This am was the last day at the home.We played games sang songs some activity games and all the kids had an apple an orange and a banana which as a result of me badgering the hotel staff, were donated by the Malla hotel. the children all sat around in a circle and thoroughly enjoyed the fruit. I have mentioned that the state of their teeth is really quite superb. I saw not one with a carious tooth. The reason must be there is no eating between meals (this am was an exception) and they do not eat any sugary things in their diet.Just after noon was bathday for all the children. They line up outside the bathroom, strip off, throw their clothes on the floor to be collected and washed and laundered later, then two by two the enter the bathroom to be splashed with tepid water, lathered down and sloshed with basin after basin of water all whilst standing upright on the wet floor. It is almost a conveyor belt process and they stand so still and let the didis wash them, a few scream when they are spashed with a bowl of water, but all in all they are ever so good. My last sight of so many of them was them having their bath my wee favourites included. They insisted I took their pictures. At 12.45 we had a final meeting with Shruti the coordinator who garlanded us all yet again and proceeded to present us with a thank you certificate.
We did not see the children again.So it is goodbye to Rabin,Sonia, Nina,RAm, Laxman, Bibek,Chakra, Ganga, Sienna, Barstad, Lucky. What they must be feeling this afternoon is anyones guess.
We took a taxi back to base, but had to get out and walk for about half an hour because of gridlocked roads. This time it was another protest against the governing political parties.Later today we go off to have a final dinner.
tomorrow as I have mentioned we fly to Pokhara where I look forward to the GWT meeting, and to seeing and photographing the Annapurna mountain range.
So yet again namaste to all.
Friday 26 February 2010
Thursday 25 February 2010
Almost at the end
Today is Thursday, and tomorrow is the last day I shall be at the orphanage, for on Saturday morning I fly off with the other members of the group to Pokhara for a 2 night stay, returning here to the Malla hotel next monday afternoon, to get packed up for the journey back home next Wednesday.
It has been quite an experience for me attempting to entertain little children for most of the day. Had it not been for Margaret one of our team, I doubt i would have survived, for she gave a structure to each morning and I have to say the kids really enjoyed. I became therefore a willing exponent of her ideas and lessons. They were very good.My part each morning was to give the children 5 minutes of PT, which they did enjoy for they do not get any regular exercise, then march them in in Indian file fashion into the big long room that we use as the classroom.After Margaret got them to sing hallo to each of us and the Nepali staff, the children were divided into groups. I was lucky for I got yhe four best and able children, it was a pleasure to help them with their English and its comprehension. They in turn helped me with the basic phrases and words of Nepali which I have found very useful in the hotel and shops. However by 1pm I have to admit feeling a bit tired. It is not easy keeping up with boisterous weans every day, you will all know what I mean and will problably laugh at the thought of me out here.
My big regret is not having had the chance to bond and talk with the school going boys, apart from last Friday when we all had a great day, I never see them, for as we leave at 4pm each day, they have not arrived back from school. Today I went to their school. It was one of the best mornings I have had.The school would stand well against any in the UK, the buildings are good, the classrooms look large and the pupils happy.All in all I was most impressed. I met the headmistress, the Guruamma, a quite lovely looking woman dressed in a pink sari. She was most elegant and an excellent communicator in English. All lessons are in English.Whilst we were there, the lunch bell rang out, and to my personal delight and surprise many of the orphanage boys came running across the playground to greet me, and what is more surprising I remembered their names.In front of the Guruamma, it was clear that they were pleased to see me. It raised their value of themselves I think, especially as they met someone they knew in front of the boss.Personally I loved it. All the pupils are smartly dressed in their uniforms and appear to be having a really excellent education. It certainly gives me hope that Nepal will come right, no matter the political problems which beset the country at the moment, and they are considerable.
Yesterday I phoned the GWT and they are getting in touch with the Gurkha depot in Pokhara to remind them of my visit this coming Sunday. I believe that the Gurkha museum there is well worth a visit. I shall report same in the next blog.
Tomorrow evening we are to be given a farewell dinner by Socialtours, the company who arranged the logistics of our time in Kathmandu.
So until Monday next this is the penultimate blog. I seems to me that all I have written is not of much interest to the so called followers for I have noticed very few comments about my blethers, perhaps it is because it is to most of you a load of blether.
No matter, I have enjoyed writing my story.
Pheri Namaste from what seems to be a permanently sunny Kathmandu.,
It has been quite an experience for me attempting to entertain little children for most of the day. Had it not been for Margaret one of our team, I doubt i would have survived, for she gave a structure to each morning and I have to say the kids really enjoyed. I became therefore a willing exponent of her ideas and lessons. They were very good.My part each morning was to give the children 5 minutes of PT, which they did enjoy for they do not get any regular exercise, then march them in in Indian file fashion into the big long room that we use as the classroom.After Margaret got them to sing hallo to each of us and the Nepali staff, the children were divided into groups. I was lucky for I got yhe four best and able children, it was a pleasure to help them with their English and its comprehension. They in turn helped me with the basic phrases and words of Nepali which I have found very useful in the hotel and shops. However by 1pm I have to admit feeling a bit tired. It is not easy keeping up with boisterous weans every day, you will all know what I mean and will problably laugh at the thought of me out here.
