One third of way there!

Hi! from the traveller! currently in the SEOUL airport, waiting for flt number 2 to Mumbai and then the third and final one to Kathmandu, arriving tomorrow morning (April 1 with us!) Korean airlines is FANTASTIC!! leg room .... great meals, lovely
people .. watched movie on Michael Jackson rehearsing his last performance "This is it" and also some tasteful ballet dancers ... gal beside me is from China and was thrilled with a little bit of english I gave her and she asked me in her broken English to
come and teach in China!! ha ha..

It was strange and wonderful flying westwards, turn right from Vancouver airport, up north, north west, skirting B.C and Alaska and then over the Aleutian Islands in the Bering Sea, crossing the International Date Line and suddenly we were late afternoon on March 31st! Nostalgic and beautiful flying right over Hokkaido, my old stomping ground in Japan and then over the East Sea and into Seoul, Korea... Airport austere, slanty architecture, generic shops no advertising on any walls. Sort of like a fancy barricade. The floors are wooden and well polished. Sophisticated in a down played way. As I trolley ed my way through the airport with a few hours to spare I was asked to join a group of intent painters. Free cultural activity... I finished painting a small 'Dancheong' plaque in 'traditional Korean color scheme' wat they use on buildings. So neat, this rather meditative and calming exercise right here in the airport!

It was a busy few days in Vancouver. Arran was very helpful with my last minute arrangements, especially closing and securing my backpacks and my "Bonnie Bag" with clothes, toys, etc. for kids in the Kathmandu orphanage.

Tiredness begins to seep into bones; it is 4:20 a.m. Vancouver time!

Thanks for your various notes of encouragement. hugs, Dyane

Taking off soon to Seoul

One more hour to go! Sitting here at the Vancouver airport, beside gate 64. Arran helped me close and lock my backpack, "Bonnie Bag" or bag of clothes and games for children in Kathman and my handluggage. Newness and adventures await me. I would like to share with you too a lovely poem by Irish writer and poet John O'Donoghue:

A BLESSING FOR THE TRAVELLER

Every time you leave home, another road takes you into a world you
were never in, New strangers on other paths await.
New places that have never seen you, will startle a little at your entry.
Old places that knew you well will pretend nothing changed since your last visit.

When you travel you find yourself alone in a different way,
more attentive now to the self you bring along.
Your more subtle eye watching you abroad; and how what meets you
Touches that part of the heart that lies low at home:

How you unexpectedly attune to the timbre in some voice,
Opening a conversation you want to take in to where your longing
Has pressed hard enough inward, on some unsaid dark, to create a crystal insight,
You could not have known you needed to illuminate your way.

When you travel, new silence goes with you,
And if you listen you will hear what your heart would love to say:
A journey can become a sacred thing.
Make sure before you go, to take the time to bless your going forth.
To free your heart of ballast so that the compass of your soul may direct you
Towards the territories of spirit where you will discover more of your
hidden life;

May you travel in an awakened way, gathered wisely into your inner ground;
That you may not waste the invitations which wait along the way to transform you.
May you travel safely, arrive refreshed And live your time away to its fullest;
Return home more enriched and free to balance the gift of days which call
you.
By John O'Donohue

Two more sleeps left

If you want to follow my steps, inspirations and feelings during the next four months please open my blog. You can just read and if you want to write me just e-mail me. Its more personal.
BLOG ADDRESS: http://dyanegoingsolo@blogspot.com Please save it into your bookmarks.


If you want to know more about the Annapurna Circuit trek itself try going to
http://lonelyplanet.worldexpeditions.net/lpau/index.php?#tabTripNotes




**************
It was wonderful to see some of you yesterday in Vancouver at the sleezy Biltmore Hotel bar!! Thank you for coming to visit with me (Arran and Teresa) for a short time. If you could not make it, I am sorry to have missed you this time around and we will meet up 'after it's over' this August. I know you found the short dvds interesting on the wonderful work of Bonnie and Fred and Child Haven International Thank you again, you have no idea how you revived my rather weary planning spirits as you peppered me with questions, comments, support, chocolates and beer .... now, two more sleeps to go, and, I am READY!

If you left a lovely cashmire scarf at the bar please give me a call! Otherwise I might well bring it along with me on my Annapurna trek!

Karen, your ikebana flower arranging yesterday was beautiful! MMMhhh! thank you for delicious dinners Joan, Louise, also Sue. Sue, last nigh's sleepover in your place was sooh comfy and the walk this morning was refreshing as we walked with Gypsy along sodden paths lined with baby-fresh ravishing leaves and fully flowering magnolia bushes.

Arran and I have just attended a Unitarian service and they were talking about empowered women ... hey, gals, that's us! empowerment to all!

Soon Arran, Teresa, two dogs and I are off to see Glenys and Galloway in West Vancouver. He is downstairs right now finalizing a deal to sell yet another of his buy-and-fixup- Honda cars for $5,000.

freaking out a bit in Vancouver

a bit freaking out! things on table and on floor.... off to get ziplock bage for order in backpacks... going to an ikebana flower show this afternoon and then meeting friends in Biltmore from 4 - 7! Deep breaths! positive thinking!!! hugs, d

Contact info. in Nepal

This is a picture of Rosemary and me with an ardent group of Toronto Unitarian "doo bee doo" afgan quilt assemblers. Taken the day after I left To. for Vancouver.

Three more sleeps left untilo I leave for Nepal!!

Mailing address is:
CHILD HAVEN INTERNATIONAL CANADA
PO BOX 9676, Kathmandu, Nepal
Child Haven Telephone: 011-977-1-4485-805
e-mail dyane.lynch@gmail.com or
childhaven@wlink.com.np

Emergency:
Arjun's home: 011-977-1-4461030
Arjun's cell: 977-985 1086372

Vancouver and To Do list ...

It's Thursday now, I think! I have been to the doctor, got visa pics. done, visited a friend in UBC. Then walked to the bank and talked about monetry and morgage things there, then on to down town to apply for a tourist Visa. You need one for India, even though I will only be there a few days en route back to Canada. But this visa is good for 6 months. Then on to get the last set of shots in arm. Finally home here with Gracie the cat. It is rainy and sort of cold so have the fire on. Trying to decide whether to have a rest or check out the hotel foyer and bar where I plan to meet up with friends on Saturday.... Then I have to do a complex Income Tax return with H n R!! oh the joys of planning! then I would love to have a nice dinner ready for Arran ....
I hope that this finds YOU in great form! hugs, Dyane-in-transition

Vancouver and Arran

Arrived in Vancouver this afternoon (March 24) after a great 3 days with Rosemary, Matthew and the Woods gang. Great to spend a little time with the tiny ones and relax with the bigger ones. Joined Rosemary's Doo Bee Doo Bee Doo Unitarian group and helped put together knitted squares for an afgan. R and I went for two walks in the ravines. Great to see Ann, Linda and Poppet.

Flight smooth, beautiful day. Finished a book. Arran met me and made dinner for me. Sorting my stuff out .... spread out all over the floor.

Now the flurry of things to do during the next few days. Tomorrow it is doctor, immunization booster, visa office, dentist, Income Tax .. only three more business days to go!!

hugs, Dyane