Nepal Part 1: Arrival and Traveling to the Village

We were looking for a different sort of travel experience, one that would challenge us and take us deeper into a place.  We were introduced to Choice Humanitarian by our dear friends the Stephensons.  Hearing about this organisation and looking at the options they presented, we knew this was exactly what we were looking for.  An opportunity to serve and an opportunity to experience a culture in a way we never had before.  Preparing for this expedition was like no other trip preparation we had experienced before both in terms of mental and logistical planning.  It was months of research, countless exchanges with the Choice staff, planning and buying specialised gear and preparing our hearts and minds for this new kind of experience.  Culturally we were not surprised by much in Nepal as our other travels, especially to India, paved the way there.  But we hadn't had the closeness to people and culture that this kind of travel, a trip of service, would create.  It was one of the hardest yet most rewarding experiences we have ever had.  It was a lot of hard work and rustic conditions, but this is exactly what cut through the layers that separates an average tourist from the place and people they came to see.  Sanding and digging all day, and sleeping in sleeping bags on the ground in rustic village school rooms gave us access to experiencing a connection we hadn't before.  It was incredible, and especially since we were able to share this experience with the Stephensons.  That made it a thousand times better.  We couldn't ask for better friends or travel companions.

We flew out a day ahead of time to give us a bit more time to adjust, so we had a little down time when we arrived.

On arrival at our hotel in Kathmandu, a little post jet-lag rooftop pool dip.

The second day we slept in, then attended church (which was amazingly being held in our hotel!).  Then in the afternoon we loaded the coach and head west to the village where we would be serving.  It was a long journey, and stopped for the night at this hotel where we had a chance to enjoy each other's company and begin getting better acquainted with the Choice staff we were spending the week with.  

After a lovely dinner where we got to officially meet the Choice team, we decided to start a game night playing a bit of table tennis and a new game, Carrom, a fun strike and pocket game.

The kids had a great time!  

Trevon really got into Carrom, and loved getting to know the Choice team!

Chris and Scott got into it too!  

A couple we met loading the bus, sometimes when you travel you become a tourist attraction and people want to take photos of you, and in exchange you can take a photo of them.  

Stopped for a loo break en route to the village.

The air quality during most of our two weeks in Nepal was pretty terrible.  People burn their trash and it does no favours to the air quality.  It was pretty sad.  Very few clear days, not because there were any clouds, but because of all the haze.  

Onlookers observing us foreigners as we stopped to have lunch on the side of the road along the way to the village. 

Almost there!  Next, our grand welcome into the village of Chiti . . .

Hull, Yorkshire and the Peak District

After over 7 years living in the UK I finally made the pilgrimage to visit my grandfather's childhood home up in Hull, Yorkshire. Born in 1903 my grandfather was the second youngest of 9 children. His father died tragically when my grandfather was only 9 years old. My great-grandmother moved the family to the USA shortly after his death.

It was a bit of a scavenger hunt trying to locate some of the specifics of his parents, my great-grandparents, but we managed to visit my grandfather's home, his primary school, the church where my great-grandparents were married, the place where my great-grandfather would have worked and the site where his grave was.

Standing in front of my grandfather's childhood home in central Hull was a surprisingly emotional experience. I have come full circle.

129 Welbeck Street, Hull, Yorkshire, England, the home of John and Annie Crofts and their 9 children!

Holding a copy of the 1911 census filled out by my great-grandmother, signed and dated with their address, 129 Welbeck Street

The house numbers are not original, and were replaced in the late 80's when my aunt visited with my grandpa and grandma. They asked the owners at the time if they could take the house numbers (and replace them with new ones). So my aunt in California has the original house numbers. Such a treasure!

The first visit to this place of the youngest generation of Hyrum Crofts descendants. I actually think this house has probably seen a lot of visitors over the years, with 9 children there are a lot of John William & Annie Crofts descendants out there that share this history.

129 Welbeck Street, Hull, Yorkshire, England--house just to the left of the silver car, with the schoolhouse at the end of the road. Not a bad school commute!

With the kids in front of what would have been my grandpa's primary school, holding a book that very likely came from that school.

Trevon holding a book that in all likelihood came from this school. It is stamped "City of Hull Education Committee" with my grandfather's name handwritten in my great-grandmother's script inside. It's a Shakespeare for kids book, and now Trevon is reading it.

Grandpa's primary school

This is the "road" where my great-grandfather, John William Crofts, would have worked, Neptune Street. He was a signalman at the railroad that had once run through this section of town leading to the docks.

I was really keen to locate my great-grandfather's grave. His life and death set into motion a new path for my great-grandmother and their children. I wonder how things would have been different if his life hadn't been cut short. I visited the Hull History Centre to do some research, and records there indicate that he was buried at the Hessle Road Cemetery. That cemetery suffered decay and ruin over the years and was cleared where this open recreation field now stands.

This is St. James's Church, and where I believe my great-grandparents were married.

Short article published in the Hull Daily Mail on 19 October 1912 with details on the death of my great-grandfather. He was clearly a stubborn and hardworking man. I know his stubbornness has carried through the gene pool!

Death notice of my great-grandfather in the Hull Daily Mail

Having seen all we wanted to see in Hull we looked at what else we were close to to see that afternoon.  We headed over to the coast and visited the beautiful Bempton Cliffs

After the cliffside visit we drove west to York, had a nice evening wander around old York, had dinner and then continued onto our hotel nearer to the Peak District.

The next day we drove into the gorgeous Peak District National Park.  It was a very windy day, but what a great day we had exploring all over this park.