My big regret is not having had the chance to bond and talk with the school going boys, apart from last Friday when we all had a great day, I never see them, for as we leave at 4pm each day, they have not arrived back from school. Today I went to their school. It was one of the best mornings I have had.The school would stand well against any in the UK, the buildings are good, the classrooms look large and the pupils happy.All in all I was most impressed. I met the headmistress, the Guruamma, a quite lovely looking woman dressed in a pink sari. She was most elegant and an excellent communicator in English. All lessons are in English.Whilst we were there, the lunch bell rang out, and to my personal delight and surprise many of the orphanage boys came running across the playground to greet me, and what is more surprising I remembered their names.In front of the Guruamma, it was clear that they were pleased to see me. It raised their value of themselves I think, especially as they met someone they knew in front of the boss.Personally I loved it. All the pupils are smartly dressed in their uniforms and appear to be having a really excellent education. It certainly gives me hope that Nepal will come right, no matter the political problems which beset the country at the moment, and they are considerable.
Yesterday I phoned the GWT and they are getting in touch with the Gurkha depot in Pokhara to remind them of my visit this coming Sunday. I believe that the Gurkha museum there is well worth a visit. I shall report same in the next blog.
Tomorrow evening we are to be given a farewell dinner by Socialtours, the company who arranged the logistics of our time in Kathmandu.
So until Monday next this is the penultimate blog. I seems to me that all I have written is not of much interest to the so called followers for I have noticed very few comments about my blethers, perhaps it is because it is to most of you a load of blether.
No matter, I have enjoyed writing my story.
Pheri Namaste from what seems to be a permanently sunny Kathmandu.,
Monday 22 February 2010
Review of the past few days
Last Friday it was another public hoiday, but we went to the orphanage for the morning. I am glad I did for the schoolboys were all at home, and we had a great time. We played basketball, I divided the boys into 3 teams and we played against each other. They truly did seem to enjoy the company of aman, instead of all the women volunteers who had fone before. I must be one of the veryfew men to volunteer for the home. Ayway as I said we had a great time. One of the lads named Shankar is an absolute genius at origami. he made me garland, some birds, alovely flower for my jacket, wuite stunning. The boys then showed off their gymnasticskills, somersaults, brake dancing and hand stands, before presenting me with a small Nepali flag. How kind they were. I do believe they enjoyed my company as much as I did theirs!I enjoyed that morning as much as any since I have been here.
Saturday morning I have already described our Everest flight. In the afternoon we were invited by a lass called Shruti, who works at the home as a coordinator, to join here, her sister and her husband to a parents open day at their sons school.It was held in a huge auditorium, some 1,500 people were there, but for the first 2 hours it was like any school prize giving, there is always one speaker who does not seem to know when to stop! We were completely bored as we could not understand a word he and other speakers were saying, but after the prizes had been presented we were entertained to songs and dances by the pupils. All in all another nice experience.
Yesterday, Sunday we were to have what we believed to be a trip into the countryside to see rural Nepal.What a let down! We spent 2 hours in the most appaling traffic on roads too narrow for any rapid movement, there were plenty of holdups because of the huge lorries going up and down from some quarry and tryingwith enormous difficulty to pass each other. It was hot, very dusty and the fumes from the lorries got everywhere, all for a visit to a not particularly nice little Hindu termple in a somewhat down trodden forest. On the way back we did visit a collections of very poor hovels andin the centre of them a little barren square, whereI watched an old woman spin cotton just as it was done in Lancashire in the 18th century. Arkwright would have recognised her quite easily! The best part of the day, and that which rescued the trip was the visit to Durbar square in Patan a southern suburb of the city.Here are many temples, about 12 I would guess, all different and we visited the best museum of Hindu art in Asia. We had lunch on a roof top resturant, overlooking the scene. This was a worthwhile time. We then had to endure another 45 minutes through heavy dense traffic to get home. I fotgot to mention that the toilet at the restaurant was very dark and smelly and lit by one candle atop the toilet cistern! What a place!
Today a strike has been called by one of the political parties against the delay in formulating a new constitution which by law has to bein being by 28th May. No one believes it will happen.The strike was for us good in one way, for there were no cars, no buses, no taxis, no thousands of motor bikes around. All the shops were closed apart from tiny fruit and veg shops and fish and meat stalls Wewere able to walk the streets which were almost deserted apart fom pedestrians.Iris and I wandered down the narrow quiet lanes and came upon Durbar Square Kathmandu, anothe world heritage site and home yet again to a large variety of temples.Foreigners have to pay 3pounds to get into the precicnts butit was ascertained tha we were volunteers
we were given free admission. Nice gesture I thought.The sights andsounds the colours and the costumes were a true riot of colours a veritable kaleidoscope of patterns and hues, enchanting. After all this we decided to take a rickshaw back to the hotel. I fely quite guilty for the poor thin man hadto pedal as hard as he could to get us moving.He deserved the tip we gave.
