pictures, drivers liscense photocopy, passport with 2 spare pages, good for 6 more months....... all hunky dory. And another line to pay the $68 fee, cash. Thank you sir, please come back between 5:30 and 6:00 to pick it up. I did, waited on another line, got my passport back with the visa stuck on a page, and the deed was done. Way too much work for 9 hours in a hotel room in New Delhi.

The Himalayan Yak Restaurant

2009-09-02T09:06:00.000-04:00

To prepare for Nepali food, and for a night out for our 18th anniversary, Elaine and I went to the Himalayan Yak Restaurant, in Jackson Heights, Queens.
http://www.himalayanyakrestaurant.com/
It was an ethnic adventure for sure. We parked in Newark, took the PATH to 33rd st, then the N to the 7, and 13 stops later, we were in Jackson Heights. 2 hours door to door.
The place was teally nice, and close to the train station, right under the 7. I had the Goat Thali-
"Thali - Traditional Nepali combination platter of chicken/pork/goat/beef /vegetarian served with rice, dal (lentil soup), saag (mustard), vegetable curry, papad, mula achar(pickle) and yogurt.
Vegetable Thali        8.99
Chicken / Pork         9.99
Goat / Beef              10.99"
The beer special was Taj Mahl, from India. Keer for desert.

Embassy of Nepal in NYC

2009-09-01T17:52:00.001-04:00

I get the application on-line. Lots of the standard questions and I had to paste a photo on the application.
To get into the city I did something different. I drove to the Secacucus Junction, parked there, and picked up a train th NY Penn. My door to Penn in 45 minutes, I couldnt believe how fast it was. After getting lost on the subway I found the Embassy on the 17th floor. I was met by a nice Nepali woman behind the window. Before I asked the question, I saw the sign- money orders only, no cash or checks. She took my passport and application and sent me to Dwane Reed 1 block away for a $40 money order.

I returned with it and she gave me my passport back with the "visa" on a label stuck to a page in the back of my passport.

Next I need to get an Indian transit visa, because I am staying a night in a hotel in New Delhi.

Getting ready to go to Nepal

2009-08-29T09:34:00.001-04:00

Folks:

I will be going to Nepal to work for Volunteer Aid Nepal and in their community development program working on the construction of water supply and sanitation projects.

I will be away for a month.

It started a while back when Julie did something similar in Africa. I have always wanted to go to Nepal so I looked for "NGO"'s in Nepal and found Volunteer Aid Nepal. They had an on-line application so I filled it in and submitted it. After a week, they got back to me and said that my application had beed approved. I had to wire transfer the $45 application fee to them. This transaction cost $40.

I sent them the confirmation slip over email, and they responded back- when are you coming? I researched it a little bit and September, is just after the monsoons have ended, and October and November are prime months. I scheduled the trip to leave on September 21, and return on October 23.

The main haul is a Continental flight direct, nonstop from Newark to New Delhi, India, 18 hours. I lay over in a hotel by the airport for the night and continue on a 3 hour flight to Kathmandu, Nepal.

I needed to get immunization shots including typhoid, Hep a &b and a polio booster.

I still have to get a tourist visa to Nepal and a transit visa to India. Both these are obtained in NYC.