Kathmandu 29th of October 2012

The 6 weeks in Nepal are coming to an end. There were so many highlights in this beautiful country with lovely people, astounding nature, huge contrasts. I made friends for life and my passion is in Jumla at the school and the 350 kids. I will be back for sure.

Nepal is a secular country with 80% Hindu people, 15% Tibetan, the rest is Christian, Muslim etc.

After the massacre of the Royal Family in 2002, Nepal became a republic but till today it is governed 

 by corrupt politicians who caused a huge difference between rich and poor.

Kathmandu inner city is like a war-zone with demolished houses and open roads. The prime-minister promised to have it all sorted before the most important festival 'Dashain', like Christmas for us.

Nothing happened so far. It is a dirty, dusty, noisy city with too many people, but oh so charming. Enjoy the pics.

Pashupatinath, The biggest Hindu temple on the holy Bagmati river. One of the strong rivers coming all from the Himalyas are coming together in the Ganges river.
This is the Cremeation centre for the Hindu people. Such an intriguing place to be. I came her 3 times and couldn't get enough. 

The dead body is farewelled by her family

last ceremony, the eldest son sets the fire in the mouth

this was it for this life time, only ashes remember the past. Cleaning needs to be done quickly to make space for the next body

begging for money and showing his long saved hair

11 temples with Shiva-Lingams. By looking through them it looked like a mirror

cremation spots for the 'poor' on the on the right side of the bridge are 2 spots for the rich. 10 years ago those were for the Royal Family, but they are no longer around, it is now used for the rich and wealthy people

Monkeys all over the place, they have a world on their own

only 'Untouchables" are allowed to work with the deceased

'Holy-Men'???? I doubt it, they come in the morning, do their make-up and the only thing they want is your money, very funny.

My dear friends, Tashi the principal of the Kailash Bodi School in Jumla, the mother, she is 65 years old and lived a hard life in the mountains before she came with her 3 children to Kathmandu, right is Karma her daughter and founder of the 3 private schools. A beautiful, inspiring woman

Bouddanah Stupa, the largest stupa in Asia, in the heart of the Tibetan community in Kathmandu. I stayed for  in a nic, quiet hotel around the stupa for a while. People of all colors of life walk their rounds here all day, turn the prayer wheels and pray their mantra's

one of the huge copper prayer wheels

bowls filled with water as an offering to Lord Buddha, every day filled with fresh water

give me a break after doing many prostrations

we are not alone.......many, many orbs

I decided to take a riksja to go to Swamibuth temple, another Buddhist stupa high up the hills.
This strong, lean riskja man persisted to bring me up. Half way up he had to come down his bike and push me up,  a few minutes later I came off the bike swell and both pushed the bike up the hill. We had such a laugh and people along the way had a laugh too

and then there were stairs, many many and many beggars too

Sarita, who came with her mother and brother to celebrate Dashain, she followed me like a shadow for a some time, hold my hand and chattered in her best english. Here with boxes filled with dye

a Thangka painter. This is the mandala for world peace, created by the Daila Lama. A Thangka is a Buddhist painting

the 3 Holy Buddha's, part of the Monkey Temple,

the wooden boards are for those who want to do their prostrations

also here are many monkeys, who wait for the offerings people donate in the temple

a typical mountain house along the road to Chitwan, south of Nepal

On our way to Chitwan Nation Wild-Life park in the south of Nepal. I am traveling with a group now, which is  pretty challenging for me. After being on my own for so long, I joined 11 people mainly from Australia. Here we stopped near the river and I was surprised by the old sign with an ad for Dutch beer. The trip took about 6 hours over bumpy, dangerous roads.
Lots of things went wrong, wrong transport bus, wrong hotel, wrong guide,  but many other things were great: good weather, great nature, great views on the Annapurna Ranges, great experiences (see photos.

A 'must-do' here in Chitwan Wildlife Park. I have not seen a lot of wild life, like the Rhino's and the Tigers, but I have seen deer, boars and some big birds, that was it. But the ride was fantastic for about one and half hour on the back of a sweet lady elephant

cuddling youngster

This was a real highlight, getting a shower from the elephant. I still am so proud of myself that I did this. Getting on this gigantic body and keeping me in balance while she was walking to the water and then.....the shower coming from the right or the left and it went on and on.