Tomorrow we should all being well back at the orphanage. It is astonishing to think that we have only until Friday afternoon to go before we have to say goodbye to the children. I do not look forward to that, for we have made some nice wee friends. I do hope we have gven them just a little bit of love and care.
On Saturday we are going to fly to Pokhara for the weekend, returning next Monday when we shall have to pack up.
I intend whilst there to visit the Gurkha museum and then the Brigade of Gurkhas depot. Of cours I shall make a blog of that break.
Ajaa bihanna dherai ramailo chha ra sadak santa chha. Today itis very pleasant and the roads are quiet.
From a still sunny warm Kathmandu, I say again,
Namaste!
Saturday morning I have already described our Everest flight. In the afternoon we were invited by a lass called Shruti, who works at the home as a coordinator, to join here, her sister and her husband to a parents open day at their sons school.It was held in a huge auditorium, some 1,500 people were there, but for the first 2 hours it was like any school prize giving, there is always one speaker who does not seem to know when to stop! We were completely bored as we could not understand a word he and other speakers were saying, but after the prizes had been presented we were entertained to songs and dances by the pupils. All in all another nice experience.
Yesterday, Sunday we were to have what we believed to be a trip into the countryside to see rural Nepal.What a let down! We spent 2 hours in the most appaling traffic on roads too narrow for any rapid movement, there were plenty of holdups because of the huge lorries going up and down from some quarry and tryingwith enormous difficulty to pass each other. It was hot, very dusty and the fumes from the lorries got everywhere, all for a visit to a not particularly nice little Hindu termple in a somewhat down trodden forest. On the way back we did visit a collections of very poor hovels andin the centre of them a little barren square, whereI watched an old woman spin cotton just as it was done in Lancashire in the 18th century. Arkwright would have recognised her quite easily! The best part of the day, and that which rescued the trip was the visit to Durbar square in Patan a southern suburb of the city.Here are many temples, about 12 I would guess, all different and we visited the best museum of Hindu art in Asia. We had lunch on a roof top resturant, overlooking the scene. This was a worthwhile time. We then had to endure another 45 minutes through heavy dense traffic to get home. I fotgot to mention that the toilet at the restaurant was very dark and smelly and lit by one candle atop the toilet cistern! What a place!
Today a strike has been called by one of the political parties against the delay in formulating a new constitution which by law has to bein being by 28th May. No one believes it will happen.The strike was for us good in one way, for there were no cars, no buses, no taxis, no thousands of motor bikes around. All the shops were closed apart from tiny fruit and veg shops and fish and meat stalls Wewere able to walk the streets which were almost deserted apart fom pedestrians.Iris and I wandered down the narrow quiet lanes and came upon Durbar Square Kathmandu, anothe world heritage site and home yet again to a large variety of temples.Foreigners have to pay 3pounds to get into the precicnts butit was ascertained tha we were volunteers
we were given free admission. Nice gesture I thought.The sights andsounds the colours and the costumes were a true riot of colours a veritable kaleidoscope of patterns and hues, enchanting. After all this we decided to take a rickshaw back to the hotel. I fely quite guilty for the poor thin man hadto pedal as hard as he could to get us moving.He deserved the tip we gave.
Tomorrow we should all being well back at the orphanage. It is astonishing to think that we have only until Friday afternoon to go before we have to say goodbye to the children. I do not look forward to that, for we have made some nice wee friends. I do hope we have gven them just a little bit of love and care.
On Saturday we are going to fly to Pokhara for the weekend, returning next Monday when we shall have to pack up.
I intend whilst there to visit the Gurkha museum and then the Brigade of Gurkhas depot. Of cours I shall make a blog of that break.
Ajaa bihanna dherai ramailo chha ra sadak santa chha. Today itis very pleasant and the roads are quiet.
From a still sunny warm Kathmandu, I say again,
Namaste!
Saturday 20 February 2010
On top of the world 20.2.10
As the certificate said, today I did not climb Everest, but touched it with my heart!
What a day, what an experience, for the first time in a long time I do feel I shall not be able to communicate in words what I saw, how I felt on the trip this morning.Words such as awesome, magnificent, inspiring,incredible,wonderment appear so inadequate to express what the journey was like. Truly a moment never to forget.
Anyway, let's start at the beginning.
