The New Way to work Competition Entry

Hello my dear Friends,
I know, I know, a long time ago.And here I am again, as usual asking something from you :)I am entering a competition of Elance, a freelance-site. You can read all about it if you click on the link in the post you can read while scrolling down. I would love it if all of you could check my entry. Because one of the 'rules' is to let the world know!!
And what other way can I use to let 'the world' know than this site with you as my loyal followers?
The reason why I am entering this contest is of course to try to win this. There is a nice prize involved and with this money won, can you imagine how much 'work' I could do in our Nepal? How many children can we help with this? Not to only put new windows in the school in Chitwan, but maybe to build more closerooms? To help the hospital, to supply the Shining Star Boarding School with teaching materials, and so much more.Of course I will not overload them with everything, but it would make it possible for me to go to Nepal in January 2010 - which now at this moment is absolutely impossible (no money).
For two weeks I have been thinking what to write as an entry, until today I suddenly thought that this way is original, I hope exciting for all of us (because knowing you, you want me to win so I can go back to Nepal AND to stay and live in Elounda!) I can do some things I have not been able to for a long time!!
The post following is the text I wrote as an entry, but hopefully the Elance people will like the way I am bringing this to the attention of all of you!
So, this time instead of your support to raise money I am asking your support to visit and visit and visit this site and the Elance site over and over again, so they can not go around us!
Thank you, dear friends of me and my children! Dhan ya bad!!!

The New Way to Work.

In my case I would prefer to say: The ONLY Way to Work and here you can read why:

I was born and educated in Holland. In 1996 I came to live in Elounda, Crete.
Living on Crete is like living in Paradise.
At least, that is what the 'visitors', the tourists may think.
But, in reality living on this beautiful Island is not as fantastic as it seems.
It is very difficult to make a living. There is only work provided during the Season which is about 5 to 6 months.
Plus being a 'foreigner' (Dutch nationality) makes it complicated to find the job I have studied for: a secretary, administrative support, typist. As long as I do not master the Greek language fluently in speech and writing I will always stay at the end of the line when it comes to applying for a job.

I am still living on Crete, Thanks to the New Way to Work.
Being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 (now in complete remission), passing chemo- and radiotherapy, my body is not as strong as my mind anymore. Also not being one of the 'youngsters' anymore, is making the strong competition for jobs very difficult.
With my work as a Freelancer on my laptop at home I can continue my work as a typist in my own time.

Besides that, thanks to the New Way to Work I am also able to continue my volunteering work. In 2005 I visited Nepal for the first time as a volunteer. Whilst in Nepal in 2005 I kept a diary. On my return I was diagnosed with breast cancer, so it was only in 2007 that my diary was made into a book and February 2008 I was able to go back to Nepal. My book follows my day to day experiences during my stay as a volunteer in C.W.A. in Pokhara. It is a heart-warming account of the people I met, the children I helped and the life long friends I made and hope to return to every winter. The children stole my heart AND made me find myself. With my return to Nepal in February 2008 AND February 2009 I am going to rewrite my first book. I will add more general info about Nepal and its people, the way they live, think and interact with others. Nepal: destination or destiny? (tourist or volunteer?) A 'personal' travel guide with fragments of the diary, pictures of nature and people.
During the winter months I travel to Nepal to work with 'my' children. If I was working in an office I would never be able to go to Nepal for such a long time, nor would I have the time and/or the possibility to raise money for 'my' children. While being in Nepal and the children are in school, I am able to continue my work on the computer as a freelancer.

I truly wish that I can continue to use my skills I officially have been trained for and experienced in (secretary), and earn a living with this New Way to Work.

Elance Blog: Contest: What Does “The New Way To Work” Mean To You?

Elance Blog: Contest: What Does “The New Way To Work” Mean To You?

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17 March, Tuesday. Bahrain-Athens; Athens-Heraklion

06.15 Good morning ma'am, breakfast buffet is ready on the 10th floor.
Going upstairs, a bit a poor buffet but a nice waiter (the same as last night): I'll bring you your black coffee now ma'am. Nice. Thank you.

Collecting my things, going to the lounge, get my passport back and an early transfer to the airport. Must be another good day ahead of me.

At the airport to the same shop, where I bought my camera. But to my surprise, despite the good special offer I had with my camera, the prices of the laptops are crazy, expensive. Even the special offer is a minimum of 700 euro! Don't think so.

Two nice encounters:
A man from Greece, he is a correspondent for the Army. The last 4 months he has been in Kenya (Kayshani :)), Somalia and surrounding areas to escort convoois who tried to deliver food and medicine to the people. He said he had a huge WHY???(and anger inside) And then after all this poverty a night in a Bahrain hotel : Black and White.

The other person I met is a Palestinian. He wanted to climb mountains in his own country, but was not allowed to enter the Gaza-area, because of his Palestinian passport. WHY???
He did the Mount Everest Basecamp and to have a rest before he starts his scholarship he stayed one week in Bandipur! Beautiful, away from the problems in the world, back to nature, back to basic.
Only nature and loving, caring people.
He also helped in the Bandipur hospital to do repairments, helping with installing a hot water system: OUR HOTWATER SYSTEM! (it IS a small world).
His next flight - with Gulf Air - is also 12 hours later, but because again of his Palestinian passport he is not allowed to go into Bahrain. "Be careful, Rita - he said - maybe you are sitting here talking with a terrorist" :).
He tells about the latest news in the Gaza, everything seems calmed down now. Says that the rest of Israel and surrounding areas are safe: every one starts to accept each other; to realise we are living in a beautiful country, so let's live in it together, build it up instead of destroying it he says. WHY Gaza???

There are no answers, except that both of the complete different men I meet in this short time said: 'They' have to keep the 'SYSTEM' (war) going, some one has to keep the economics going. Who cares that it is the already poor people (Kenya-Somalia) are paying for it. Who cares that innocent people are paying for it (Gaza-Israel).
The Palestinian agreed with me on Global Holi! He was in Bandipur during the colourfestival, playing like a child with the children of Bandipur.
'Yes, let's throw colour at each other, yes let's point our waterpistols at each other. Let's colour the grey, ugly world!'

Sitting in the waitingroom I realize that today I've made my last 'donation'.
I left my jacket in the hotel . I was already thinking: hmmmm I am travelling 'light'.
Oh well, it would have been more useful to leave that kind of jacket in Kathmandu instead of a hot Bahrain, but 'Ke Garne'? (what to do?)
Just call Mike that when he comes to pick me up at Heraklion he'd better bring my woolen Nepali jacket with him, because I heard it is only about 10 degrees in Greece at the moment.

The world IS upside down: Nepal, the top of the world, the HIMALAYAN 29 degrees. In Greece/Crete it is only 10 degrees, at the end of March!
But, in December it was still 'summer' in Crete.

Another confirmation (not necessary, because it was already my plan/wish): Summertime Elounda, working, socializing with my friends from Elounda and the friends that are coming over, going to the beach, enjoying it's beautiful nature.
Wintertime Nepal, instead of paying a high electricitybill at home for the heating, spending almost all winter on my own inside the house. Socialising with my friends, being with 'my' children. Being a drop in the ocean. Taking the groups on tour.
WHO SAID LIFE IS NOT PERFECT!!!!

If NOT perfect, I am getting pretty close to it! THANK YOU UNIVERSE.

Here I am again, day is not finished yet. Universe has a lot more 'surprises' in mind for today.

Sitting now in Gregorys at Athens airport. Why specially Gregorys? Here it comes:
Still in the plane a special announcement: will miss van de Zande please report to the crew.
Joking with the correspondent: not even at home and they already know I am here, looking for me. Trouble is home.
'You must be famous then', he laughs.
'Yeah, or in trouble, which usually is the case'.

A girl waits for me at the exit of the plane: Miss van de Zande, I am from the airport police, would you be so kind to follow me please. ??????????????????????
While walking she explains to me that Gulf Air contacted her about my luggage. (did somebody put 'something' in my bag???????)
But, then she goes on: your luggage will be checked through to your next flight with Aegean at 18.00 departure. I am escorting you now to the Aegean check-in counter to collect your boarding pass and here is a voucher of Gulf Air for you, offering you a free lunch at Gregorys, close to your gate.
- Sorry, Universe- how could I even doubt you for one minute, I just have to hold on to my faith in you and everything is gonna be fine. You have showed me that I don't need to 'fight' anymore, I will never be 'alone' anymore, I just have to put my trust, my soul, my existence in your hands and everything is gonna be alright!
(Big John will take care of you :)) (inside information).

So, a VIP escort through passport control (no waiting line), a VIP check-in at the Aegean counter: 'don't go and stand in line, I will take you to the Business Class check-in'.
There she left me, asking if everything is alright. YEP, Perfect, Thank YOU.

