Oh - Oh Where oh Where to Start? For sure NOT at the beginning eg. March 4! If I had promised a chronological accounting of events and travels I would totally pass on accounting for my travels and just find myself a cold lassi (or beer)! Here goes:
* Tsewang Visit on Saturday March 17:
14 years old, lovely and ever so serious! Mom died of cancer 1.5 years ago and she left her village at 8 years old. Tsewang wants visit but it's one day by bus followed by 5 days trekking/walking... she hasn't been back since leaving 5 years ago. She has an older brother still there with his wife and children. Tsewang is very bright and tutors other students in her Math class.
She was very sure she 'didn't need anything' when I asked if there was something she needed.. I ask YOU what 14 year old girl 'doesn't need anything' ????!!! So we went 'window shopping' and well surprise surprise... 'oh look at these yoga pants..(I ask her) I Love wearing these... and they look so pretty and comfy with the hot pink band around the hips and waist'.... She agrees, yes they are verrry nice... Next question 'why don't you try them on?' This she cannot resist, and into the change room she goes! With some tough bargaining between the two of us we get the sales clerk down to 50% off. Back onto the street we go. Tsewang is thrilled with her one pair of pants. Then I ask her if she likes the t-shirts on display in another store... she is now helpless. In she goes and like a typical 14 year old girl anywhere she falls in love with a white top covered in HOT PINK hearts! Following our shopping spree for a total price tag of $9 CND, we have lunch at her choice - a very small local 'restaurant' serving Momo's. To my surprise she orders 'buf' (buffalo/yak?) momo's, and gobbles them up like there is no tomorrow. I am agape. She confirms the Buddist school is vegetarian, and I am silent I dearly hope I inadvertently have not overstepped boundaries with the school but at this point there is nothing I can do! She eats them like there's no tomorrow! gulp. I am quiet and assume she will be (quiet) as well.
After the first hour and half, we start discussing all sorts of subjects and it's fun when she finally loosens up just a little (not TOO much), and shares some of her thoughts. I also observe and appreciate her trust when she comes out of the change room to do a modest twirl to show me tops, looking with big brown eyes, questioning: 'what do you think?'. What I REALLY think is: okkkay is that top with the hot pink hearts, and a little scoop neck gonna be ok at the Buddist School? Instead I inquire: humm that looks very nice on you, will you be able to wear it to school? She enthusiastically nods her head and I defer to both her and the school to figure it out. We go to the till... 'how much?' we ask the reply R 750. She looks terribly shocked, shakes her head and goes 'tsk, tsk' clicking her tongue. I play along and look appalled. We get the price down to R 450 and dance out of the store! Next: she teaches me about the 108 candles on display on the streets.... if you are interested, you have to ask!! We talk about games, she tells me about how her and her family would play cards on New Years Day and she really loved it. Also said does not play cards at the school as it's considered gambling. But she does a lot of other activities that she loves...
* Meeting 'Kathy' a nurse from Hong Kong:
We meet at Namobuddha and hit it off. Very nice to have her company and learn about her (I sob) trekking experiences in Nepal. She hopes to travel into Tibet but the political situation is not supportive right now. When the time comes to leave Namobuddha we head for an early local bus. We sit in billowing dust along the road, and then our bus rounds the corner. we both react at the sight of 20+ guys riding on the top and the inside is so packed people have various body parts draped out the windows. I DON'T *&%$$ THINK SO!!! The guys on top indicate there is room for us and start shuffling themselves around to indicate their helpfulness. They are bewildered when we decline.
Back up the hill to hire a taxi. VERY Expensive as they come from Kathmandu and it takes 2 - 3 hours to travel the 40 kms, including the death defying (depends who is driving, MY betel spitting taxi driver is not recommended - see below) 8 kms pot holed, narrow, dusty and very steep trail up the mountain to Namobuddha). We approach a jeep in the parking lot, and its monk driver asking if it's heading down the mountain... well don't ya know he is a Travel Angel (they come in all sizes and and dress you know!) and we have a ride all the way to Kathmandu, right to the door of my hotel! No charge, but I am so pleased to make a generous donation to the monestary.
