Walking to Dhaka Weaves

June 11, 2008

Today we thought we should try to walk out to Dhaka Weaves. We had just driven there on Monday with Prativa, Rita Thapa’s daughter, so we should be able to find it easily enough. Well, we took a wrong turn within our own neighborhood. We knew as long as we went downhill we would eventually find ourselves at a spot we could recognize. This did happen but it took us 2.5 hours to get to Dhaka Weaves. We needed to be on the ring road and then on the one “highway” that actually goes out of Kathmandu and all the way to India. It was a spectacular traffic jam. The road is barely two-lanes wide. Big trucks, buses of all sizes shapes and forms, personal cars, motorcycles, bicycles, cows and stray dogs compete for the lanes and shoulders. Add Stacey and Lindsay walking along and you get the picture! Nepal is dependent on trade with India for most items but absolutely dependent for fuels and many other basic commodities.

Our intention was to spend some time with Ratna, the bookkeeper (?). By the time we arrived, Ratna showed us to our office and then he told us he had to leave in 15 minutes. We had packed a sort of picnic, so we had a cup of tea and ate our lunch. We took the opportunity to walk through the building and take a few close-up pictures of the weavers working hands. Until you really see and understand the weaving process it may be difficult to appreciate the time, attention and true art of the craft. Without much else we could do we decided to walk back to town.

The return trip should be easier - we thought maybe 1.5 hours. Well, we found our way, no wrong turns but a few corners and turns that required a toss of a coin and we were home. It took us 2 hours. So perhaps it is further away than we realize. There is not a straight road in town and as they subtly curve you are never quite sure where you are or where you are going. That provides a nice opportunity for discovery. We will return tomorrow – of course we will walk. Why take the bus and spend even longer sitting in a logjam of traffic?

After arriving home we figured we should go try to find an Internet café. Well we did better. We found the Higher Ground coffee shop. They have wireless access. We will take our computers there tomorrow and see it the dream is a reality.

Thanks for keeping up with us. Thanks for your thoughts and support. This is a great city, a great opportunity and Lindsay and I are really glad to be here.