'It's not me, ma'am, it's courtesy of Gulf Air, and I'm just doing my job'. Well, thanks anyway.

At the check-in a bit of confusion: You have to go to the Gulf Air desk to get your ticket issued, you are not in our system, blablablabla.
With my experience at the Gulf Air Office in Kathmandu fresh in my mind I pull out every single piece of paper I have, concerning my flights, including the printouts of the emails from Georgos Plora Travel and somewhere along those papers the man finds a E-ticketnumber. Aaaah, your ticket from yesterday is still standing open, I only have to transfer it to today and everything is arranged. One minute please, I will call upstairs to pass on this number and in a few minutes I can print out your boardingcard!
And indeed, 10 minutes later I am on my way, with my boarding card, looking for a computershop (without paying anything extra George!):)!

At Germanos they have a real beauty of the new HP-mini. Small, light, with normal keyboard, 2 USB entrances, plug for modem, plug for cd-rom drive, etc. etc. If I take a contract for 2 years of 39 euro a month for Wireless Internet connection on the GO this laptop is for free!
Knowing however that in this world nothing is for free, except sunshine, love and compassion - and being tired after being such a long time in the air, travelling, thinking of my blooper donation of my jacket this morning, I ask the boy if this offer is at the same conditions in Crete. The answer is Yes, so that is easy. First go home, unpack, have a good rest and then later this week I will have a proper look at all the offers in Agios Nicolaos (Germanos, Vodafone, Multirama, etc.)

Today the only thing to do is to go and have some (free lunch) now, watching the world pass by, wait for Rita2 (she is flying the same flight to Heraklion, so we left together and are coming home together), while sitting at Gregorys.
Rita is arriving not much later and in a slow pace we go through passport control.

The flight Athens-Heraklion is almost empty: about 30 people in the plane!, so everything goes quick.
At Heraklion we have our luggage quick and Harrie is waiting outside to bring us home (with my Nepali jacket). It is very cold here!

Coming home, calling mum and dad that I am home safe, saying hello to the neighbours and then time to have a proper sleep in my own bed!!!

The end of once again a wonderful, amazing, inspiring, full of events journey to Nepal, where I voluntarily lost my heart and where I will return EVERY winter if possible (healthwise, financially). Peri Betonlah Nepal! Peri Betonlah C.W.A. kids. Peri Betonlah my H.E. Family. Thank you, miss you already and see you soon.

P.S. Keep checking regularly this site, I will put more pictures on it AND I will keep reporting from Crete and give you later more details about the groups I am going to organize for a 3 weeks encounter with Nepal: cultural, inspirational, adventurous, volunteering, so much to do, so much to see! A once in a lifetime experience, and maybe also you will catch the 'Nepali Fever'?

Suba Rathri!!!
Rita Sanghita - Kushi Aga

16 March, Monday. Time to go home :(

Well, there I am, sitting in the waitingroom at the airport.
Everything went smooth: paid airport tax (Rs 1.700); to the check-in counter.
I thought I was having more than 20 kg luggage, but my backpack is only 16 kg! Okay, let's forget my handluggage backpack, which is for sure 5 or 6 kg.

After a good night sleep finally - after first spending about one hour on and of the toilet to unload my elephant stomach - I woke up at 8, just before my alarm was going of.
A slow awakening, shower, organizing my luggage and I went downstairs for breakfast (a light one, still full from yesterday and I don't like to eat much when I am flying).
Last trip to the Internet to tell you that I am on my way home, to say bye to Kayshani and Doreen, to thank my H.E. family.
I walked to the OM Family to collect my mala, but it does not work that way. It is a kind of ceremony and I did not had the time for that. Got hugged, stroked, a book as present (This very body - the Buddha - Osho), left my email adress). Got hugged again and on my way to H.E.

There I worked on their computer to make a draft of the 3 weeks encounter with Nepal for Toni. Dill has send a copy to my email, so at home I can work on the details.
A quick bite at Kathmandu Guesthouse and then it was time: taxi waiting Didi.
Not a goodbye, a quick hug, a Peri Betonlah (see you soon) and to Mandap Hotel to collect my bags.
This morning I already checked out and paid my bill. (two nights with breakfast: RS 3.057).

In about an hour through the last check-in-counter. My luggage is checked in all the way (even Athens-Heraklion), so I can say again: the Universe is with me, taking good care of me.

I had a good flight.
Dinner: guess what: RICE! I only ate the dessert: something that looked like vanilla pudding, they only forgot to put the vanillastick inside when they boiled it.
Anyway, I never really eat on the plane, so no problem.

Arriving at Bahrain airport everything went smooth again. To the transferdesk, got my voucher for the Alfersan Hotel (I have to wait 12 hours for my next connection) and went downstairs.

This time I did not had to wait such a long time for the transfer, about half an hour. 3 Men did, they were the'unlucky' ones this time; they waited 1;45 minutes). It is a pitty, everything concerning Gulf Air is excellent: the price of the ticket, the aeroplanes with enough space to sit comfortable, excellent hotels. Only those transfers. The staff of the Gulf Air office in Kathmandu gave me a website where I can register as a frequent flyer, to get bonus miles. I will sign up, but then I also will leave a remark about the transfers-time to the hotels.
In my hotelroom around 21.00, dinner will be served in about one hour.

So, time to type my diary in the laptop, ready to send when I am home.
Haha, laptop does NOT agree with that. Take a rest it says with another spontaneous shutdown in the middle of writing my day.

Point taken, message clear!
Almost falling asleep when they call me: dinner is served on the 10th floor ma'am.
Well better go up then.

Duuuuuuuuuuuuuuh waist of energy: RICE!!!!
No coffee available either. We serve only coffee in the morning ma'am.
Back to my room, wake-up call at 06.15 and asleep almost before I hit the pillow.

Suba Rathri

15 March. Sunday. Kathmandu

Woke up at around 08.00, which is becoming a good habit.
Downstairs for breakfast and a walk through Thamel.
Got my last pictures printed, I can collect them around 16.00.

Around 13.30 to H.E. With Dil on his bike to his home.
It is a beautiful house, a bit in a quiet area of Kathmandu.
His sons are beautiful and happy with my small gifts: for the little one 3 cuddles on a string, for the bigger one a Nepali colourfull truck made of wood. I bought them in Pilgrims Bookhouse.
I could spend days in this shop: two floors with the most amazing books.
When I asked one of the staff members about my name Rita Sanghita he and his collegue started to sing! Seems there is a Nepali about Rita as well as about Sanghita!

He explained to me that Sanghit(a) is the Goddess of Music-Art. She is connected with the Goddess Saraswati: Goddess of Art, graceful aesthetics, intellectual pursuits, eloquent speech, beauty, music and creativity. Makes me even more proud and happy with this name given by the children.
Could not resist to buy again two books (they will just fit in my handluggage!) and had to run out of this shop, could go bankrupt here, could buy every single book there.

We ate a very taste Dal Bath at Dil's house, when Dil got a phonecall from the office: we had to go to the office of Gulf Air, because there was still a problem with my ticket.
After waiting a while, it was my turn. It came down to it that they wanted me to pay 65 Euro, because that is the fee for changing your ticket. I insisted on the fact that NOT my travelagent (George, Plora Travel) changed the ticket, but Gulf Air!!!
We had to go upstairs, I explained again and finally they found out what had happened.
Gulf Air DID cancel my flight: not Kathmandu-Bahrain,, but Bahrain-Athens! (I told you!!!)
Apologies over and over and over again.
My ticket was issued in seconds, more apologies and finally we left with my ticket, without extra payment.
Everything thik-cha now!

Back to my room to get my laptop and then sitting down at the New Orleans Cafe. I succeeded in starting to write the 8th of March, but then it was time to go back to the H.E. office to meet Toni for our dinnerdate.

Finally at 20.00 we could get away from the office, back to the New Orleans Cafe for a lovely dinner, listening to fantastic live music.

Around 22.00 back to the office, where Dil and some of the guides were waiting for me. We were supposed to go for a last evening drink somewhere, but my stomach was blown up like an elephant belly. (probably from all the emotions of the last two days, literally swallowing the tears AND the fact that I had two big meals short after each other).
I could NOT join them, no matter how much I wanted to, I dragged myself back up to my room, going many times to the toilet, trying to get warm, laying in bed with Kayshani's pashmina around me (Thank you sweety).

Finally I started to feel a bit better, also with the help of the Sagar-exercise and fell asleep.

Woke up around 02.00 with all the lights on, but the only thing I wanted to do is having a 'healing' sleep, forget about working on the computer, so: switching the lights off as well as my brain and a good sleep, before I start travelling tomorrow for about 24 hours to get home.

Suba Rathri!!!!

