Diagon Alley

My assignment was to write about the tailor's shop where Jason, Jenna, Jane, Sherrie and I went to see the frame for the painting being sewn. First step was the rickshaw ride - me and Jason in one, Jenna, Jane and Sherrie in one, and Tsampa and the tailor in the third, at what amounts to Kathmandu Rush Hour. Like Reba says, there are no words to really describe what it is like. A phrase has popped into my head for everything I see.... "Everything is a picture." It's hard to decide where to point the camera because, like Jane's art, the detail, the color and the beauty are both small and large all at the same time.
Anyway - the rickshaws got into a gridlock at Duhrbur Square, a spot famous for hippie dropouts who've been known to hang out on the steps of a big pagoda temple there. We stepped out and walked through such a throng that there was hardly room to step between the stalled motorcycles, rickshaws, bicycles, taxis and pedestrians, but we fond our way through the crowd and wound up in a maze of tiny streets and alleyways where parents bathed crying beautiful kids on doorsteps, chickens wandered, motorcycles flew by beeping the horn. Following our host we stepped into a magical courtyard, surrounded by beautiful children looking out over their balcony and a craftsman making a door by hand on the ground. Up some stairs past a maniacally barking dog and into the tailor's house/apartment/workroom we went. The bed was next to the sewing machine, and we had beautiful natural light through the shuttered window as Tsampa, Jane, the tailor and the thangka shop owner discussed the border for the painting, and the tailor got to work on some small parts.
When we left the dog was still barking and life was going on a million ways all around us. We opted to walk back to the Kathmandu Guest House, which was faster than riding, and easier on the kidneys.
This morning we went back to the thangka shop and the frame was unveiled. Wait until you see the pictures. Amazing.
We all love and miss all of you. Excuse us when we come back and you ask us "how was your trip" and we just start to babble. You've just got to come see for yourself.
T.
p.s. I'm trying to post some pictures, but no luck yet. There is construction going on around me in the internet store and it is pretty crazy, so I can't guarantee we'llb e able to get any pics up today.
Love to all,
T.