A Warm Welcome Back

After my semi-successful attempt last summer at a travel blog (http://ksp26.wordpress.com), I am deciding to have a go at it again! Hopefully with more frequent updates, a stream of consciousness or two, juicy events and photos (if I can get my act together)! I arrived here the evening of Friday, September 5th and today will be my fourth full day. I am living in Patan, which is one of the Kathmandu Valley's four cities. I am sitting in my kitchen right now, the monsoon rain is drizzingly slightly and without even looking outside I know I am in the hub of the city. Behind me, I hear someone is using some sort of hammer. They may be fixing something in their home, but most likely they are an artisan. To my right side a new house is being built. To the north east, two little kitty cats are meowing and licking each other and below, music is playing. My landlords own a recording studio and their eldest son is in a folk instrumental ensemble called Kutumba. They are extremely talented musicians and happen to practice on the ground floor. I am lucky to be surrounded by such sounds!