14 March. Saturday. Tourist bus from Pokhara to Kathmandu.

06.00 wake up call with my last coffee served!
06.30 with a taxi to the busstation. Asta was already in the kitchen, asking me if I wanted a coffee, but I did not had time: I really had to go.
Pashpati, Rohit, Kayshani and Gomaya did say last night that they might be there to say goodbye to me this early, but again in a way I am happy they are not. It is already hard enough to leave, without more hugs, tika's, goodbyes. Just let me go away quietly, I will be back soon anyway.

The busdrive to Kathmandu took us 7 hours. A bit of sleeping on the way, watching the scenery.
Bye bye Nepal, see you soon.

Arriving at Kathmandu I took a taxi (my bags are too heavy) to the Mandap hotel. Ahhh, welcome back ma'am. How are you? We have a nice room for you.
And they did: a room with orangy-brown walls, which makes it a 'warm' room, a bed where you could sleep in with easily 4 persons instead only me. AND electricity all day.

A shower, a refreshing and on my way to the H.E. office to report Trouble is back in town.
Namaste, how are you? How was Pokhara?
Toni is indeed in Kathmandu, we are going out for dinner tomorrow evening. So, I had to reschedule my dinner at Dill's house: we will go to his home tomorrow afternoon for lunch.

I spend the day walking through Thamel, sending emails, updating the website, reading, relaxing, sleeping a bit.

Dinner in the New Orleans Cafe and back to my room. An early night, after all the 'excitement' of the last few days in Pokhara and the bus journey of today.
Around 22.00 lights out!

Suba Rathri

13 March, Friday. MY LAST DAY in Pokhara.

07.00 awake
07.15 breakfast
08.00 Packing my bags and working on the picture albums on my balcony in the sunshine.
Around 12.00 buying the last presents, pick up the pictures (not ready yet) and of course to the Internet.
Around 14.00 one of the guys of H.E. finds me in the Internet, telling me I have to come with him to the H.E. office. There is still a problem with my ticket: Gulf Air keeps telling them my ticket is not issued!!
At the H.E. office I send an email to George, Plora Travel, and in 10 minutes I have an answer: my E-ticket, with all flights at the right day and time, CONFIRMED. I print them out and we think everything is sorted.

I got a lovely present from Kayshani: a nice and warm Pashmina, in the colour of my hair! Probably I will live in this big pashmina, rapped around me day and night. She is so sweet, I am going to miss this girl very much. But, she will come and see me in Elounda soon and hopefully stay for the season.

I paid my bill at H.E. for the 3 weeks breakfast and dinner. I asked Pashpathi how much it was and his answer was: what ever you think is right. So, I gave him an amount, but a few minutes later, while I was sitting in the garden, he gave me back some money: Rohit and I think you gave too much!!! I love my H.E.-family, gonna miss them as well.

Paid the bill of the hotel: 18 nights, all my coffees and laundry: Rs 10.000 (100 euro!)
The owner gave me his email address and the website of the hotel: please email me so now and then to let us know how you are and email me to tell me when you are coming with your groups, we will give them our best rooms for a very good price.
Thank you!!!

I got the pictures of the Pizza evening printed and on a cd-rom.

Asta asked me what I would like for dinner tonight: he is going to cook pasta. Thank You!!!

Then it was time to go to the home. Walking for the last time (this time) the road towards the home. The sunset is beautiful, I made some pictures of it.
It is a bit weird. All the time the kids are asking: what time are you going? Are you going now? Are you coming tonight for Dal Bath (no), are you coming tomorrow? (no). A very hard time.
Kayshani and I went with some of the older boys to the lake, where they could play table tennis. We left the boys there and then it was really time to start to say goodbye.
Some of the kids slipped drawings in my bag, whispering bye bye Rita, a quick hug and of they were again.
Gangka called me into the kitchen: a tika, a silk scarf, a necklace, flowers and a big hug. I told her this is not a good bye, this is a peri betonlah = see you soon.
Escaping out of the kitchen, before both of us start to cry.
A quick hug here and there, more flowers, bye bye Rita, see you in November.
I know I have not said goodbye to every child in the home. I see Sofia watching me from the roof, I wave at her, send her a kiss and I do not ask her to come down. I know it from last year, it is too much for this little angle to really say goodbye.
The same counts for some of the other ones. This is a better good bye then last year, less official and less painfull, not ALL the family in line with too many flowers, too emotional.
Still I end up looking like a Christmas tree with the Tika, the scarfs and all the flowers.
Gangka hands over a bag with t-shirts of the C.W.A. for some sponsors.
A few drawings end up in my bag accompanied with a whispering: bye bye Rita.

Bimal and some of the boys are still out, playing tabletennis, which is good: I am sure I could not face it to say really face to face goodbye to Bimal. I say to Kayshani to say goodbye from me tomorrow to him, to explain him in Nepali how special he is to me and to tell him to study his English. She will tell him I will be back in November.

And finally are Kayshani and I on the way out, literally I have to escape not to start crying in front of them. Even now, typing these words, tears are coming.
People in Elounda will wonder what is wrong with me, every occassion I think of my kids, I speak about them, the tears are rolling down my cheeks. I don't care!!!

After a delicious pasta with loads of cheese Kayshani, the boys and I are on our way to Laila's bar, where we play pool.
The owner of the bar comes up to me, while I am looking at the last pictures.
What are you looking at, can I have a look? Oh great, you are volunteering? Thank you for taking care of the children of Nepal. Thank you for doing so much for our country.

NO, IT IS ME WHO WANTS TO SAY A BIG BIG THANK YOU TO YOU ALL: for all the love you gave me, for making me part of your family (at. C.W.A., Shining Star Boarding School and H.E.).
Thank you to the 'sponsors' for your generosity that made it possible for me to pass it on to the projects.

Around 22.30 I am back in my room, to do the last packing and to go to sleep at 00.00, wake up call at 06.00, a long journey (about 24 hours on my way) ahead.

Suba Rathri. A grateful, happy (but also sad) Sanghita, but I know I WILL BE BACK!!!!
Peri Betonlah!!!

12 March. Thursday. Tika-ceremony at Shining Star Boarding School, PIZZA EVENING!

08.00 alarm
09.00 breakfast
9.45 Tika ceremony Shining Star Boarding School.

At 9.45 English time I was at school. ALL the children were gathered on the playground, doing the morning 'drilling'. The headmaster was there, a man brought in from the village (one of the schoolcommittee) and Kayshani stayed with me to make pictures.

The English teacher was speaking about me, I heard the name Rita Sanghita many times. I even had to keep a short speech, which I think I did not that bad.

I said that it was ME who wanted to thank everybody. For making me feel so welcome, to make me one of them! I also thanked the people of Elounda and the other 'sponsors', without them I would not be able to drop all those little drops in the ocean.

Then it was time to get the Tika, flowers and a present. When the headmaster gave me the Tika ALL the children applauded and cheered! The noise was enormous and of course it was tissue time for me again. You should have been there, to hear the crowd, to see the crowd! Tissue-time!!!!

After receiving all the blessings from all the teachers it was time for the children to start the classes and time for me to go.

When we arrived at H.E. with a Tika again from forehead till nose-tip, they joked again: where is the blue? Holi again?

After washing my face I went to the village to go the Internet to give you a few more days.

I got a great email from Mo & Adam: they are really thinking of joining me in Nepal in February! That means the first two groupmembers of the Februarygroup of 6!!

Think about it: you can be the one to join us, I promisse you: you won't
regret it. We are travelling together in a beautiful country, which is still
very affordable, you will see so many new places, meet so many wonderful people. (and visit the projects AND my/our kids). The flight to Kathmandu is not so expensive as the flights in Europe! A flight from Athens to Kathmandu will be around 600 Euro (all-in). I have to check the flights from England, but H.E. adviced me to also check out the prices
from England to New Delhi and then a flight with Buddha air from Delhi to Kathmandu. You can then even see the Taj Mahal, a MUST once in your life. I will be very happy to come and join you in New Delhi to visit the Taj Mahal together and then escort you to Kathmandu to start the 3 weeks program.

After I have finished all the days in Nepal, I will have more details and I will publish the 3 weeks program. Just keep it in mind! (and start to put 10 euro a week on the side as a saving program. I also put 10 Euro in my Nepal savingbox every friday, just 2 drinks less on one evening, or 3 packets of cigarettes a week!).

(was it really me, who wrote before that I was tired of fighting, to do everything on my own? Well, the fight is over. The Universe is with me, taking care of me, standing by my side. As long as I keep faith in the big U, everything is gonna be alright).

At 17.00 in my Gurtha to the home, PIZZA EVENING!!!
With all nicely dressed up children in line to the Lake View Garden Restaurant. A lovely place, the tables for us set up in the garden in a long line, in front of the podium where a dance/music group presented their program, especially for us!

The staff was well organized, good service. Without explanation they did not give every child its own pizza but all of them one piece, followed by more pieces as long as they could eat. (and they can eat a lot!). Finally they said that their 'pit was kushi' (happy stomach) and 'pukju' (enough), but when the banana pancakes came there was suddenly a lot of space in their happy, full bellies to add without any problem this yummie pancake.