* Taxi TO Namobuddha from Bhathatpor (bad, wrong spelling but you don't know it) rapidly became a trip from hell. My previously noble, courteous, and cautious driver arranged by Lame Pema in Bouddha has suddenly turned into a betel/pan chewing and spitting manic who weaves around corners as he constantly takes calls on his cell. I try a gentle but direct approach to reflect my nicely balanced spiritual mind following 4 days in the mountain retreat. It doesn't last. We narrowly miss a bus and motorbike while rounding a corner and the Buddha zone disappears and pumping 'flight or fight' adrenaline puts me securely into survival mode. If memory serves me correctly it is possible I said something like: " I need you to pull over and STOP NOW". Then: " I am not paying you R25,000 to die on a road in Nepal; do you talk on the phone and chew and spit pan when the monks are with you? (that surprised him!) I need you to put the phone away, spit out ALL of the pan and drive safely... do we understand each other?" Apparently we did, nevertheless I 'fired' him as soon as I arrived intact at Namobuddha, 'no please do not come to pick me up in three days, and don't call me I'll call you....'
* Self Developed Mediation Retreat (modified for public consumption)
For sure am happy to talk and talk about my one week experience! Just ask me.....in person. It feels too revealing to discuss in detail in the blog. And way too many thoughts, feelings, and experiences to share in a written form.
FYI Vegetarian food is not always delicious or nutritionally balanced. gulp. That being said, a couple of the luncheon meals at Bhathatpor were really amazing. Delivered right to my door as follows: (little bell rings as the guy delivers the food) 7 am Breakfast (spicy beans and a momo) 12 noon, lunch; 3 pm chai tea (unfailingly delish) and 6 pm dinner.
Retreat Schedule: up at 6 (or so, the manager is flexable!) reading spiritual material 1 - 3 hours, journalizing 1 - 2 hours and mediation started at 10 minutes, increase by 5 minutes per session minimum 2/day. After lunch take to the hills! Walking for several hours on dusty roads, rocky trails and through steep fields.
In my wanderings, I encounter tribal women who are so beautiful, friendly and welcoming, and I accept their invitations to visit at the side of the road or in their front yard. I feel such sadness and shame when I consistently decline tea and meals. I see the hurt feelings and really feel like.... (you fill in the blanks). I try to explain my delicate North American constitution, I say I must return to the monestary, make a variety of excuses and miserably fail to make them understand. I just get SO sick if I step out of line with food and water.... The Bali Shaman is a case in point! Still it was a very disappointing experience for them and for me.
I find my way to the tops of hills and see the Himalaya's! The mountains surrounding me fills my heart with such joy! I love it, love it love it.. I sit alone for hours on the hillside gazing all around me and pledge to return for a serious trekking experience. Nature provides the perfect worship venue - in my 'view'! How can you get closer to God or Buddha or whoever is YOUR spiritual presence than here, in the glory and majesty of nature?
Namobuddha is an incredible experience - literally thousands of prayer flags and a very well established center with a Health Clinic, huge new Monestary, a school, several housing units for monks, and two guest houses. Population varies with visitors but a guess is around 400. I am still processing seeing the inside of the monestary - to be discussed later!). The days are warm and beautiful with clear skies and pristine air. The nights are so cold I simply freeze! ughhg.
Tomorrow: I say good bye to the two Grade One classes and a few new found friends I've met here.
I've enjoyed my visit - but I feel a lot of sadness not trekking. Even though I promise myself to return, I still feel a profound loss of experience. No need to feel sorry for me, I am having a pity party all on my own!
Thailand on THURSDAY! Jim in Thailand on THURSDAY!!!! YIPPPPEEEE
Oops meant to say: will download photos asap (on Nepal time :) Good luck with THAT!
