I can't tell you much I appreciate everything you did for me - the list is too long

Jiban!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Man, I sure do wish I could take you out for a beer right now. Or five.

So sorry I haven't emailed earlier - I've been slowly working my way through a massive email pile, and unfortunately my right hand still makes typing slow. One of these days it's going to realize that it doesn't need to be asleep anymore...I'm back in San Francisco, healing up, slowly working my way back to health. In the big picture, I'm great - feeling better every day - but it's going to be a few weeks (at least) until I'm back up to full speed. Hopefully I'll be back to work before long, depending on how the head feels. Holly Shit, I have no idea how I'm alive.

I can't tell you much I appreciate everything you did for me - the list is too long, so I plan to repay you over the next few decades, one trip to Nepal at a time :) I'll start by buying you a few beers in Kathmandu, with Galena, when we're next in town. More soon - hope all is well on your end - pass on an update when you have a chance. Any word from David Morton? Can't wait to see you again soon, without a bandage on my head!

-Link

You seemed to really ‘have my back’ as we say here in the US

Namaste Jiban!

Well, we’re all back in the US and a little rested up. I wanted to say a big ‘Thank You’ to you for all you did to make this first trip special. The banners, hats, tshirts, great staff, etc. Overall the guys were very impressed and even commented that you seemed to really ‘have my back’ as we say here in the US. It’s a compliment which means someone is loyal to you and whiling to help you in any way they can.

I really hope you have a great rest of the season. I’ll be working on updates to my Nepal trips, so please pass along those cost estimates you showed me briefly and I will look over where I think pricing needs to be. Let me know when you’ll be heading to Kilimanjaro. I hope you have an amazing time if you go. I love Africa!

Be well, be safe. It was great to see you again!

Darrell Atwater
www.NoLimitsAdventures.com

Mother's Day (Mata Tirtha Puja)

The Nepalese people have always been family oriented. They take great pride in their ancient tradition of closely-knit family unit. This sort of kinship is not only the result of religious teachings, but also due to various festivals and ceremonies, which brings the family together and strengthens the family ties in the Nepalese society.

Such is the festival of "Mata Tritha Puja" which in English is "Mother's day" . This festival falls on the last day of the dark fortnight of April or early May. It is a day when one shows appreciation and gratitude to his/her mother for her unconditional love and undying support.

On this day, each house bustles with activities and everyone, regardless of age, participates. There aren't much religious ceremonies but the fact that it is a day for mothers, calls for celebrations for she is the one who keeps the family together through ups and downs in life. Even the small children dig into their savings to buy gifts for their mothers. Sons and daughters living separately, come with presents and delicacies to spend time with their mother. It is a day of reunion for married daughters with their mothers. The entire day is filled with festivities and merry making.

Those who don't have a mother pay obeisance to Mata Tirtha, which is a sacred site of pilgrimage and holy bathing. It lies six miles south - west of central Katmandu, consisting of two pools-the larger for bathing and the smaller is famous as the place where one "looks upon one's mother's face".

Legends reveal that in the ancient times the region was ruled by a cowherd king. One of his cowherds was so depressed by his mother's death that he went to pray and make offerings at a water storage pond in the forest on this day. Miraculously his mother's face appeared and her hand accepted the offerings. Thus its called Mata Tirtha, where many hope to see their mother's face. Alot of folklores are attached to this site, some of which are tragic. But whatever it maybe, people still believe that paying homage to this site will bring peace to their mother's departed soul. So for this reason people come from distant places, on this day, to show their reverance.

Thus, Mata Tirtha holds a very profound meaning in each person's life. For a mother, is a figure present in everyone's life. This day gives each child a chance to show the depth of his/her feelings for her.

http://www.nepalhomepage.com/society/festivals/motherday.html