After joining the dancegroup on the stage to dance together with them, time to walk the happy kids home.

When we arrived at H.E. Kayshani said that she would love to sleep outside one night. Well, sounds good to me. So, on my way to my hotel, telling the man at the reception I would be back in a sec., just came to collect my blanket, I was going to sleep on the roof. He smiled at me: Suba Rathri! When I really came down in my teddy bear pyama and a blanket under my arm, he realized I was serious (and officially declared crazy by the hotelowner I am afraid).

Gomaya helped us laying out some mats on the roof of H.E., made our beds and said good night, gniffling about those silly girls. Bodi, one of the rafting staff came to join us. It was a beautiful evening, one night after full moon.

When we left the home Sudeep handed back my taperecorder. Laying on the roof, under an almost full moon, we listened to Mongol singing and then Sudeep speaking to the people of Elounda to thank them. Fantastic, blocked throat again.

Around 03.00 I was getting cold, but Bodi gave me half of his blanket (thanks sweety). Woke up 07.00 in the morning, going down to the kitchen of H.E. to get a hot coffee, where the staff was also considering whether we completely 'lost' it or not.

Suba Rathri dear people and once again Dhanyabad from me and all the children!!!!

11 March. Wednesday. A pretty 'normal' day

Not a lot to mention today.
The usual program: some more shopping - Internet - all day electricity - homework (Bimal, nailing him on his chair again).

Dinner was different today: Asta thought that I don't want to eat Dal Bhat everyday, just because I eat smaller portions, that does not mean I don't like it.
So he cooked fried potatoes with vegies. And on request of Kayshani he also made yummie cheese-onion pies!
After dinner they all went to Laila's bar to play pool, but I was happy with the day as it was, did not need to add anything to it, so I went to my room, did some reading and fell asleep happy and peaceful.

Suba Rathri
Sanghita - Kushi Aga

10 March. Tuesday. HOLI- colourfestival

Being a warm beautiful day, it reminds me of yesterday afternoon. At the time I got out of the Internet it looked outside as if it was DOOM-DAY, end of the world, end of existence.
Could not see the other side of the sreet, because of an enormous sandstorm. Must have been at least 9 to 10 Beaufort. Everybody rushing to get the goods inside, closing their doors, barricading the windows, taking cover for flying dustbins, advertising boards or whatever that was not screwed solid and safe.
As sudden as the strong wind filled with sand came up, as sudden it calmed down after 2 hours, leaving the entire Lake-Side covered with fine, red sand.

So, a beautiful warm day, filled with sunshine and a clear blue sky. A perfect HOLI-day.

The ancient Hindu festival of Holi falls on late February or on early March. Allegedly named after the mythical demoness Holika, it is a day when the feast of colours is celebrated. The festival is of a week. However it's only the last day that is observed by all with colours. Phagu is another name for Holi where Phagu means the sacred red powder and Pune is the full moon day, on which the festival ends. People can be seen wandering through the streets either on foot or on some vehicle, with a variety of colours smeared over them.

Families and friends get together and celebrate the occasion with a lot of merry making. This spring time celebration is also an outburst of youthful exuberance in which throwing colours and water balloons (lolas) on passer- by is acceptable. But, the Indian community, that is, the Marwari class who have settled down in Nepal for centuries and the people of Terai celebrate it a day later with more pomp and ceremony

Dressed in old clothes to H.E. around 11.00 to pick up Kayshani. We are expected for 'breakfast' at C.W.A. at 12.00.Walking through the door I just get a glimpse from Kayshani, trying to get away from a full colourpowder attack.
On HOLI everybody has his/her pockets filled with small plastic bags filled with coloured powder. They throw the powder at you or being even more lucky if they get hold of you they cover your face with the powder wishing you Happy Holi.
After that, to be sure that the powder will stay, they chase you with waterguns, waterbottles or even sometimes with buckets of water, to make the 'mess' complete.
The H.E. staff was well prepared, enough colour ammunition and for sure enough watersupplies (gardenhose). They made sure that Kayshani and I were looking already very 'colourfull' before we went to the children.


Arriving at C.W.A. the kids were still clean, first breakfast, then Holi. We enjoyed a tasty Tharkari (vegetable curry) with homemade Roti and fresh cabbagesalad, sitting all at the tables outside in the garden for today.
After cleaning up the tables and the plates the fun could begin. Slowly everybody joined the throwing, the rubbing in, the waterballoons.

After a while we left the little ones at home and with the older boys we walked to Lake-Side, attacked on the way by others passing bye or hiding on the roof, armed with water balloons.

We passed by from the house of one of the teachers. She called us in the yard, holding a big tray with a pile of blue powder. She wished us Happy Holi, 'blessing' us with her blue powder and treating us on tasty roti's.
When Kamal asked her if we also could 'bless' her, she said Yes, but only on my forehead. Well, sorry Miss, but that is NOT possible on Holi with such a big pile of powder.


Happy Holi - smash - Happy Holi - blessing - Happy Holi.

Waterattack from the roof at 12.00 o'clock!


Outside the H.E. the staff was sitting on the little wall.
I joined them, sitting in the sunshine, trying to get my soaked t-shirt a little bit dry. Kayshani just gave it up, she was soaked from top to bottom.
At one point we all were totally red coloured, which made me start saying to the people passing by: I want yellow. A bit later: I want green and then, to finish the grafiti on my face: I want Blue!
Soon, everyone sitting on the wall was saying: we want blue!
At a certain point two clean, official looking men stopped in front of us. "We want to make a picture of you, we are from the local Newspaper. Nr. 2 took out his videocamera with microphone and interviewed Kayshani: the local Television channel!

They said we looked beautiful with all our colours (including blue) and that for foreigners we knew how to play Holi!

Around 17.00 getting tired of running, chasing, being chased, sitting in the sun, time to hit the shower in an attempt to get all those layers of color from our bodies, out our hair.

I simply took off all my clothes, standing in the bathtub, except my t-shirt, which I took of before. I decided to keep it the way it was, I am going to put it on my Nepali wall at home. People would pay a fortune for a t-shirt like that!

About 4 washes later the water started to look a bit more clear. When I took my jeans out of the bath I discovered that my 200 Rupees watch (2 Euro) was still in one of the pockets. And still working! Wow, a real waterproof watch!!
All cleaned up to H.E. for dinner. We could not eat much after the huge 'breakfast' with the children this afternoon.
My usual evening coffee and I went up to my room, relaxing, reliving, looking at the pictures on my camera, ready for a deep happy sleep.

Happy Holi, wishing you all a colourfull life!
Sanghita

9 March, Monday.

09.00 I was walking along Lake-Side to do some shopping for my present/souvenir list. Happy with the succesful shopping breakfast at ….. Perky Beans.

On my way to the Internet, where I was able to write 3 days on the website until it was time to run to the school as usual.

In the house I had a chat with our C.W. Artists, in which I told the boys about my dream with the wish if they could paint this for me. They were enthusiastic about it.

Helping again with homework. Next Monday the exams start and everyone is studying very hard.
My stomach was a bit upset (?), so at H.E. just a little bit Bath without the Dal this time. Maybe the lentils are to heavy for my stomach.

Sitting with Kayshani in the garden, she feels a bit better and looks much better, although she is still coughing. But she will be in shape for tomorrow’s festival Holi.

Pashpathi told me that from our money he bought a gasheater and a hot water system (working on gas) for when a mother was giving birth in the Bandipur hospital. The remains of the Rs 10.000 (1oo Euro) he left with Ramsaran, the manager in Bandipur, to buy a refill when the gastank would be empty.

Up to my room, where I did a bit of writing and reading by candlelight and to go to sleep at 23.00, also having an early night to be prepared for Holi!

Suba Rathri.

Sunday, 8 March. Confusion about a ‘date’

Awake at 08.00. That’s too early! Turn around one more time. Oops 11.00!
Sitting on the balcony to do some writing.
12.00 To the village.

When I was having my usual real coffee at Perky Beans with toast, a Dutch girl (also sitting there) almost jumped at me.
“You are from Holland?” (What, is it written on my forehead?). And even before I could answer, she started: "I am volunteer, but I am sick. I was anorexic before and now it started again. I feel shit, am all alone, don’t know what to do, don’t know where to go."
So, I layed down the newspaper I was trying to read, walked up to her (but didn’t sit down, want to do my own things), layed my hand on her shoulder and told her to to go to the OM Family.
To go to Sagar for a Reiki, a healing. For sure he could help her to calm down, give her back her selfconfidence. (Her answer: I did a Reiki at that and that place, but it didn’t do a thing).
Well, I said, so you went to the wrong place. Really, you should try Sagar.
And before she could start again I walked back to my table (sorry, my coffee is getting cold) and picked up the newspaper again.
After 10 minutes she got up, a deep sigh, thank you and there she went, into he opposite direction of Sagar. Okay, I tried, but my intuition was right: don’t take her on your shoulders, waist of energy. A few days later I saw her on the street, with another girl, who looked a bit desperate: leave me alone on her face. So, the Dutch girl found some one to cling on to, she did not really wanted help, she wanted company to complaint to about her life, someone who listened to her, but not to listen to what the other person said to her. Pfff, I made a nice escape there!

