so this (that) was christmas

So this weekend I found myself celebrating christmas for the second time in Nepal, and for the 4th (or 5th) time away from family and home. By this stage i'm used to it, and while xmas at home (or normally in NZ) with the family is always a cracker, I have always enjoyed the ramshackle makeshift christmas's that I have had in Nepal x2, Colombia  and Japan with old friends and new. You can always guarantee good times, new friends, and something to remember

Christmas glove love 

being here as part of a school trip (yes...school) 10 years ago, with a large group, containing people who are still my closest friends was an incredible experience, after trekking in the mountains for something like 18 days we arrived to pokhara  on xmas eve (i think) all i remember is gorging on a 8 course meal by the lake looking at the himalayas, and then not being able to move for about 4 hours. This time, 10 years into the future, was pretty much the same. except we weren't in pokhara, and we had alcohol. i have wondered in retrospect why as a bunch of 15 and 16yr olds we weren't more concerned about trying to sneak drinks, while the teachers weren't looking...and the teachers were never looking. But in my mind maybe we were so excited and enthralled by being in a less developed country that there were more interesting things to do that to drink......(how times have changed??)

(about 14 hours after we started with the sherry coffees - Psychedelic Stupa housemates) 

Anyway, fast forward 10 years and me and my housemates at the Psychedelic Stupa threw, what i think, was a highly successful open house -walk-in-drop by-bring a plate party. there were shrimps on the barbie, sausages, dips, meatballs, salads, doghnuts, christmas cake and copious amounts of drinks, and other foods. Every assorted bideshi in town (including friends we made the night before, and  people other people met on streets) and a bunch of nepalis stopped by during the day for good times face stuffing and general merriment,  things really escalated just before the sun went down with cocktail hour and a quick game of hydrate and by the time the sun was firmly down it was time to clear out.

mainly aussies + frenchy + dutchies 2 and a yankeee

circa 4pm

saving the landlords we headed out for some live music, and some more barhopping, but all in all it was am awesome christmas. swapping presents between housemates over sherry coffees, singing christmas carols in bars with friends and preparing babaghanoush while listening to the pogues - that sounds like christmas to me

the christmas tree + presents + victory squid

to everyone at home i hope you had an awesome christmas and santa was good to you.. now t0o prepare for NYE 2010 - party bus to Pokhara

love love

(photos courtesy of my amazing P Stupa housemates K- Face and the Flying Dutchman)

xL