Where in the world am I now?

We got out of Bangladesh safely on Friday. For those of you who have not seen the News, on Wednesday there was a mutiny with in the military and a large number of people were killed. Each day they find more bodies buried in mass grave sites. We were in the hospital when the killing began, less than 5 miles from the event. Security was tightened and we were not sure what was going to happen next. Life for the most part in Dhaka went on and so did we. I think it was all a relief for each of us when we got on a plane out though. 

So where am I now? Sitting on my bed in a the Hotel Yak and Yeti in Kathmandu. This morning we took a flight and got to see Mt Everest... Amazing. Then we took a major tour of the city. I Have seen more temples and heard the names of way too many of their gods- my head is spinning. This city is very old and beautiful. I took a million photos (not too much of an exaggeration,) and am ready to sleep tonight. 

Tomorrow morning we have a flight to Chitwan National Park and will hopefully get to see some tigers.

Bangladesh

What an amazing experience this has already been. For some reason jet lag has not been a big issue but I am warned it will be on the way home. We arrived in Dhaka in the early hours of the morning and then rose early the next day to head for our first day of clinic. There were 67 children waiting to be screened to see if they would receive cleft surgery. I sat at my dental desk and basically checked to see if the kids had teeth and if they did were they old enough to try and have them come to me to get their teeth cleaned. It was amazing seeing all these children and their parents waiting for us. Some of the kids' situations are really complicated and it was so sad to see the red dots on their charts meaning they would not be eligible for surgery. As the last one in the line it sometimes was me telling the parent that their child would not be getting surgery but I could clean their teeth- what a let down for them. 

This morning we rose early and were at the hospital at 7 am. Things got a slow start as equipment needed to be worked on to get it running properly. I didn't get started until after 10 when I was able to round up a translator/guide. My clinic is down two floors and around the hospital. The hand piece is not compatible to what I use and there is no cavitron so I am doing the best I can with what I have there. I have never wished to be a dentist more than I have as I worked on these kids. I saw 6 today (the dental clinic is in an area of the hospital that closes at 2 so that limited how many kids I could see. Tomorrow I plan on working with more. 

Anyway, here are a few photos of what I have seen so far.... 

This little boy is the friendliest kid ever. He just makes us all smile

One of the doctors examining a prospective patient

Waiting anxiously for the clinic to start

And at Fisherman's Wharf

As I was walking around the wharf, waiting for the bus to go over the bridge I wandered into a mechanical museum... what the heck is that I wondered? And then I saw some of the most bizarre machines from ages ago.... those people back then were pretty sick people. After walking through the gallery I felt like I would have had nightmares for weeks if I lived back in a time when this was entertainment.....

Want Grandma to tell your fortune?

And how about dropping in a coin and watch the English executioners behead someone?

Want to check out an opium den anyone?

There were plenty of others, all of the faces were really scary if you ask me... Chucky has nothing on them. And yet, there were families walking around and kids didn't blink an eye at any of it, maybe its just me

And the journey begins....

Yesterday I left NJ bright and early and flew to San Francisco on the first leg of this trip to Bangladesh. I am staying at this great little hotel, the Prescott- Love it's quirkiness and European style. It was rainging here yesterday so after a walk, getting caught in the rain and returning to the hotel like a drowned rat I slept most of the night away. This morning I headed out for a wonderful breakfast at Honey Honey- had a breakfast crepe and fresh fruit. Yum!

Then I headed to Union Square and jumped on a double decker tour bus. As cliche as they are for tourists I think they are the best way to get around a city you don't know. Especially when you are only around for 1 day. I got to go around the whole city and head out over the Golden Gate Bridge. What a cool day (and I do mean cool- I thought this was California. Isn't it supposed to be warm here?)

One Word Project- Day One

I love an online group called Shutter Sisters. There blog and Flickr group provide a place for women photographers to share ideas, inspiration and photographs. The women offer encouragement and tips in a very positive environment. Today was the beginning of a challenge called the One Word Project. The premiss is for each photographer to choose one word, just one, and to submit a photograph each day for the month of February that helps to define that word for you. Do you have any idea how hard it is to choose just one word? I have spent days lamenting over which word I should choose. My first thought was to choose something simple like sunshine, I mean how hard is it to take 28 pictures of sunshine. But this is supposed to be something that challenges you. I finally decided on the word, HEALING, as February looks to be a month of healing for me. I won't go into it too much as I will spoil some of the ideas I have but healing it is. So without any further ado let me introduce you to my first submission for One Word....

This is a shot of my Bible and prayer journal this morning. as I sat down for my quiet time with God this morning it hit me, this is the most healing place and time in the world for me. When I sit down to talk with God I feel at peace and whole... does it get any better than that? 

Now let me just figure out what I will do for tomorrow....