In the Nepali Times the weatherman reports that the temperature is rising: 28-30 C. Nice! Even the evenings are nice to sit outside, without 3 layers on.

To the Internet to send some emails and as usual I have to hurry to be in time outside the school.
The Euro keeps going up: 100.24 today (on 14 March it is 103.55 and still going up).

Arriving at the house Mongol hands over my taperecorder: he sang some songs on the minicasette.
Time for homework. I sat down with Bimal. He was reading his English, but being such a dreamer, he is not really looking at the text. Just trying to go over it as quick as possible. But not today mate: start at the beginning, read and speak, just as long as you’ve got it right! He is very capable of speaking correct English, he is just not concentrated/interested enough. Prefers to daydream, to go to his room to make drawings. I almost have to tie him down on his chair, until he realizes that today there is no escape, his ‘puppy-eyes’ are not working on me today.
So, finally he gives in and in the end he even starts to enjoy it, asks me to explain words he does not understand. Well, some progress made, at least for today!

When I was at 18.30 at H.E., they said I had to go to Mountain Villa, somebody was waiting there for me. I ran quickly up here, thinking it was Maria. But……. it was the Headmaster.
On the message I left in the office at school I wrote in Greek Alphabet Gia sou Maria mou, in which note I wrote I hoped we could meet for a coffee or dinner together, to talk about her experiences and with the invitation for the picnic and Pizza-evening. In the office of course they could not read that the message was ment to be for Maria (although I told that to the teacher on duty at that time) so they passed the message on ........ to the Principal!
And there he was, nervous, babbling about being busy, mentioning a few times ‘my wife’. Ohoh, he thought I was after a ‘date’ with him???
We had a tea together, talked a bit, and then he said he had to go. He left as if thunder and lightning was going to strike him.
But not after he first told me to be at the school Thursday morning at 9.45 English time! Meaning punctual. There it is: Tika-ceremony.

Back at H.E. everybody already finished dinner, which was fine with me.
Checking on Kayshani, she was feeling a bit better, still a rough cough though and I told her to stay also home tomorrow, to have energy and being free of her cold for Tuesday: Holi!

Up to my room, where I got mixed vegetable fried rice served on my balcony. Dinner by candle-light!
Writing in my diary until 23.00 and time to blow the candle and close my eyes.

Suba Rathri.

7 March, Saturday. PICNIC DAY.

09.00 outside on my balcony. The temperature is rising day by day, the newspaper is saying 28-30 degrees. Making good progress with the pictures.
11.30 Collect my gurtha, to the room to change. It feels good, the kids will love it!

Kay looks fantastic in her bright blue gurtha. At 13.00 we arrive at the home, where smart dressed children are waiting for us. The food and drinks standing packed and ready to go to the park. Some kids ask me if we can go – with the pedalo’s- to the beach on the other side of the lake. At my question how much that will cost they say Rs 1.200. Although it is very tempting to say Okay, I say NO, sorry, too expensive. Their reaction? Not begging, no pleading, no please. Just their funny shaking of their heads, a big smile and Okay!
The funny shaking of their heads is moving their head, bending it with their ears towards their shoulders. So not a no, moving your chin to your shoulder, but it can easily confuse you. It sometimes gives the impression of shaking no, but the smal difference makes it an okay).
And they simply continue with what they were doing, just as happy as before, even though something they asked for was refused.

Finally everybody ready and all packed, bags, balls, in line on our way to the park.
We are not going to the part of the lakeside where we usually go to play.
Today is a special day, PICNIC day, so we walk a little further down the road, where on the parkground are some temples and goals set up to play football.

Laying out the plastic to sit on and unloading the bags for our ‘dry’ picnic. A big pile of chips, crispies, biscuits, sweet popcorn, apples, banana and toastbread with a big pot of honey, bottles of cola, sprite and fanta next to the water bottles.

With perfect teamwork we fix the honey sandwiches, hand them out together with a cup of softdrink. Every body enjoying tastefully the treat of change of food, no dal baath picnic: dry picnic.
A banana each and slowly one by one they wander of to play football, volleyball or a walk to the temples.

I Join Promrat, Sudeep and some other kids for the walk to the temples. Kay, not feeling so good today (I am afraid I have a cold coming up and I am soooo tired) stays behind together with Gangka.

The temple is dedicated to Shiva, Goddess of the Universe (so my favourite) and Sudeep again explaines me about it, the traditions, the culture. Asks me about my religion. I tell him a bit about our church, but also try to explain to him that I personally do believe, but not in a special type of religion. I believe there is something and I prefer to name it the Universe. I do not ‘worship’ one special God, whether in the form of the Sun, a Goddess, Jesus, but I explain to him that I do love the sun for the warmth and energy it gives me. I do love the moon and the stars. I tell him that when I am at home almost every night I look up to the sky and I talk to the stars. Looking at the stars I never feel lonely.
That star is you, I think of you and wish you good night. The three stars in line are me and my sisters. I look at them and they are with me. This way I can talk with any one I want to talk to at that moment and they are with me.
So close and yet so far. I also say to him that like the stars (you, my father, my mother, my sisters, my friends, the children) all of you are every evening with me, but also in daytime everyone is always with me, where ever I go, because they are in my heart. So close.

I think he understood very well and with a big smile he said: from now on I go outside every evening, pick a star for you and wish you good night. Both of us happy with this we quietly walk back to the others.
A quick Thank you and Sudeep joins the others in their games.

I sit down with Kay. We are getting closer, good friends every day more, getting to know each other better. She urges me to go to Kenya. You have to go, you will love it. My dad lives in a remote area, you sit on the floor, no electricity, no luxury, but true LIFE, nature, donkeys, don’t ask what is on your plate, just eat it, it will taste delicous and it is healthy.

I would love to go, but – where do I find the time to go. I need all my time to save money for my next trip to Nepal again, to earn the money for the daily expenses, the rent, the food, some clothes.
Who knows, one day, I will have the finances and the time to go to Kenya AND Nepal.

She tells me that she got ‘sponsored’ for her traveling this year, but then – after visiting her grandparents who live in Cyprus, she also has to go back home, to London, where her mum lives to find a job to earn money for her next travel.
When she mentions Cyprus I say to her that it is so close to Crete, I want her to come and visit me, to stay for a while with me. Of course, she can sleep in my house. She can do what she wants, we will meet at breakfast and in the evening for a nightcap, to share our daily experiences. I only will give her the time I need the bathroom to get ready for work, the rest of the time is her time and my time. Sometimes we go out for dinner and a drink together, we can meet on the beach, but for the rest she is free to go and do what she wants and I am free to go to work or to do what I want or have to do.

Both of us happy with this agreement she continues saying that she hopes to find a job somewhere at a diving centre or anything to do with nature.
Fantastic I say! Then your stay in Elounda is almost a set deal. Write an application letter, tell about yourself, your experience of diving (divemaster, instructor) and I will pass your application on to Maria and Lucky of the Blue Dolphin dive Centre in ………..Elounda!
You even will be living in a shared appartment with the rest of the staff in the same building as my appartment, I live on the first floor. We will be neighbours.
A big hug,happy with the outcome of this conversation.

Time for peeling the apples, putting biscuits, popcorn, chips on plates to have them passed around.

Around 17.00 all bellies full, we still have biscuits in closed packs, we will safe them for another day to eat them at teatime. Time to walk back to the home and for us time to walk back to H.E., with all the Thank you, hugs and kisses first from the tired, happy children.

The power is on, so time to hit the shower to wash the dirt and honey and stickey hands from the softdrinks of our body and gurtha. Meet again after a little rest – skipping the Dal Baath tonight, with our full bellies - to go to Busy Bee for a Saturday Evening out and to check out more details about the moterbike course for 1 day (learn how to ride in one day for Euro 45) and the guided tours and renting a bike (A royal Enfield!). for 10 Euro a day.
A friend of Kay is coming to join her after she has finished her volunteering period and she would love to show her friend Nepal on a moterbike.
I had that in mind before I came out, but did not find the time to do it. But I want to get more information about this offer, because I think it will be a great item to add it as an option for the group(s) I hope to bring out next year.

We had to cancel Busy Bee, Kay was feeling worse and to be honest also I had no problem what so ever to stay in my room after this beautiful sunny day in the park.

