Green Sky recording artist Mark Hunton is joined by Cheryl Gallagher and Spotted Peccary's Deborah Martin on an inspirational musical journey to some of the highest, most sacred places in the world. Recording live in shrines, monasteries and open spaces, these three talented musicians promise to bring back a work of unparalleled spiritual and musical power. Together with the SEVA Foundation, Green Sky is dedicating this album to the indigenous peoples of Tibet and Nepal. NOTES FROM THE ROAD 9/27/99 - KATHMANDU Hi everyone! We're alive and well. We've been very comfortable at the Yak and Yeti Hotel in Kathmandu, no one is sick (yet). Today we have delivered the eye surgery supplies to the Seva Foundation. Mark has made friends with everyone, very charismatic, he is in his element no doubt about it. They love his humor and do whatever they can to help him, way over the top. Yesterday we went to Bahktapur, a small tourist based ancient town in the hills outside Kathmandu. By this time we are travelling with our own driver,Devakrisna,who we befriended on the first day and, Rajen, a very knid and friendly Nepalese bartender from the Maya Cocktail Bar, (shades of "Casablanca") who we met when we went to the Maya to find our friend Maura M. ( Friends all over the place.) While there, Mark made friends with a Kathmandu college student, Marev, who works as a guide in Baktapur, who arranged for us to visit a local family of drummers who put together an impromptu performance especially for us in their home. Mark has the most outstanding video footage, felt exactly like a National Geographic Special. (Actually, this whole trip feels like a live documentary, which I guess it is!) We will be returning there as soon as we can arrange it, after we return to Nepal next week. Namaste! Mark, Deborah and Cheryl  10/26/99 - USA Mark Hunton, Deborah Martin and Cheryl Gallagher are now safely reunited with family and friends, and back in the swing of things, albeit with a certain circadian rhythm imbalance ("jet lag" for the folks back home). The people were wonderful, the scenery spectacular, the spiritual culture deeply enriching. Filled with profound spiritual and musical inspiration, they are looking forward to working together on the many projects they have in store for the world. It is impossible for them to fully communicate the depth of feeling and the outstanding experiences here with full impact. Keep in touch for future creative video and audio productions from this crew soon. Now that they have returned from our breathtaking and spectacular journey to Tibet and Nepal, they have some tongue-in-cheek advice for other transcendental travellers also considering the trip, along with our Himalayan Trek Glossary of Common Terms. HIMALAYAN TREK GLOSSARY ASIA TIME - It is day. It is night. That's it. BOTTLED MINERAL WATER - The water is in bottles and has minerals in it...and Giardia...and E.coli...and amoebas...and other parasites. "IT IS CLEAN" - DISHES - means "Big dried chunks have been rinsed off with cold amoeba water and dried with grey crusted towel." - BEDDING - means "Bugs and dirt have been swept off the surface. Sheets are changed only when it is necessary to take dead bodies away in them." DRIVE BY SLAPPINGS - There is very little crime in most of Asia (except criminally overcharging westerners for every little thing), so we invented drive-by slappings, since everyone walks less than 6 inches away from moving vehicles. Thrust hand out of window and wait. Cheryl slapped an Italian tourist in Thamel. He liked it. HABIBI - Asian/Indian for "Hey Baby". Pick up line for rich looking western women. HIMALAYAN HACK - the chronic cough and sinus infection everyone has (see SNOT-FLICKING and SOUND BARRIER THROAT CLEARING with PHLEGM SPLAT) INTUITIVE BOARDING - no multilingual announcements for plane boarding in Asia. In fact, no announcements at all, just boarding. If you miss the plane, you miss the plane. That's it. KATHMANDU SPEED BUMPS - Potholes (giant, deep and continuous) NAMASTE - means "You will pay." Westerners pay 3x more, Blond hair,blue eyes - 4x more. ROAD MAINTENANCE - consisting of filling potholes with dirt, trash and rocks until they are overfilled by 1 foot or more. Strategically placed between other large potholes for full effect. No need for posted speed limits, because it's impossible to go faster than 20 mph almost anywhere in Asia. Most of the time, it's faster to walk. SOCIAL SPACE - There is no social space. STEAMED MOMOS - Either delicious meat or vegetables in wonton-type wrappers, or piles of fresh hot yak dung. Your choice. Available everywhere. TEMPOS - Motorized bicycles that spew large clouds of foul black smoke, responsible for thousands of child and old person deaths due to the toxic waste, and makes everyone else still alive miserable. YAK ATTACK - Intense craving for overcooked yak meat. (Tibetan for "Big Mac Attack") Rules of the Road in Asia Traffic Rules 1. There are no traffic rules in Asia. Drive anything you want, anywhere you want, either side of the road, any speed. Just don't hit any cows. The amazing thing is, no one gets agro about the resulting total chaos! 2. Car honking is for letting people,cows,pigs, sheep dogs, and chickens know you're there. No one ever moves though. Road maintenance Roads are paved (IF they are paved) every 30-50 years, whether they need it or not. The best and busiest roads have the biggest potholes, unless politicians use them, and these have pretty flowers planted roadside, for effect. Car maintenance If the car runs, has gas and tires, great. The more exhaust and less suspension, the better. Hygiene Rules for Asia 1. There are no hygiene rules for Asia. Everything is unspeakably filthy. 2. The amount of filth determines the amount of smell. Everything smells. 3. Never drink the water or eat off the utensils or you will be sick. 4. You have no choice. You will be sick. 5. Indoor public toilets don't belong to anyone in particular, so no one EVER cleans them. 6. Outdoor public toilets are everywhere (read: "anywhere") and have better views. 7. Toilet paper is reserved for dinner napkin use. Plastic zip-lock bags are more absorbent, easier on the skin and just as effective as paper in this area. PHOTOS