Love and Hugs to you!
* Tsewang Visit on Saturday March 17:
14 years old, lovely and ever so serious! Mom died of cancer 1.5 years ago and she left her village at 8 years old. Tsewang wants visit but it's one day by bus followed by 5 days trekking/walking... she hasn't been back since leaving 5 years ago. She has an older brother still there with his wife and children. Tsewang is very bright and tutors other students in her Math class.
She was very sure she 'didn't need anything' when I asked if there was something she needed.. I ask YOU what 14 year old girl 'doesn't need anything' ????!!! So we went 'window shopping' and well surprise surprise... 'oh look at these yoga pants..(I ask her) I Love wearing these... and they look so pretty and comfy with the hot pink band around the hips and waist'.... She agrees, yes they are verrry nice... Next question 'why don't you try them on?' This she cannot resist, and into the change room she goes! With some tough bargaining between the two of us we get the sales clerk down to 50% off. Back onto the street we go. Tsewang is thrilled with her one pair of pants. Then I ask her if she likes the t-shirts on display in another store... she is now helpless. In she goes and like a typical 14 year old girl anywhere she falls in love with a white top covered in HOT PINK hearts! Following our shopping spree for a total price tag of $9 CND, we have lunch at her choice - a very small local 'restaurant' serving Momo's. To my surprise she orders 'buf' (buffalo/yak?) momo's, and gobbles them up like there is no tomorrow. I am agape. She confirms the Buddist school is vegetarian, and I am silent I dearly hope I inadvertently have not overstepped boundaries with the school but at this point there is nothing I can do! She eats them like there's no tomorrow! gulp. I am quiet and assume she will be (quiet) as well.
After the first hour and half, we start discussing all sorts of subjects and it's fun when she finally loosens up just a little (not TOO much), and shares some of her thoughts. I also observe and appreciate her trust when she comes out of the change room to do a modest twirl to show me tops, looking with big brown eyes, questioning: 'what do you think?'. What I REALLY think is: okkkay is that top with the hot pink hearts, and a little scoop neck gonna be ok at the Buddist School? Instead I inquire: humm that looks very nice on you, will you be able to wear it to school? She enthusiastically nods her head and I defer to both her and the school to figure it out. We go to the till... 'how much?' we ask the reply R 750. She looks terribly shocked, shakes her head and goes 'tsk, tsk' clicking her tongue. I play along and look appalled. We get the price down to R 450 and dance out of the store! Next: she teaches me about the 108 candles on display on the streets.... if you are interested, you have to ask!! We talk about games, she tells me about how her and her family would play cards on New Years Day and she really loved it. Also said does not play cards at the school as it's considered gambling. But she does a lot of other activities that she loves...
* Meeting 'Kathy' a nurse from Hong Kong:
We meet at Namobuddha and hit it off. Very nice to have her company and learn about her (I sob) trekking experiences in Nepal. She hopes to travel into Tibet but the political situation is not supportive right now. When the time comes to leave Namobuddha we head for an early local bus. We sit in billowing dust along the road, and then our bus rounds the corner. we both react at the sight of 20+ guys riding on the top and the inside is so packed people have various body parts draped out the windows. I DON'T *&%$$ THINK SO!!! The guys on top indicate there is room for us and start shuffling themselves around to indicate their helpfulness. They are bewildered when we decline.
Back up the hill to hire a taxi. VERY Expensive as they come from Kathmandu and it takes 2 - 3 hours to travel the 40 kms, including the death defying (depends who is driving, MY betel spitting taxi driver is not recommended - see below) 8 kms pot holed, narrow, dusty and very steep trail up the mountain to Namobuddha). We approach a jeep in the parking lot, and its monk driver asking if it's heading down the mountain... well don't ya know he is a Travel Angel (they come in all sizes and and dress you know!) and we have a ride all the way to Kathmandu, right to the door of my hotel! No charge, but I am so pleased to make a generous donation to the monestary.