I ordered Chow Mi from the restaurant again, dinner by candlelight on my balcony – this time with a fork, a lot more easier than trying to use chop sticks.

I installed myself in bed, relaxing, reliving the day, enjoying a satisfied mind, soul and body when to my surprise the electricity came back on.

By 01.00 I finished emails and updates on the USB stick, so tomorrow I can send it. Now really being tired, happy with all the events today I was soon in dreamland for a healthy, solid sleep.

Suba Rathri.

6 March, Friday. Nasi goreng, Sanghita cooking.

08.00 alarm.
08.30 balcony, again working on the travel album.
12.00 to see Kay at H.E. to go together to Mahendra Pool to buy my Gurtha for tomorrow. Picnicday. She tells me that it is NOT a good day to go to Mahendra Pool today: a student has been run over and killed in an accident, which triggered student demonstrations and riods in Mahendra Pool.
A flash of ‘burning’ Athens is enough to skip our initial plan.
Kay asked Gomaya which shop to go to in Lake Side and she accompanied us to a fabricshop just down the road. In about 15 minutes the material was chosen with the help of Kay and Gomaya, a tailor called in from the other side of the road to take my measurements and job done: tomorrow 12.00 my gurtha will be ready to collect (for 870 rupees, tailormade!).

School finishes at 14.00 today, so after a bite in a German bakery close to H.E. we are on our way to collect the kids.
Another get-together with Thak in his office, where together we check the donation made by Gurash (Renske) in August 2008 for a sponsorship of big Mamatha with her details given of the amount and the exact date of her bankdetails.
Thak asked me if I want to send an email to Renske and her parents on his behalf with his sincere apologies for his lack of communication and his explanation together with his gratitude and confirmation of date and amount received.
Again he tells me that he is going to transfer the home’s bankaccount to the Standard Bank, so in the future this is not going to happen again, but will he be able to respond as soon as any kind of donation is made by banktransfer.

He was ‘struggling’ with all his receipts spread out on his desk, a by Sudeep created excel sheet on his computerscreen. He looked so desperate. I almost wanted to say: Okay, leave me in the office for one hour and I will have your administration done, but not to embarrase him and with the knowledge that it will not actually help him with being a one time off, I left him after giving him the money for the shoppings for tomorrows picnic, the rest of the money for Rasillas cooking course (receipt will be send), the busfee for Rasilla (receipt received) and receiving a small present from Thak.
When we were at the cooking institute I had a conversation with the director, in which we talked about green tea. (He noticed that the milkcoffee served was not really my taste).
And there is Thak with a box of Green Tea for me!
How attentive and sweet. As said before, I am really happy about the change in our relation, the opportunity to get to know one another better, the better understanding and insight in his way of running his big family.
A little bit of time left for hugs, kisses, short talks with the kids and on my way to H.E. Time for cooking!

First shopping with Asta and then a lot of fun in the kitchen with the girls. They take care of the chopping part, while I try to find Laos between the hundreds of little containers with spices. No, not there. Oh, well, then I will use something from the shelf that smells similar. A lot of spectators, looking, smelling, tasting. Finally it turned out to be a bit spicey, but okay.
Doreens last night, sitting outside in the garden by candlelight. It is a lovely warm evening.

Around 22.00 we went to the room. Doreen to have an early sleep, me to read a little bit and then also close my eyes.
Suba Rathri.

5 March, Thursday. Last day workshops. Cooking institute

08.00 alarm
09.00 last session with Sagar in which he tought me the technique of ‘rebirth’, leaving yesterday, last week, the past behind. Start a new day as a new life.
This session was his gift to me, along with a CD with meditation music.
10.00 breakfast together in the garden.
He was wearing the mala (necklace) I was supposed to receive along with my ‘initiation’, but whether or not he ‘sensed’ I was sceptic about it, he only gave me a businesscard of his Om Family House in Kathmandu and wrote a message in Nepali in my diary. If I ‘need’ this mala – he said – I could collect it there. We parted with a Thank you to each other, wishing each other joy every single minute and I left.

I sat down at the Perky Beans coffeeshop and sitting in the sun I read the daily Kathmandu Post. They ran an article that the Sun Kosi hydropower plant was suffering from technical problems (unusual noise and vibrations) so they were forced to shut this plant down for repairs for a period of 3 months. This will mean: even less hours of available electricity to be expected, not to exhaust and overheat the still working plants (like my laptop).
As good news next to this article I read an article about negotiations with India for alternative electricity supplies.

To the Internet where in 2 hours I gave you enough to read with an update up to the 26th of February. By the time I arrive home we will be synchronized with the actual date!

To H.E. where Kay was having her lunchbreak. Together we ‘fixed’ the boxes with the beads which we will take to the home on Sunday, probably a half day school due to strikes of the teachers. She said she will come tomorrow to Mahendra Pool with me to buy a Gurtha, which we will wear Saturday at the picnic and Thursday on Pizza night. The kids will be very excited about that!

On our way to school. I left a message for Maria in the office (she already left) with the invitation for the picnic on Saturday and maybe that we could have dinner together Friday evening to have a nice chat about our adventures.
The kids love her, they were thrilled when I told them that I invited Maria for the picnic and the Pizza-evening. For sure she will love the kids as much as I do.

And again on route together with Thak on my last mission: the cooking university.
And here counts the expression: saving the best piece for desert!
I was so impressed with this Institute. A big clean building in Mahendra Pool. We were welcomed by the director, a young man from Kathmandu, with perfect English explaining me the course.
A 3 months course for Rs 8000 (80 euro), with discount Rs 6800. (68 Euro).
This course includes: 2 months practical lessons: cooking, ingredient knowledge, hygiene, housekeeping training, serving the prepared food in their own restaurant, serving cocktails made in their own bar. The chef is an amazingly young ‘boy’.
The director gave me the website of the school (running soon), he will send the new brochure (at the printer at the moment) to my email address and the detailed program.
After the 2 months lessons Rasilla will be placed in one of the 5 star hotels of Pokhara for one month traineeship, working in the restaurant and bar, training with the housekeeping of the hotel and assisting in the kitchen.
I am sure she will learn so much in those 3 months and she will love it.
After finishing those 3 months with good marks she will get her certificate.

A tour in the building showing us the classroom for theory, the housekeeping room that looks exactly like a hotelroom, the clean well equipped kitchen, being introduced to the chef. The restaurant with coffee lounge and the bar, where they will learn how to prepare the cocktails and drinks. For the bartraining is a top barman from Kathmandu employed, who will teach the students everything about making cocktails (with joggling with the bottles!), the ingredients of the drinks, which glass to use, how to serve the drinks.

The director gave us a copy of the recipe handbook containing a full range of recipies (Nepali, Indian, Chinese, Internationl Cuisine, soups, desert, just to mention some of them). Taking a seat in the lounge area where coffee was served with banana pancakes with honey (my favorite), fantastic yummie brown Newari pancakes and Newari style potatoes.
Time to leave with a full belly – no dinner for me tonight, I almost explode of all the delicious samples served.

Thak and I very impressed and pleased with the choice of this excellent Institute back to the home.
The same ritual: Rita! Hugs, kisses, got to run to H.E. See you tomorrow! A last kiss from Sofia who followed me, a wink from Bimal who was trying to get my attention all the time and my promise promise that from tomorrow I will stay with them all afternoons for the rest of my stay.
A big YES and blow kisses from every where and Kay, Pramot and I were on our way.

Talking with Kay I said to her that Thak and I are getting along better each day, becoming friends, and that I will try to persuade him to keep Pramot as homework teacher. All the kids adore him, he loves the kids, has a good control over them in the study room, spends even his days off with them and I think he is capable of helping Thak with the accounting and other tasks Thak is not able to perform due to his lack of education.

A busy H.E. basecamp. A group of trekking clients had their end-of-trekking dinner and despite the buffet looked inviting, smelt fantastic, I could not eat any more.
A coffee with Doreen in the garden and at 21.00 to my room, writing down my full, eventful, beautiful, successful, filled with love day of today.

Writing down this sentence, the lights come on, but I only have one more thing to do.
To close my diary, to close the lights and to close my eyes for yet another good relaxed sleep with once again 46 arms around me.

Suba Rathri.

Thank you Universe for another beautiful perfect day!

(For sure I will include cooking lessons as an option in the sponsortrip!)

4 March, Wednesday. A nice talk with Toni (H.E.-owner) on the phone.

At 10.00 Vivasanna (breathing) technique with Sagar.
Breakfast at the Real Coffee place and to the Internet where I updated again 4 days. Sad to read that Rita2 has a tummy bug.

Back at 14.00 for Samadhi and again it feels good. It is my last day of the workshops, but then Sagar invited me for tomorrow morning for one more technique he wants to teach me, a yoga technique which he says is very powerful. “Rebirth” and it gives you a lot of energy and strength.
After learning this technique we will have breakfast together.