 

getting down now and go for the real shower with clean water

Then we did a boat ride on those special long canoes made from one whole tree. And yes we saw a real crocodile

Every where in the country, in villages and cities we saw these gigantic swing made from bamboo. Specially for the festival Dashain.

After Chitwan we drove 6 hours to Pokora, south west of Kathmandu and for many hikers the beginning of their trek. From here you can walk for many days in the Himalyas. We did a short trek of a couple of days and stayed in a home-stay with a Nepali Tibetan family. Ran by the grandmother, her son and daughter in law with 2 kids. An a amazing experience.

We got a delicious simple meal, prepared on a wood fire. The family is totally self sustained with their own cattle, chickens, bees, land with crop and veges and some fruit trees.

The grandmother who explained the guide about her age when I asked her how old she is. She remembered that she was around 9 when a a strong earthquake hit Nepal in 1934. The guide explained her that she must be now 86......Most of the time she walked bent forward and only with a stick she could walk up straight. What a strong woman she is.
Below is one of the dormitories where we slept with 6 people. Downstairs is another room for 6.

The younger lady prepared all the meals for us,  simple but delicious.

have you ever seen a bee hive like this one?

 View on the Arnapuna ranges early in the morning

kids asleep in the bedroom, annex grocery shop, annex storage and yes it was cold that night

 being a Buddhist grandma is doing her prostrations twice a day

isn't this sweet, cleaning the cows, after that ritual she milked the ladies from their precious milk.

And after descending the mountain and back to Pokora. And guess what I did there? Something I never believed I would ever do. I went PARA-GLIDING.........Nepal seems to be the place for this, the best in the world apparently.
What an experience that was.  The pilot and I stayed upon the air for 40 minutes. The best 40 minutes since......

farewelled by kids of the nursery class. For both Cynthia and me it was an emotional moment

A guy from Sweden, told me about the 5* Hyatt hotel, that people from 'outside' could stay around the swimming pool for Nrp 1200, which is NZ$18 for the whole day.
An oasis of tranquillity and luxury and that only 10 min walk from my 2* hotel in the Stupa.
Surrounded by corporate people and lazy tourists who might not have a clue what happens in the 'real' Kathmandu

Early morning Puja

 Kopan Monastery, only for monks and the residency of Lama Zopa Rinpoche. I booked myself the course in Buddhism and Meditation for 10 days.

Venerable ani Karen took the course, an amazing knowledgable lady, who wrote many books and translations. We were with 145 people from all over the world. 

One of the gardens with this beautiful Stupa

young monks from the age of 6 during play time. The monks have a strict regime of teachings, sports, arts and praying. Amazed how much knowledge these young boys have

Geshe Jampa Galtsen with the people who took refuge in the pathos the Buddha

many mala's (Buddhist rosary's) were blessed by the Geshe

After the course a stayed another 5 days with the nuns in the Kopan Nunnery. Here 350 nuns live, study and work. Geshe Jampa Tarchin, my teacher who now teaches in the area of Nelson, has been teaching here for  some time. He encouraged me to go the nunnery and talk and teach the nuns about healthy cooking.
Adorable young women who called me 'sis' or sister. We prepared meals together, went for walks and toured around. We had so much fun.

Patan, south of Kathmandu. A historic place with many temples, mainly Hindu. Above is a Buddhist temple.. This temple has exactly 1000 Buddha's 

Patan Durbar Square

A lady builder

Prayer wheels, this boy could just reach the wheels to give them a spin

I have seen many, many shops: small, dark. This one is the 'best'. He had it all; sweaters, warm jackets, socks, bra''s towels, underwear. You name it

One of the Public transports. A mini bus on 3 wheels and full is full, but apparently it is never full , you can always sit on each others lap. 20 people is normal

my dear friends ani Sangjy and ani Kalden. We shared cakes and drinks on one of our days out. What a feast that was.