A wake up call at 5am, a quick cup of green tea, and then we were off by minibus at 6am to travel the 20 minute journey, this time through relatively quiet streets, to Tribithvan airport.We were due to fly at 7.30, but because of turbulence over the peak, the flight was delayed almost 2 hours. However we embarked on a wee plane of Buddha Airways, it held 16 passengers, and set off down the runway at 9.15am, climbing steadly in a north easterly direction through the haze of polluted air of Kathmandu, to soar above the clouds into the clear blue skies to get our first glimpse of the Himalaya range.I sat on the right side of the plane, so that those on the left had the views of the mountains on the outward journey.However when the plane banked at Everest, we then had the best views. As we flew along, with the range on the left of the plane, each person, in turn was invited up into the cockpit to be given a description of the peaks before us, and when it was my turn, I got the first view of the peak of Everest, away in the distance at about 11 o'clock compass wise.And what a sight it was, standing clearly, a grey triangle of mountain peak, spilling out from it a wispy scarf of cloud.Incredible. I got another chance to be with the crew in the cockpit, and the 2nd pilot took some shots for me from his window.The return journey allowed me to photograph the whole Himalya range, what peaks what mountains, what a border between Nepal and Tibet.Most of the peaks had some amount of snow upon them, Everest was mainly a slate grey colour with the lower slopes a brownish grey. The whole complex of mountains is quite extraordinary and one is left with the thought how in the name did anyone ever climb here. How did anyone climb Everest. Difficult to explain. What a challenge it must have been and still remains!
On thr flight back, the cabin was quiet, for all of us came to realise that we had seen and been on top of the world, it was quite an emotional moment I can say, an experience that shall never be repeated.They say thet to see Everest is one of the top 10 things one must do before you die. I do not know about the other nine, but today was simply beynd my imagination and shall suffice.
The pictures I have taken look ok and look forward to sending them to you when I get back.
I shall finish as I began this blog.
Today I did not climb Everest, but touched it with my heart.
From a lovely sunny afternoon in Kathmandu
Namaste!
What a day, what an experience, for the first time in a long time I do feel I shall not be able to communicate in words what I saw, how I felt on the trip this morning.Words such as awesome, magnificent, inspiring,incredible,wonderment appear so inadequate to express what the journey was like. Truly a moment never to forget.
Anyway, let's start at the beginning.
A wake up call at 5am, a quick cup of green tea, and then we were off by minibus at 6am to travel the 20 minute journey, this time through relatively quiet streets, to Tribithvan airport.We were due to fly at 7.30, but because of turbulence over the peak, the flight was delayed almost 2 hours. However we embarked on a wee plane of Buddha Airways, it held 16 passengers, and set off down the runway at 9.15am, climbing steadly in a north easterly direction through the haze of polluted air of Kathmandu, to soar above the clouds into the clear blue skies to get our first glimpse of the Himalaya range.I sat on the right side of the plane, so that those on the left had the views of the mountains on the outward journey.However when the plane banked at Everest, we then had the best views. As we flew along, with the range on the left of the plane, each person, in turn was invited up into the cockpit to be given a description of the peaks before us, and when it was my turn, I got the first view of the peak of Everest, away in the distance at about 11 o'clock compass wise.And what a sight it was, standing clearly, a grey triangle of mountain peak, spilling out from it a wispy scarf of cloud.Incredible. I got another chance to be with the crew in the cockpit, and the 2nd pilot took some shots for me from his window.The return journey allowed me to photograph the whole Himalya range, what peaks what mountains, what a border between Nepal and Tibet.Most of the peaks had some amount of snow upon them, Everest was mainly a slate grey colour with the lower slopes a brownish grey. The whole complex of mountains is quite extraordinary and one is left with the thought how in the name did anyone ever climb here. How did anyone climb Everest. Difficult to explain. What a challenge it must have been and still remains!
On thr flight back, the cabin was quiet, for all of us came to realise that we had seen and been on top of the world, it was quite an emotional moment I can say, an experience that shall never be repeated.They say thet to see Everest is one of the top 10 things one must do before you die. I do not know about the other nine, but today was simply beynd my imagination and shall suffice.
The pictures I have taken look ok and look forward to sending them to you when I get back.
I shall finish as I began this blog.
Today I did not climb Everest, but touched it with my heart.
From a lovely sunny afternoon in Kathmandu
Namaste!
Wednesday 17 February 2010
Wednesday 17.2.10 Update from Kathmandu
I did not realise that St. Valentine's day is celebrated heremuch more than in the UK. the Rotary dinner was a St. Valentine's dinner and there were about150 Rotarians and their wives trhere.We were introduced and asked to come up to the top table where each of us, including me a male, were presented with a white rose, in the name of brother and sister friendship. I gave mine to the nearest Nepali lady sitting ata table in front of me to, Iay say great applause from the gathering. Later that evening she approached me with her husband to say that she had trained at Manchester Royal Infirmary for 2 years and that she had been to Blackpool to see the illuminations! Her husband was a retired doctor! Out of all the ladies present that evening I gave mine to a fellow medic! That is karma for sure! All in all a most pleasant evening. Nepali music and dancing were included.