I will include the program of the OM Family in the trip for the people who are interested (either to do yoga, Reiki (you can become a Master), healing or one of the many other workshops.

15.00 on my balcony sitting in the sun while working on the travel photo album.

18.00 time to go to H.E., chatting with Sanu, Asta and Rohit. Dinner and after dinner coffee and back up to the room to write in my diary.

From 20.00 the power was on, so I worked on the diary until 23.00.
Still my laptop is ‘playing’ with me. I think my old lady wants to retire. Good thing I did not spend any money on a new battery, but will use that money now to buy a new laptop. I will have a look in Bahrain at the airport. I am interested in the ‘pocketsize laptop. I know it is just a ‘travel’ laptop, but with keeping the oldie as a back up and using the ‘little one’ for my diary work on theUSB stick – and only internet connection it should do the trick.
The little one fits in my handbag, at home with a battery that works a few hours I do not need to sit inside to do my work. I can use different UBS-sticks for different jobs: 1 for website, emails and 1 to work on my book.

Another decision made: not to rewrite my book, but to use my writing of this year. It will not end up in as many pages as first planned (which will make the publishing cheaper). I realised that nobody needs/wants yet another travel guide, there are plenty of them available: The Lonely Planet, The Insight Guide, just to mention two out of a long list.
I believe I will have more interested buyers if I write a different kind of book: Nepal, destination or destiny. An ‘insight’ of a 6 weeks travel to Nepal.
I will copy and paste the 3 weeks itinerary as an example how the first encounter for people who want to visit Nepal can look like. By reading my book, they will get an impression about the country, the people, the style of life, the places of interest and the options to do activities, adventure, including being a ‘volunteer’.

For more detailed information I will refer in the back of the book to other travel guides and give a list of websites.
Why to use my energy and more paper to provide information that is already available for every one?

A personal comprehensive ‘example’ how a 3 weeks tour to Nepal can look like.

Just on my way out this morning Gomaya called me on the phone. It was Toni, owner of Himalayan Encounters, who is at the moment in Nuwakot. It was great to hear him again. He is spending a lot of his time in Nuwakot lately, also confronted with a body that is telling him to stop running and working around the clock. He is in his late 50’s, time to slow down and enjoy life. In the course of our conversation he got interested to hear more about my experiences of this year visit and my plans for next year. He could not really promise to be in Kathmandu when I am there, but we finished our talk with his more enthusiastic comment then when we started, that for sure he is going to try to bend his ‘schedule’ as much as possible to be able to spend a few hours in Kathmandu to continue our conversation. I felt like we could talk for a few days to share each others opinion about living life, living in Nepal, about so many subjects. I really hope we will be able to meet. If for one reason or another it will not work out, I will use the old fashion way: to put my thoughts, reflections and ideas on paper and to sent it by mail to him, so he can read it in his own pace, sitting in his garden in nuwakot, to give it time to sink in and write me his thoughts and opinions, point of view.
Which again is a way of ‘meditation’ for the both of us.

Peri betonlah = see you tomorrow.
Love and 24 hugs

Rita Sanghita

3 March. Tuesday. Shall I give this to your or not?

08.00 You know by now: alarm – coffee H.E. – on my way to Sagar for the second day of the workshop.
We had a long talk sitting in the garden. He asked me about my life, my health, and my relationships.

Why this title today?
Because I thought about whether or not to put this on the ‘public’ website or not. It is very personal. But then again: a diary is,isn’t?
And up to here I have been sharing my thoughts, experiences, feelings with you. And don’t want to ‘close’ my thus far open, honest, true insight for you now.
After all, it IS part of my life, it IS also something which had and will have a big impact on me, while being here and being back home. It IS something that made me the Rita Sanghita who I am now and want to be.

Don’t feel sorry for me, sad or whatever, when you decide to continue to read it, because it IS not a sad story. It is just reality, the truth.
I don’t feel sorrow; have no regrets, pain, anger, doubt, jealousy, looking back.

Would I live my life different, if I could do it all over again? NO!
I treasure every single moment of my life I lived, sad or happy, wealthy or less-wealthy, healthy and less healthy. Because this life made me who I am now, what I am now: a happy Rita Sanghita with Kushi Aga.

Even if I had not made some of the mistakes I made (and some more than once), I would not be where, how I am now.
I learned from those mistakes, by not making them again, knowing I still will make mistakes, but not the same ones again!

So yes, I will also give this to you, I will continue writing the truth, continue being true to myself AND to you.
I leave it completely up to you whether you continue reading or just scroll over it. That’s the nice thing of a website or a letter, no one will/can check if you read it or not. It is entirely up to you, your choice.

My choice is to give this part also to you, realizing it can or may be used against me. But even then I feel strong enough to face ‘bad’ comments, miss-use, misunderstanding maybe expressed. Safe your breath, it will be a waist of time. I will just reply with: no comment, it was your choice. I am NOT going to try to explain.

Read it or not, learn from it or not, use it or not.
If you use it against me, it will be a boomerang; it will hit YOU one day, not me.

IT IS YOUR OWN CHOICE! Like I made mine.

Now I am able to describe my life in one word: FIGHTING.

Not in being a bad word, not in fighting like in WAR, not in fighting in ANGER.

Fighting as in trying to keep up with the other children. Being little – short legs – their fast walking was running for me. They jumped over the bushes as a short-cut; I got trapped by the wire hidden in the bushes, falling on my knees, which delayed me so I needed to run even faster, not to end up alone.

Fighting as in arguing with mum & dad. I did not mind to do things, I did mind to have to do it ‘their’ way at ‘their time’. I wanted to do it MY way. The result at the end of the day would be the same, the dishes done, the table set, and my homework done by the end of the day.
Sorry for being such a pain in the .. mum and dad, I was a rebel I know (but then again, the apple does not fall far from the tree?)

Already then I was fighting ‘The System’, the ‘everybody does it’. I already then did not wanted to be an everybody, I wanted to be ME, RITA.

Fighting in my marriage. Although it was a good marriage with only good memories left, I realized when it was over, I had lost myself. I had made myself a ‘servant’. I did it because I wanted to, but I did loose Rita in the meantime. I do remember the times that I thought “but what about ME” and said it out loud sometimes. Probably not loud enough and/or clear enough and slowly we became friends, brother and sister, not husband and wife anymore.

Fighting for ‘survival’. Fighting to keep the bar going, fighting with the landlord, fighting against the system. Getting exhausted, so I left.

Fighting for understanding, not being misunderstood. (trying to explain, also to people who did not Want to understand).

Fighting for others, if I saw they were not treated fair.

Fighting breast cancer. More my brain fighting against my body. I was not sick,
my body was just telling me it wanted/needed a rest and I (my brain)had to accept that.

Fighting to pay my bills.

Fighting my tiredness at the moment, my painful legs. But again, my body is just telling me to stop running, walk and look around you. Enjoy every minute, see the butterflies, smell the flowers. Okay do your ‘job’, but take a break, relax on time.

My life became more easy lately (except the financial part), but still 24 hours in a day seemed not enough for me.

Now my body is telling me again: STOP. Stop running, take a breath, and take/make YOU TIME!
And I do and I will keep doing that from now on.
This workshop helped me to really see it and to accept it and taught me the technique to relax my mind, my body.

I am NOT coming home dressed like a Buddha (in orange, but I AM coming home as Rita Sanghita, reborn, renewed again and I will (this time) continue this way of life.
It will mean that I will say NO sometimes, but it does not mean I will let any of my friends down.

14.00 Hara massage. This is a massage of the belly-stomach region. And yes, this was necessary. ‘Cleaning’ from inside (burping a lot.)

16.00 at C.W.A. The kids not back from school yet, so peaceful and quality time with Gangka. Chatting, joking, and giggling, until the ‘storm’ came in.
23 Full of life kids and end of peace, calmness, but also a house filled with laughter and love.

With a taxi with Kamal and Arjun to the shop with painting materials. It is gone! Closed! Passing the teachers house to ask where the shop moved to. In the taxi again, ending up in a very small shop, where the boys tried to find everything needed. We had to leave with making an order, half of the materials they need where not available. Next time when I am in Kathmandu (my next trip I mean)Kamal will send me a list of needs, so I can bring it from Kathmandu, where I can easily get everything and probably cheaper also.

Sitting in the taxi the boys surprise me again:
“Rita,maybe after 2 or 3 years we can open our own gallery in Lakeside. WITH a shop for painting materials in the same place. With selling the materials we can pay the rent.”

Don’t tell me that ‘our’ children are not creative, not only in creating art, but also in creative thinking. Kamal had a 10-score for mathematics (his favourite major), so guess who is going to do the books.
Arjun is every year voted as the most disciplined student of the school, so guess who is going to ‘organize’ the gallery. And all of these 5 boys are artists-to be, they can take care of the design of the gallery. Would be nice if we can achieve this.