* Taxi TO Namobuddha from Bhathatpor (bad, wrong spelling but you don't know it) rapidly became a trip from hell. My previously noble, courteous, and cautious driver arranged by Lame Pema in Bouddha has suddenly turned into a betel/pan chewing and spitting manic who weaves around corners as he constantly takes calls on his cell. I try a gentle but direct approach to reflect my nicely balanced spiritual mind following 4 days in the mountain retreat. It doesn't last. We narrowly miss a bus and motorbike while rounding a corner and the Buddha zone disappears and pumping 'flight or fight' adrenaline puts me securely into survival mode. If memory serves me correctly it is possible I said something like: " I need you to pull over and STOP NOW". Then: " I am not paying you R25,000 to die on a road in Nepal; do you talk on the phone and chew and spit pan when the monks are with you? (that surprised him!) I need you to put the phone away, spit out ALL of the pan and drive safely... do we understand each other?" Apparently we did, nevertheless I 'fired' him as soon as I arrived intact at Namobuddha, 'no please do not come to pick me up in three days, and don't call me I'll call you....'
* Self Developed Mediation Retreat (modified for public consumption)
For sure am happy to talk and talk about my one week experience! Just ask me.....in person. It feels too revealing to discuss in detail in the blog. And way too many thoughts, feelings, and experiences to share in a written form.
FYI Vegetarian food is not always delicious or nutritionally balanced. gulp. That being said, a couple of the luncheon meals at Bhathatpor were really amazing. Delivered right to my door as follows: (little bell rings as the guy delivers the food) 7 am Breakfast (spicy beans and a momo) 12 noon, lunch; 3 pm chai tea (unfailingly delish) and 6 pm dinner.
Retreat Schedule: up at 6 (or so, the manager is flexable!) reading spiritual material 1 - 3 hours, journalizing 1 - 2 hours and mediation started at 10 minutes, increase by 5 minutes per session minimum 2/day. After lunch take to the hills! Walking for several hours on dusty roads, rocky trails and through steep fields.
In my wanderings, I encounter tribal women who are so beautiful, friendly and welcoming, and I accept their invitations to visit at the side of the road or in their front yard. I feel such sadness and shame when I consistently decline tea and meals. I see the hurt feelings and really feel like.... (you fill in the blanks). I try to explain my delicate North American constitution, I say I must return to the monestary, make a variety of excuses and miserably fail to make them understand. I just get SO sick if I step out of line with food and water.... The Bali Shaman is a case in point! Still it was a very disappointing experience for them and for me.
I find my way to the tops of hills and see the Himalaya's! The mountains surrounding me fills my heart with such joy! I love it, love it love it.. I sit alone for hours on the hillside gazing all around me and pledge to return for a serious trekking experience. Nature provides the perfect worship venue - in my 'view'! How can you get closer to God or Buddha or whoever is YOUR spiritual presence than here, in the glory and majesty of nature?
Namobuddha is an incredible experience - literally thousands of prayer flags and a very well established center with a Health Clinic, huge new Monestary, a school, several housing units for monks, and two guest houses. Population varies with visitors but a guess is around 400. I am still processing seeing the inside of the monestary - to be discussed later!). The days are warm and beautiful with clear skies and pristine air. The nights are so cold I simply freeze! ughhg.
Tomorrow: I say good bye to the two Grade One classes and a few new found friends I've met here.
I've enjoyed my visit - but I feel a lot of sadness not trekking. Even though I promise myself to return, I still feel a profound loss of experience. No need to feel sorry for me, I am having a pity party all on my own!
Thailand on THURSDAY! Jim in Thailand on THURSDAY!!!! YIPPPPEEEE
Oops meant to say: will download photos asap (on Nepal time :) Good luck with THAT!
Love and Hugs to you!
