This morning we flew to Bhairahawa, near the Indian border, to visit a rice mill, agrovet (seed store) and various vegetable collection centers and farmer’s groups in the region.

To reach these places, we traveled some bumpy, rutted, and in some cases unpaved, roads. When I say “we” I mean the convoy of seven SUVs, several of which say “U.S. AID from the American people” — though the words were frequently obscured by the dust we kicked up.

Let’s just say it was wonderful to step into the Buddha Maya Garden Hotel in Lumbini and be greeted with a cool washcloth. They don’t call it the dry zone for nothing!