After disembarking the plane, I followed the stream of passengers across the tarmac toward the airport... Immediately I was struck by how warm it was. I knew that Kathmandu Valley's climate was subtropical, but I had still expected it to be a bit colder than it was. Sure, it wasn't warm like summer, but I was quite pleased to discover that the light sweatshirt I was wearing provided sufficient warmth and negated the need to put on the coat I was holding. It was certainly a nice respite from the cold weather that I left in the States...
Entering the Tribhuvan International Airport, I immediately proceeded to purchase my visa so that I could clear customs and retrieve my luggage... However, there was a bit of a snafu related to acquiring a visa... It was actually a pretty straightforward process, except for one thing... I didn't realize that I would need to pay cash for the visa (looking back, I should've known!). I therefore had to go to the money changer to cash a traveler's check. After receiving the balance (minus a fee) in Nepali rupees and returning to the visa clerk, I learned that he wanted the money in US dollars (otherwise I would have had to pay more). I therefore went back to the money changer to exchange some of the rupees for dollars (again having to pay a fee). Finally, after a chuckle, I was able to purchase the visa (for only US $30, including both fees -quite a bargain actually) and legally enter Nepal for the first time!
Greeting me on the other side of the doorway was my friend Junni (whose wedding I came to Nepal to attend), as well as her brother (Bishav) and aunt. It was great to finally see Junni in Nepal and I looked forward to meeting her family. However, first we had to run a quick errand and we stopped to purchase some dried fruit and nuts before heading back to her family's home...
Alleyway location of the dried fruit shop
When we arrived at the house, I was intrigued to learn that they lived in a single-family home in a gated community, reminiscent of one you might see in the Southwestern US (think Phoenix or San Diego)... Junni told me that her family had moved into this house only a few years before (their older house was more centrally located).
Entrance to the gated community
Most of the family were gathered up on the rooftop terrace when I arrived, so we proceeded through the house up the stairs (removing our shoes at the doorway of course)... It was great to meet Junni's parents and some of her extended family. I was actually so nervous that I totally forgot all of the Nepali phrases I had tried to learn on the long journey (chalk it up to jetlag I guess). Most everyone was gathered in a circle chatting and sorting various dried fruits, nuts, candies, and spices into carefully measured piles before putting the piles into individual ziplock bags. I came to learn that the mixtures of goodies, known as masala poka, were a traditional party favor (of sorts) that the bride's family traditionally gives to the members of the groom's family when they visited (more on that in a later post). Though the family members were concerned I was exhausted and kept asking if I would like to lay down, I was delighted to be able to help them sort and bag the congeries.
Sorted piles of masala poka
Later in the day, I helped place the masala poka bags into special red velvet bags emblazoned with the names of the new couple.
The finished products