Monday we could not go to the home because of riots in the streets! On the Sunday a bus killed 2 people and seriously injured 3 others.Thecrowd took to the streets demnding instant justice, set fire to 4 buses. The police responded by firing tear gas shells and the distuirbance continued overnight. We were adviseed not to travel from the hotel. The day therefore was spent by the hotel pool reading and sunbathing. Yes the temps here have been consistently between 24-26 celsious, not bad for February, and the sun shines all the time!
A bit now about the orphanage. One approaches it down a quiet lane, passes through a gap in a big metal gate into a cobbled courtyard where before you stands a 2 storey building. This on the ground floor houses the offices. the first floor houses the big boys dormitories of which there are 2. One sleeps 8 in bunk beds, the other 10 in similar beds. Climbing the stairs one comes tothe flat roof where the babies playin the mornings.Beyand this building along its side we pass a small courtyard, a sort of playground to pass on your right a washouse, next to it is a very dark basic kitchen,where one cooks on 2 gas burners. Ahead is the communal dining room. On the left are 3 flights of stairs 51 steps to be precise. On ther first is the dorm for the babiesan tiny toddlesr, the 2nd floor the dorm for the school going girls again bunk beds, and on the top floor the play rooms for the toddlers that we look after.
There are toilets on each floor but for most of the day, because of the daily electricity cuts, lasting 11 hours per day, there is no running water. A bucket of water is available to wash ones hands.
Since Yesterday, Margaret, a nursery teacher back in the UK has got thoings organised and at last we are able to structure some sort of lessons for about an hour in the mornings. So far it is quite clear that the kids love it. PersonallyI find this time the most satisfying for I feel even I can be of some help. After this the kids just love to make little necklaces of coloured, their dexterity is excellent. By now they know who we are. I give them 5 minutes of PT before the morning lesson and hope to get them into the playground to play basketball in the afternoons.
I had a wander this pm around the warren of little streets that are near our hotel, if one can call them streets. There are some genuine paved big roads, but for each one there must be a hundred, what I can only describe as very narrow rutted tracks. How there can be 2 way traffic on such roads, if thatis the correct term for such thoroughfares I find hard to justify, but such traffic exists and it daily amazes me how cars, trucks and motor bikes get anywhere!
This Friday is another public holiday, but we shall go to the home for the morning.
It appears that the Everest flight is booked!
By the way all the big boys, when they see me, call me hajur bahje! That means grandfather, nice I think, for they are a grand set of boys. Thnaks James for the info re Man. United. I would be pleased if something can come about from their photo.
That is it for now from a very sunny and warm Kathmandu.
As always,
Namaste!
Monday we could not go to the home because of riots in the streets! On the Sunday a bus killed 2 people and seriously injured 3 others.Thecrowd took to the streets demnding instant justice, set fire to 4 buses. The police responded by firing tear gas shells and the distuirbance continued overnight. We were adviseed not to travel from the hotel. The day therefore was spent by the hotel pool reading and sunbathing. Yes the temps here have been consistently between 24-26 celsious, not bad for February, and the sun shines all the time!
A bit now about the orphanage. One approaches it down a quiet lane, passes through a gap in a big metal gate into a cobbled courtyard where before you stands a 2 storey building. This on the ground floor houses the offices. the first floor houses the big boys dormitories of which there are 2. One sleeps 8 in bunk beds, the other 10 in similar beds. Climbing the stairs one comes tothe flat roof where the babies playin the mornings.Beyand this building along its side we pass a small courtyard, a sort of playground to pass on your right a washouse, next to it is a very dark basic kitchen,where one cooks on 2 gas burners. Ahead is the communal dining room. On the left are 3 flights of stairs 51 steps to be precise. On ther first is the dorm for the babiesan tiny toddlesr, the 2nd floor the dorm for the school going girls again bunk beds, and on the top floor the play rooms for the toddlers that we look after.
There are toilets on each floor but for most of the day, because of the daily electricity cuts, lasting 11 hours per day, there is no running water. A bucket of water is available to wash ones hands.
Since Yesterday, Margaret, a nursery teacher back in the UK has got thoings organised and at last we are able to structure some sort of lessons for about an hour in the mornings. So far it is quite clear that the kids love it. PersonallyI find this time the most satisfying for I feel even I can be of some help. After this the kids just love to make little necklaces of coloured, their dexterity is excellent. By now they know who we are. I give them 5 minutes of PT before the morning lesson and hope to get them into the playground to play basketball in the afternoons.
I had a wander this pm around the warren of little streets that are near our hotel, if one can call them streets. There are some genuine paved big roads, but for each one there must be a hundred, what I can only describe as very narrow rutted tracks. How there can be 2 way traffic on such roads, if thatis the correct term for such thoroughfares I find hard to justify, but such traffic exists and it daily amazes me how cars, trucks and motor bikes get anywhere!
This Friday is another public holiday, but we shall go to the home for the morning.
It appears that the Everest flight is booked!
