5 - 0 ! NEED I SAY MORE?!?!

Have a very Happy Birthday Megan!!!

Don't tell Mom until we get back but...

We leave in 36 hours or so for a fairly long and remote holiday. Several times we really will be out of contact with the world. We may have so phone and internet connections in Leh though. If possible, I will post updates. Here is the itinerary though with as much contact details as currently possible.

21 July
Singapore to Delhi
Departing: Singapore (SIN - Changi Intl) on Wed, 21 Jul 2010, 0215 hrs
Arriving: Delhi (DEL - Indira Gandhi Intl) on Wed, 21 Jul 2010, 0520 hrs
Flight: SQ406

Hotel: Hotel Waves
A-272, Mahiupalpur Ext, NH-8, Near Indira Gandhi Int.
Telephone: 91 11 26786100

22 July
Delhi to Leh
Departing: Delhi (DEL - Indira Gandhi Intl) on Thurs, 22 Jul 2010, 0630 hrs
Arriving: Leh (IXL – Kushok Bakula Airport) on Thurs, 22 Jul 2010, 0745 hrs
Flight: 9W1609

Hotel: Padma Guesthouse & Hotel
Off Fort Road, Town Centre, Leh
http://www.padmaladakh.net/
telephone: 91 1982 252630

24 July
Move Hotel: Hotel Kasden, Lower Tukcha, Leh
telephone: 01982-252700 or 9622980999

25 July Leh-Nubra (7hrs drive approx.)
After breakfast, drive to Nubra by car. Evening sightseeing Nubra Valley. Overnight at the hotel.

26 July Attend His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s Teaching on “The Ornament of clear Realization by Maitreya and its Commentary by Haribadra” at Disket Phodrang, Nubra. Overnight hotel

27 July Attend His Holiness’s teaching and evening sightseeing if time allows. Overnight hotel

28 July Leh - Drive back to Leh via Khardungla pass, the world highest motorable road. Explore the famous Leh bazaar for souvenir in the evening. Also visit Leh Jokhang or Leh Mosque by walk. Overnight probably at the Hotel Kasden.

29 July Leh - After breakfast, visit Stok Palace Museum and Shey Palace. After lunch we leave for a tour of the Shanti Stupa, Built by Japanese Buddhists this Peace Pagoda is a beautiful structure with gilt panels on its sides that display episodes from the life of Buddha. It was inaugurated in 1983 by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Return to your hotel to stay overnight.

30 July Leh - After Breakfast drive to Hemis Monestery and Trek to Gotsang retreat centre. (Approx 1 hour) On way back visit Hemis Monastery and Thiksey Monastery Back to Hotel.

31 July Leh - Free for Independent Activity. Overnight, probably at the Kasden.

1 August Leh-Lake Tsomoriri - Leh to Tsomoriri (240 Km) Stay at Nomadic Life Tent Camp

2 - 6 August Attend Amitabha prayer festival, cultural festivqal with song, dance, horse races, archery tournament, stay with nomads

7 August Morning drive back to Leh, en route visit Chumathang hot sulfur springs. Overnight at Hotel Kasden, Leh or move to the Stok Highland Hotel.

8 August Day at Leisure. Overnight Leh or Stok.

~9 - 18 Aug The Markha Valley trek with Bill Kite, bill@kitemandu.com.

~18 August Stay in Leh or Stok and figure out what to do until the 23rd. Recover from trek, go on another shorter one, just explore the region on our own, whatever.

Oriental Guest House, Changspa
Rps 1100, bed & breakfast, deluxe room
Will attempt to book for later portion of the trip.
Phone: (0)1982 253 153

23 August Leh to Delhi
Departing: Leh (IXL – Kushok Bakula Airport) on Mon, 23 Aug 2010, 0730 hrs
Arriving: Delhi (DEL - Indira Gandhi Intl) on Mon, 23 Aug 2010, 0850 hrs
Flight: 9W610

Hotel: probably in town but maybe the airport hotel (Waves) again

25 August Delhi to Singapore
Departing: Delhi (DEL - Indira Gandhi Intl) on Wed, 25 Aug 2010, 0755 hrs
Arriving: Singapore (SIN - Changi Intl) on Wed, 25 Aug 2010, 1605 hrs
Flight: SQ405

Happy Birthdays in July

Happy birthday America. Happy birthday Grandpa Smith (a.k.a. Danny). And belated happy birthday to Matt. And early happy birthday to Megan (I'll be out of contact when hers is but I should be back on the 11th for Lel's).

Melanie's farewell address to the troops delivered last Friday

My family @ ABN AMRO,

After 37-years, today will be my last pleasurable day with ABN AMRO.

It has been a blast. I started in Cash Department in Algemene Bank Nederland N.V. as the only girl in a sea of men. We had no computers and currencies were on a fixed exchange rate. When exchange rates floated I had the opportunity to work in the dealing room. I worked at every desk there and set up the Customer Desk. The last 20-years, I have worked in Private Banking and proudly add that I am part of the Indonesian Team. We work hard, play hard, laugh a lot and settle differences quickly in a bid to keep the flag flying.

In the middle of 2009, my husband, Michael and I made a conscious decision to trade in our corporate suits in favour of flip flops and fins.  The idea is to work in the diving industry and in the process educate potential divers to become dive guides. We saw this glaring opportunity for a few people in East Timor to benefit from a scheme like this and hope to put this into fruition. We hope to do this by tutoring in Indonesian.

But first, Michael and I will take a long deserved break. Our plan is to do a trek in Ladakh and maybe even go further inland by truck to check out the nomads, the ancient monasteries and temples.

Many of you have asked me what is the first thing I am going to do on Monday morning. I think that after a leisurely breakfast, I will go and put my feet up and have a pedicure while sipping on a low fat latte. I will really need to do this, as my plan is to only wear flip flops for the rest of my life!

I will love to stay connected so here are my contact details.

+65 9638 5295        mobile
+65 6543 0074        home

e-mail: memism@yahoo.com

snail-mail:
10 Meragi Close
Singapore 487972

I would like to thank you ALL for your wisdom, your friendship, your humour, your warmth and understanding. I would not trade this for anything. I leave here happy and better from having met YOU.

Finally, I would like to leave you with Robert Frost's "The Road Less Travelled". This has been on my desk for years and explains alot.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood , and I,
I took the one less travelled by,
And that has made all the difference.

- Robert Frost

Love and life's best,
Melanie

Happy Birthdays and Anniversary, Levelle and Jamie!

Hope it was a good few days. I'm sure the kiddies treated you well.

I'm writing from an Econolodge in Richmond Hill, GA. It's nasty, and it reminds us of the nasty Econolodge we stayed in on our honeymoon. Thankfully, our marriage has flourished, even if our budget hasn't.

LTA, Megan

Kate Thinks There Should Be A Sister's Day

I'm with her!

Happy Father's Day all you brothers and brothers-in-law. Hope you're having a great day.

I was having a terrible day at work on Friday, to the point where I said outloud to myself, "Please Lord, help me get through this day!" Just a minute later, a bird flew up and sat on the window sill and looked in at me. That has never happened in the four years I have sat at that window. I think it was Dad. Made me smile.

Crazy as she ever was,
Lel

Nice to See Everyone

It was nice to be together this past weekend. Sorry we missed Danny! Did Michael and Melanie get off ok? I imagine the NC Smith's are happy with the lacrosse win and made it home safely, too.

I have a few friends who are dealing with parent issues and it makes me think how lucky we are to have each other. Thanks, mom and dad :)

TTYS,
Lel