Monkey Business
As mentioned in my last blog, I fell ill over the weekend and unfortunately it lasted into the work week. But by Tuesday I was sick of being in bed all day and decided to go into the office and just take it easy on my stomach with some rice and dal. This week I met with our Deputy Chief of Party and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Specialist to discuss my assignment regarding the obligations of ratifying the Palermo Protocol. Despite being in Nepal for two months, there is still so much I have to learn about the way systems work here, like what each ministry is responsible for, how those ministries work with parliament, etc. Trying to understand a system so different from our own has certainly slowed me down, but I am enjoying the opportunity to learn and compare.
On Wednesday, I was fixated on a paper about human trafficking when one of my coworkers said something to me. I turned to look at him and he was pointing at the fan in our office, but I did not quite catch what he was saying. A second later, our Deputy Chief of Party rushed in and asked “did you feel the earthquake?!” It turns out my co-worker was trying to draw my attention to the shaking. I was in disbelief that we had an earthquake and I hadn’t even felt it. We exited the building and everyone else seems to have felt it too. Perhaps I simply didn’t know what one felt like and thus was not as sensitive to it as everyone else. The news reported the quake at a 4.7 magnitude.
At this point on my trip, I have reached Everest Base Camp, eaten loads of Nepali food, met some yaks, gotten sick twice, trudged through mud in monsoon season, and been through my first earthquake. Needless to say, I think I have thoroughly experienced Nepal.
Over the weekend I headed back to Thamel for some more exploring - and some tourist-friendly food. The streets were flooded and muddy and shopkeepers were lining the front of their stores with stones to try to draw customers in.
Once the rain subsided, I decided to walk to Swayambhu nath, affectionately known as “Monkey Temple.” I definitely underestimated the distance, but by the time I realized how far the trek was I was already halfway there. Hey, I trekked up a mountain for 10 days, so this should be cake, right?
It definitely did not take long to realize why the temple is called “Monkey temple,” they were everywhere! 
The path up to the stupa was so long, but beautiful statues lined the staircase and made the climb much more enjoyable.
And here’s little old me. I asked the guard at the gate to take my picture, since I currently have more photos of animals and landscapes than myself #solotraveler
The hike up to the top was tiring but so worth these beautiful views!