By the way all the big boys, when they see me, call me hajur bahje! That means grandfather, nice I think, for they are a grand set of boys. Thnaks James for the info re Man. United. I would be pleased if something can come about from their photo.
That is it for now from a very sunny and warm Kathmandu.
As always,
Namaste!
Sunday 14 February 2010
Sunday 14.2.10
Since the last blog we have spent each day at the orphanage from 10am till 4pm. By that time I am quite tired for it is hard keeping wee ones interested and trying to get their attention. Nevertheless it is worth while. The kids are well fed, clothed and they all appear healthy to me. A doctor comes in once or twice to check them re any ill health issues but so far there appear to have been none.
Friday saww the Hindu festival of Pasupatinath Siva ratri held at the most important Hindu temple in Nepal called Pasupatinath. On Friday there were some 700,000 visitors . We went yesterday on a guided tour and it was still very busy. The temple sits beside the river Bagmati, a holy river to the Hindus. Some devotees bathe in what is a most polluted river and seem to suffer no sudden consequences! by the terraced banks lie rows of concrete squares about 3 feet by 3 feet, on top of which lie layers of sturdy logs.Cremations are held there every day, and whilst we were visiting we saw two such cremations. The holy man lights the kindling, setting fire to the logs and before the shrouded corpse is consumed by flame he lays layers of rushes over the deceased.Impressive.The compound abounds with vervet monkeys and cattle, which are of course holy animals, the cows I mean, for Hindus do not eat beef.The place unfortunately is littered with rubbish, a problem of the whole of Kathmandu.
We next were taken to a Buddhist temple or stupa as it is known. This one was the largest in Nepal and was quite magnificent in its symmetry, the huge dome a yellow white colour which is continuously freshened by pilgrims buying yellow and white powders mixing them with water, and then throwing same over the dome! The whole edifice is surmounted by a huge golden square pillar. very very impressive and unlike the rest of the city the complete area was clean.
Friday saw my trip to hq GWT. I was given the most wonderful reception, garlanded when I arrived by the officers there. Shown around the whole complex, given a tutorial as to their duties and what the trust does, then as guest given lunch at 10.30am!I had only eaten breakfast some 2 hours previous to that! With some difficulty managed yet another meal of dahl bhat takiri, rice will be coming out of my ears before March. This visit was indeed a highlight of my trip so far. I am so pleased to heve been given the chance to reconnect so to speak with gurkhas. Believe I met 3 from the 2nd 1oth Rifles, my old batallion.
Tonight we will have dinner as guests of the Rotary club of Kathmandu
Next Saturday all being well we aim to take a flight over mount Everest early in the morning.
Today we had the 2nd of our Nepali language lessons. Interesting but will need to practise.
Next blog problably midweek.
Namaste from Nepal.
Friday saww the Hindu festival of Pasupatinath Siva ratri held at the most important Hindu temple in Nepal called Pasupatinath. On Friday there were some 700,000 visitors . We went yesterday on a guided tour and it was still very busy. The temple sits beside the river Bagmati, a holy river to the Hindus. Some devotees bathe in what is a most polluted river and seem to suffer no sudden consequences! by the terraced banks lie rows of concrete squares about 3 feet by 3 feet, on top of which lie layers of sturdy logs.Cremations are held there every day, and whilst we were visiting we saw two such cremations. The holy man lights the kindling, setting fire to the logs and before the shrouded corpse is consumed by flame he lays layers of rushes over the deceased.Impressive.The compound abounds with vervet monkeys and cattle, which are of course holy animals, the cows I mean, for Hindus do not eat beef.The place unfortunately is littered with rubbish, a problem of the whole of Kathmandu.
We next were taken to a Buddhist temple or stupa as it is known. This one was the largest in Nepal and was quite magnificent in its symmetry, the huge dome a yellow white colour which is continuously freshened by pilgrims buying yellow and white powders mixing them with water, and then throwing same over the dome! The whole edifice is surmounted by a huge golden square pillar. very very impressive and unlike the rest of the city the complete area was clean.
Friday saw my trip to hq GWT. I was given the most wonderful reception, garlanded when I arrived by the officers there. Shown around the whole complex, given a tutorial as to their duties and what the trust does, then as guest given lunch at 10.30am!I had only eaten breakfast some 2 hours previous to that! With some difficulty managed yet another meal of dahl bhat takiri, rice will be coming out of my ears before March. This visit was indeed a highlight of my trip so far. I am so pleased to heve been given the chance to reconnect so to speak with gurkhas. Believe I met 3 from the 2nd 1oth Rifles, my old batallion.
Tonight we will have dinner as guests of the Rotary club of Kathmandu
Next Saturday all being well we aim to take a flight over mount Everest early in the morning.
Today we had the 2nd of our Nepali language lessons. Interesting but will need to practise.
Next blog problably midweek.
Namaste from Nepal.
Wednesday 10 February 2010
Wednesday in a very sunny Kathmandu!
