Onion Cells with a Microscope

We did a couple introductory projects with the microscope over the past couple weeks, now it's time to get messy! Onion cells make a logical next lesson as the thin section is easy to prepare and plant cell structures are easy to see.

The staff learned how to pull off the delicate onion membrane and prepare a wet mount on a slide. Getting the air bubbles out is always the tricky part... It became a competition to see who could prepare the best slide and take the best photo.

This is a photo the staff took through the microscope with a point and shoot camera. You can clearly see the cell walls and nuclei, not bad eh?

Sainithar accepted

A bright student at the library went to Vientiane to take scholarship exams as part of the AusAid explore program.

This is the third year he has gone to Vientiane to take the exams. He passed the first phase consisting three tests: IQ, reading comprehension and essay writing. Of 800 students he was one of the 100 asked to return for an interview.

He was the least comfortable with the IQ portion of the test. So we spent a couple weeks working on logic, math and thinking puzzles prior to him boarding the bus to Vientiane.

I knew from the look on his face he had gotten the interview. He's worked hard, maybe this is his year.

Keys

I now own a set of keys - weird. I haven't carried a set of keys around with me for almost a year. I now have a pile of keys jangling in my pocket. A set of keys to the library. A set of keys to my house. A key for the scooter.



Not bad digs eh?

A scooter?!? My roommate bought a scooter when she moved to Laos. Then she got in an accident and is now afraid to learn how to ride it. That's the story of how I inherited a scooter... I will force her to learn to ride it someday!

back in the Laos again

Have been so excited to come back to Laos and continue doing interactive science experiments that its a little strange to actually be here. Staying up till 3 am to say goodbye to new Japanese friends in Bangkok doesn't help, nor does going from the icebox of the airplane cabin to the sweltering heat of a tuk tuk. But hey, I'm here.

So I'm back with the plan to stay for a couple months doing interactive science and making arrangements to come back next year.

Momos with Dolma

Dolma invited Sandie and I over to make real momos at her house. Little blighters aren't as easy to make as you think. A simple flour and water mixture gets rolled into millimeter thick patties by the mother. The meat filling is already prepared and consists of minced meat, onions, cilantro and spices - quite fragrant even raw. A small dab in the middle and folding class begins. After we had made a couple hundred they got steamed and we had a feast! Delicious!



An enjoyable afternoon talking and making momos and doing laps around Bouddanath.

Such simple pleasures filled the day: Talking with Dolma and her brother while making our own tsampa for breakfast. Tsampa is a traditional Tibetan food made from buckwheat flour, butter, and butter tea - a doughy version of cream of wheat. Doing laps around Bouddanath in the energy of OM MANI PADME HUM and the smell of fresh ground incense burning strong.

Spray paint on a brick wall reads "Stop killing in Tibet" and I am instantly brought back to the reality of the Tibetan people who live as refugees with limited rights and yet continue to be most hospitable people.

Thank you for a wonderful afternoon Dolma.

Sekuwa with Sabena

Dinner at Bajeko Sekuwa, serving a variety of smoked meats. Yum! Must have been wine colored shirt day, not sure why we were all wearing the same color that night...


It was so good, I went back a few nights later with Raj and Sebena.


Unfortunately, Sandie was super sick and couldn't join us. Fortunately, there was jolly Shandy on hand to make a toast in her absence!



Thanks Sabena (the witch) for two great evenings of sekuwa!

Dinner at Ruth's rooftop cafe

Trekking friends get together for an evening of tofu burritos at Ruth's rooftop cafe. After shopping in the dark at the local grocery store for ingredients we convened for cooking duties. Sandie directed activities. Ruth made beans in the pressure cooker. Ruchi made chapati. I just hung around and drank wine.

What a lovely evening with a couple of new friends from the UK.



Yes Ruchi, the chapati queen, can actually cook!

Favorite Photos of Sandie in Nepal

This blog is a dedication to my trekking partner Sandie. Thanks for organizing an amazing trek around Annapurna and tricking me into going with you.

Nepali People

. .



. .


Just a few of the wonderful people of Nepal.

Annapurna Base Camp

After crossing Thorung La confidence runs high, we had already been higher than we were going. The hike up to Machapuchre Base Camp from Himalaya is the last steep section we have to climb. After a lunch break at MBC the last push up to ABC feels relatively easy.

Got a good scare in an avalanche run out area, I heard a crash and looked up to see a cloud of rocks rushing toward me... From above I could hear Hari yelling for me to run. And run I did, I was scared! Turned out it was a quite tiny rock slide and the ledge above me stopped all the rocks, but when your guide yells for you to run - YOU RUN! Hari tells me a couple years ago a German guy and his guide were killed in this very spot, which is why he is so nervous. Good to know that even when I think I'm tired from twenty days of trekking I can still run with a 15 kg pack strapped to my back...

Arriving in ABC felt a bit like arriving at the moon. Tons of fog and a barren landscape. We knew we were surrounded by 8000m peaks but we couldn't see them... Luckily, we were rewarded with a perfectly clear morning to watch the sunrise.

Hopefully Sandie will post the photo of all the trekker friends together.