http://www.whitebaboon.com where the passion for writing meets the passion for travel Mon, 09 Feb 2009 03:03:39 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Tihar is over, Thank God, literally. But the home minister of Nepal does not cease to amaze and amuse. A few weeks ago, he decided that cyber cafes were the devil, since one could access bad websites, and I am not even speaking about porn. But websites about Bollywood, websites ... http://www.whitebaboon.com/121/ It is quite interesting to view the election process from overseas, as it resembles nothing of the election process one views while being stateside. Like many Americans, I am sure, I am glued to the TV trying to listen to as many pundits as possible about the impending election.  But ... http://www.whitebaboon.com/american-elections-international-style-2/ It is holiday season once again here in Nepal, and it is just another reason not to work, or to do anything much at all for that matter. With the exception of watching the news and freaking out that the entire Western society is facing doomsday - but I will ... http://www.whitebaboon.com/kinda-like-christmasonly-everything-dies/ So last Friday was an interesting day. All hell broke loose. I received a phone call from the police at around 3pm demanding I come in and answer charges that I had committed robbery. Robbery. Really? In Nepal? Hmmm…so to say the least, I was intrigued. How? What? When? Who? ... http://www.whitebaboon.com/the-restaurant-owner-from-hell-in-nepal/ I think I am getting old. I once heard that when you get old you quit listening to new music, and like the man that can't let go of his Bee Gee’s 8 track, I cant seem to embrace a relatively new style of music that goes by the name ... http://www.whitebaboon.com/trance-musicfriend-or-foe/ Sometimes, I think that my impulsive nature makes others crazy. Actually, I have no doubt that it does. I directly attribute my fathers grey hair to some of my more rash decisions.  I also have no doubt that I am a bit off the wall at times, and realize that ... http://www.whitebaboon.com/117/ O what a night   It is exactly 2 am, and I sit here writing in my bed, giving off a little start every time the power surges and the lights become so bright they look like they might pop. The sound of the rain should be calming, as it is constant- ... http://www.whitebaboon.com/frogs-can-be-evil-rats-are-worse-but-birthdays-make-it-all-better/ I am doing it once again. I am leaving. That long trek across the globe that is as unforgiving as it is tedious. No longer do I feel the excitement of being on a plane, traveling unfathomable distances in mere days. Instead, knowing that I have done this before, ... http://www.whitebaboon.com/airplanes-visas-and-immigration-oh-my/ The ride to Rania was a roller coaster. Great America’s Screaming Eagle with its shockless, wooden construction comes to mind. Zana’s no-name car was the epitome of luxury—beige and gold, proof of purchase still stuck to the windows, digital dash, cruise control, compact-disc player and leather interior with head-rest to ... http://www.whitebaboon.com/screaming-eagles-live-chickens-polygamy/ The Pashmerga, the Kurdish police and security officers, were everywhere. At intersections. At fountains. At soccer games. There were never any less than four guards at the gates of our compound, which includes ten-foot high walls. There were always two or three in front of the school, where our couchsurfing ... http://www.whitebaboon.com/the-pashmerga-says-no-pictures/