Just a short note today. The weather today is back to its beautiful best, warm 22 c but more importantly the rain yesterday got rid of the dusty atmosphere her and thew clarity of light today is the best it has been since we arrived. The lawns of the hotel have sudeenly become green again and not the dusty dun colour of the p.I write this wee blog only to tell you that I saw today from thr 3rd floor verandha of the childrens home my first glimpse of Mount Everest!What a sight. Can you believe it, I have actually have seen Everest!
Further news over the weekend.
Dhanyabad!
Further news over the weekend.
Dhanyabad!
Tuesday 9 February 2010
Tuesday in a wet Karhmandu!
Last Sunday was a day of interest. At 11am we had our first Nepali lesson from a wonderful woman called Ram Devi. I enjoyed it very much for I do like to try and speak the language. For me it was fascinating.
Monday was the day of reckoning as far as our reason d'etre was as we made our way to the orphanage for the first time to come face to face with the children. What can I say! The wee ones are quite lovely in physical appearance, and they were so delighted to see us. We spent an hour on a very small veranda trying to get them to do their ABCs some were only too keen to learn, most of the smaller ones were as normal only to happy to touch us try to take off my glasses, but the most interesting thing for them were my hairy arms! All had to touch. As I have said they are beautiful looking children, I adore their big brown eyes, and what is surprising they all have super looking healthy teeth. Lunch is always between 1 and 2pm, then back for another session with the elder kids, the wee ones have a compulsory sleep for an hour and a half. It looked quite amazing to see those wee ones all sleeping in two rows completely covered by blankets, you could not see any part of them. That changes at 3.30pm when all hell is let loose as they awake and want to play until we leave at 4pm.
Sunday was here the most propitious time of the whole year to get married, and I was awakened on Sunday morning by the beat of many drums. I t was most exciting. I saw a wedding on Sunday afternoon and it was most colourful.
Last evening at dinner we were entertained by a troupe of Nepali dancers, who performed unusual local Nepali dances.Their costumes were beautiful.
I awoke today, Tuesday to rain.Quite good actually for it dampened down the dust that causes so much of the atmospheric pollution in this city. It is indeed a serious problem. It has rained all day and the grass of the lawn beneath my bedroom window has suddenly blossomed green.
The Gurkha welfare trust have phoned me at the hotel.They will pick me up on Friday morning for my visit to the headquarters. I look forward to it.
All of us hope to go to Pokhara for at least 2 days towards the end of our adventure and we also hope to do the one hour flight up to the peak of Everest!
So far then.
The traffic here is the most incredible and scary that I have ever encountered in my life but I have to admit I actually enjoy the twice daily trip with Dave our Nepalese driver. It is beyond doubt that 99.9% of the drivers here in cars, bikes or most often on motor bikes would be fined and most probably banned from driving if they were in the UK, but I have to say on their behalf they really are the most amazing drivers, how they avoid crashes is quite beyond my comprehension.
That is all for now on a rainy evening in what is supposed to be the dry season.
Namaste from Kathmandu.
Next blog at the weekend.
Monday was the day of reckoning as far as our reason d'etre was as we made our way to the orphanage for the first time to come face to face with the children. What can I say! The wee ones are quite lovely in physical appearance, and they were so delighted to see us. We spent an hour on a very small veranda trying to get them to do their ABCs some were only too keen to learn, most of the smaller ones were as normal only to happy to touch us try to take off my glasses, but the most interesting thing for them were my hairy arms! All had to touch. As I have said they are beautiful looking children, I adore their big brown eyes, and what is surprising they all have super looking healthy teeth. Lunch is always between 1 and 2pm, then back for another session with the elder kids, the wee ones have a compulsory sleep for an hour and a half. It looked quite amazing to see those wee ones all sleeping in two rows completely covered by blankets, you could not see any part of them. That changes at 3.30pm when all hell is let loose as they awake and want to play until we leave at 4pm.
Sunday was here the most propitious time of the whole year to get married, and I was awakened on Sunday morning by the beat of many drums. I t was most exciting. I saw a wedding on Sunday afternoon and it was most colourful.
Last evening at dinner we were entertained by a troupe of Nepali dancers, who performed unusual local Nepali dances.Their costumes were beautiful.
I awoke today, Tuesday to rain.Quite good actually for it dampened down the dust that causes so much of the atmospheric pollution in this city. It is indeed a serious problem. It has rained all day and the grass of the lawn beneath my bedroom window has suddenly blossomed green.
The Gurkha welfare trust have phoned me at the hotel.They will pick me up on Friday morning for my visit to the headquarters. I look forward to it.
All of us hope to go to Pokhara for at least 2 days towards the end of our adventure and we also hope to do the one hour flight up to the peak of Everest!
So far then.
