With the build over, myself and one other team member are headed back to Kathmandu.  One of the hotel staff was born on Christmas day so we got him a  pile of cream donuts and stuck candles in them.   Homer Simpson would be proud.  He fed us each a piece and we all said our goodbyes and headed out to the airport.

The others have a different itinerary that was organized by HFH but I have another paper coming up and I can’t afford to let it go unattended any longer.  Originally the plan was to fly back out to Doha same day, but when I found out about the possibility of a Christmas flight to see Mt. Everest I changed my plans.  So instead I extend my stay to the 26th.  Myself and the other team member, who also happens to work at the same college do some more sightseeing and have a few nice meals together. On a couple of solo excursions I try out the rooftop cafes in the Thamel market area.  A few floors up I get a birds eye view of Kathmandu, removed from all the sounds and chaos on the streets below.  Nobody else is on the roof top right now, I enjoy a Nepali Milk tea and bask in the zen-ness of the moment.  The flight back to Doha is uneventful,   I watch a couple of movies and relax, arriving back in the sands close to midnight.

I’m back in Doha now.  I have another week to rest before work starts up again.  I’m hoping to take advantage of this time and really get a jump on the next paper.  I also have to work on a dissertation proposal due by month’s end.  Nepal was beautiful, I enjoyed the work and the week immensely.  One of the people I worked with said he always gained perspective by doing these trips.  As for me, I’m still digesting everything.  I don’t really know what to say for the time I spent over there, the people on our team were all great, everyone contributed and got along.  I can say that while I worked hard each day, it never felt like work.  I guess all I can say is thanks to everyone, it was a pleasure and a privilege to be involved in this project.