The traffic here is the most incredible and scary that I have ever encountered in my life but I have to admit I actually enjoy the twice daily trip with Dave our Nepalese driver. It is beyond doubt that 99.9% of the drivers here in cars, bikes or most often on motor bikes would be fined and most probably banned from driving if they were in the UK, but I have to say on their behalf they really are the most amazing drivers, how they avoid crashes is quite beyond my comprehension.
That is all for now on a rainy evening in what is supposed to be the dry season.
Namaste from Kathmandu.
Next blog at the weekend.
Friday 5 February 2010
Saturday
Yesterday we went by minibus through streets broad and narrow, some no more than what would be farm tracks in the UK to the northern part of the city where the school is situated down a dusty lane. It is enclosed by a huge metal gate and we went through a small door in it into this huge earthen playground where some 2,000children were lined up in rows, boys to the right of a raised concrete path which lead to a further raised platform behind which is a large statue of Buddha. The girls were similarly lined up to the left of the path. They were all singing the school song as we went in, and after we were introduced to the head and other staff and after a cup of lemon tea, we were all taken along the central path to the stage, where the head introduced us to the school to a great round of applause.He then brought the tiniest wee girl with her hair in bunches with her little school uniform on up on to the stage to garland each one of us with the traditional white scarf. I can assure you it brought tears to the eyes of all of us. The little ceremony ended with the pupils all singing the Nepal national anthem, before departing to their classrooms each of which was no bigger than a garden shed. The school is completely built of bamboo and is actually quite smart and functional, it costs less to maintain or to build further extensions
We then went off on another hair raising journey through streets broad and narrow to the orphanage. Here we were greeted by the staff, shown around the buildings which are adequate but we cannot compare them with the UK. The children are well cared for and I with my 2 colleagues Iris and Margaret start there on Monday.
The rest of the day was spent at the hotel quietly for the morning had been for all of us a huge emotional roller coaster ride.
The streets as I have mentioned are mostly rutted earth tracks which are littered with huge amounts of rubbish. The danger of disease spread by rats and such like must be immense but no one seems to be too concerned and life goes on.
The people are very friendly,I expected that and have not been let down.
Travel by taxi is so cheap, we went this morning to a shopping centre, about a 6 minute ride..cost 1 pound! Saturday is a day off re work in Nepal.Work resumes tomorrow, Sunday, when we shall go for the first of our Nepali lessons.
The weather is grand temp at noon at least 21-24C, but it is cold during the nights, we are however acclimatising well.
Next blog update shall be sometime next week.
Namaste!
We then went off on another hair raising journey through streets broad and narrow to the orphanage. Here we were greeted by the staff, shown around the buildings which are adequate but we cannot compare them with the UK. The children are well cared for and I with my 2 colleagues Iris and Margaret start there on Monday.
The rest of the day was spent at the hotel quietly for the morning had been for all of us a huge emotional roller coaster ride.
The streets as I have mentioned are mostly rutted earth tracks which are littered with huge amounts of rubbish. The danger of disease spread by rats and such like must be immense but no one seems to be too concerned and life goes on.
The people are very friendly,I expected that and have not been let down.
Travel by taxi is so cheap, we went this morning to a shopping centre, about a 6 minute ride..cost 1 pound! Saturday is a day off re work in Nepal.Work resumes tomorrow, Sunday, when we shall go for the first of our Nepali lessons.
The weather is grand temp at noon at least 21-24C, but it is cold during the nights, we are however acclimatising well.
Next blog update shall be sometime next week.
Namaste!
Thursday 4 February 2010
Kathmandu
Arrived at KAthmandu airport at 3.45pm yesterday.
First impressions amazing! Greeted by our driver and each of us was garlanded before we took off in a minibus for the most adventurous and scary ride I can recall. THE TAFFIC IS quite mad, all sorts of trucks, cars and motor bikes by the thousands zig zag around what loosely can be described as roads like a swarm of frenzied bees. QUITE EXCITING !
Hotel Malla is a fine hotel. The rooms are first class standard. A quiet evening and off to bed by 10pm.
This morning we walked with our guide along very narrow streets where the traffic somehow manages two way travel, how I cannot say it seems impossible to me, but they appear to manage with much hooting of horns.
After our 2 hour briefing we have had a free afternoon.Tonight we are to be taken for dinner to the Bhojan griha restaurant. Further blogs will follow.
First impressions amazing! Greeted by our driver and each of us was garlanded before we took off in a minibus for the most adventurous and scary ride I can recall. THE TAFFIC IS quite mad, all sorts of trucks, cars and motor bikes by the thousands zig zag around what loosely can be described as roads like a swarm of frenzied bees. QUITE EXCITING !
Hotel Malla is a fine hotel. The rooms are first class standard. A quiet evening and off to bed by 10pm.
This morning we walked with our guide along very narrow streets where the traffic somehow manages two way travel, how I cannot say it seems impossible to me, but they appear to manage with much hooting of horns.
After our 2 hour briefing we have had a free afternoon.Tonight we are to be taken for dinner to the Bhojan griha restaurant. Further blogs will follow.
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