Again a meeting with Thak in his office. We are getting more and more relaxed in our conversations, both of us more open and free in expressing our thoughts. Very shy he said that he never had the opportunity to go to school, that his English is very poor. But I can also confirm that he really loves every single child of his ‘family’ and that he is trying to do the best for them.

He said that his job is to check the building of the house, to keep an eye on the people making the road, without chopping of a piece of his land AND fundraising in the village.

I spotted a new badminton set in a corner and asked about it. He said that he will take them out, only after the sets they are using now are completely destroyed. Fair enough, but I also mentioned that Kay was planning to buy some. He promised to tell her that he had some in the office plus a baseball set and a leather football and that he will tell the next volunteer that if they need something they first can ask him if it is already in the house or not. Another big step made!

When I came out of the office some kids came to me for their goodnight hugs and to overload me with kisses, whispering I love you, we love you. I LOVE YOU TOO.

Sudeep walked me home, carrying the big paper sheets, which could not be cut in the painting shop (no electricity). We have to find a place in Pokhara to get them cut, so they will fit in the trunks of the boys.

Time to have a nice conversation with Sudeep in which I told him that Thak would be more than happy if Sudeep will take care of answering the emails (after his exams) and to have a look at the website of the house. A happy face, twinkling eyes.
His promise, that after finishing his exams, he also will have a look at my homepage of my website and that he is going to write the HTML for it.
"You do so much for us; I want to help you back as much as I can”.

We can learn so much from all the C.W.A.-children, from the little 3 year old Jeevan up to 17 year old Sudeep, already a man with taking a lot of responsibilities on his young shoulders. Compassion, unconditional love for each other, sharing everything, happiness, sadness, comforting each other, giving away some of their biscuits or grapes, touching a warm forehead, checking a limping leg, and so on.

The Universe is watching over me: after working one hour on my laptop at my diary, it thought I had to take a break: a spontaneous complete shutdown of my laptop. Overheated! Dead! Okay, Universe, I got your message, I will take a break.

I used the cool down period for my laptop to do the accounting. Sanu (H.E.) arranged real book keeping paper for me (Thank you my friend) so I was able to write out a good readable, specification for the Nepal fund. Ending up with the conclusion that my ‘job’ is nearly done.
Cooking lessons for Rasilla, her bus fare, picnic, pizza, money for the ordered painting materials and that was it for this time.

After half an hour I could restart my laptop again. Thank God, it is still working.
Worked one more hour and just before midnight I listened to the CD Sagar had given to me as homework for tomorrow. It was just finished when the power shut down again, all that was left to do – after another day filled with achievements, jobs done AND a lot of love was to close my eyes and have a full night sleep with 46 arms around me.

Suba Ratri
Rita Sanghita with Kushi Aga.

2 March, Monday. Workshop

(Electricity from 16.00 till midnight!
What a luxury: today we will have the power on from 16.00 till midnight. A full 8 hours!
I will take a break from 18.00 till 20.00 for my daily dinner and coffee at H.E., but for the rest of the time I want to type my diary (and download more pictures from my camera?) to ‘throw’ them on the Internet tomorrow.
But let’s see , the day is still young, so who knows what the Big Universe has planned for me!

8.30 alarm
9.00 just a coffee at H.E.
10.00 ‘treatment’.

One hour meditation-dancing-‘diagnosing’.
Sagar ‘diagnosed’ problems with breathing. Correct, I feel like ‘rattling’ and as Rita2 knows I snore like a bear. Also do I have problems with my legs. They just don’t want to carry me. NO balance at all. Can’t stand on one leg, I fall over. I want to dance, jump around, they just won’t let me, they hurt (muscle pain, weak).
Hopefully at 14.00 he can do something about it in the bodywork session.

Last night I didn’t go to sleep at 22.00. I found another candle and I used that light working on the Sponsor album. Project Chitwan is finished. I wanted to start at Project Shining Star Boarding School, but those pictures are still on my camera. Finally the last candle was finished around 23.30, Chitwan-chapter finished. Time to have a relaxing sleep.

12.00 breakfast at Perky Beans, the real coffee shop. After breakfast I have about one hour to use the Internet, then at 14.00 the bodywork session.

And again a surprise: Kim (Canada) transferred another 250 US to the Paypal Nepalfunds! In her email she said that after reading more and more of my diary, she wanted to do this. She also mentioned that it was NOT a mistake made by the bank, she actually made 2 donations of 250 US each! Can’t thank you enough Kimmy!

I am not able to transfer any money from the Paypal account (so far 1000 US) to the Nepal bank account while I am here in Nepal. The 390 Euro donated by Voula – America I took out from my private bank account. The 500 US from Kim will stay on the Paypal until I am back home. First of all because I can’t afford it to take more Nepalfunds from my private account without getting into trouble, second because it is good to know that we have a ‘back-up’ for the salary for the creative teacher in Chitwan. (Although I will continue anyway ‘harassing’ you to continue with donations, even if it is just 5 Euro a month per person!)

I am very aware of the impact of the worldwide recession and it’s huge impact on – in every bodies life, but we can’t stop our projects, not after seeing already the fantastic progress we’ve made during the last 3 weeks of my stay here.
We are just a drop in the ocean, but for sure we caused a big current with our drops. We have to keep this current going!

14.00 body work session. I will leave it completely up to you whether you ‘believe’ or not in Reiki, Chakra healing, meditation and more of ‘that stuff’.
All that matters to me is that it sure works for me.
This session was between a masage/Reiki/healing. All I can say (want to say) is that when I was walking home, I walked like a drunk. Light-headed, light-feeted!

Back to my room, where I layed down for another half hour, to get my feet back on the ground and back to work on the Dictionary again for about 1 ½ hour.

18.30 dinnertime at H.E. Everybody (staff, volunteers) sincerely asking how I felt.
Much better thank you. The usual after diner coffee and back up to my room, at 19.30. Expecting that the power was on till midnight, but at 20.00 lights out!
Okay, I’ve got the message: enough worked on the computer for today.

Again by candle light sorting out the ‘travel’ pictures, checking what was on my TO DO list, cleaning up my room. Used the second candle to start to fix the Travel album and again around midnight candle finished: Time for sleep.

Suba Rathri.

1 March, Sunday. Just another 'boring' day in the live of Sanghita.

Here we go:
08.00 alarm
08.30 breakfast
09.00 C.W.A
09.30 Line! All children in line and marching them to school.
10.00 Meeting with the Principal, mr. Naryanan Pande.

In the library, where I see the difference: they moved some cupboards, 'relocated' the science materials, refiled the books under different subjects.
I was expecting that I had to stay for a few hours, but the Principal understood that I already have a full program and that I could not do so much in just 1 or 2 hours.
Once more he explained that the school needs to do a lot of work to improve, but they do not need only money for that, but most of all volunteers who can help to organize and put the gifts in place.
I was hoping that Maria would be there, but I have not seen here since our first meeting.(and I did not write her mobile number down, duuuuuuuuuuh).
After our tea and receiving a Nepali calender from the school and a copy of the school magazine I was free to go.

Yippee some extra free time in my cramped agenda (still so many things to do in such few days left).

At 11.00 I was back at H.E. where I found Kay in the garden. We sat together in the sun, and while chatting she did her and my nails. She puts a kind of mud on the nails, we let it dry in the sun, take it off, next layer of mud. Slowly the nails become orange and after a few more layers reddish. A perfect natural nail polish (which also covers up our maybe dirty nails from the potato cleaning.)

12.00 together to the Internet, where we both worked 2 hours to update our website/blog. I am catching up real fast with the days now, even managed to download some pictures, the download time using for some private emails to write.

14.00 lunch and a well deserved coffee on a terrace of the local bakery in the sun and oho time to run again to be in time at the school gate for the little ones, who finishes at 15.00.

Looking in the guestbook of the school I saw to my pleasant surprise that Maria had been there! To the office and yes indeed she found the school and they talked for one hour. As I thought she is a very clever, educated woman and starting from tomorrow she will go the school regularly to help with the English lessons, with the library, at the office and if there is time for a more regular magazine.
Another good deed done: Providing the Shining Star Boarding School with a very useful, nice volunteer who lives in Pokhara (and another job taken from my shoulders.)

Tuesday I am going to the school again,where I can meet Maria and invite her for the children picnic planned on Saturday and the Pizza evening next Thursday. As you can imagine I feel very happy and lucky to have met Maria, she can keep us more frequently updated about the progress made in this school.

16.00 at the house. Tea with popcorn and time to go with Sudeep, Manju and Alina in a taxi, followed by Thak on the motorbike, on our way to Mahendra Pool.

We first made a detour to visit the new school Thak told me about. And again I have to say he is right. A clean, big courtyard, with a basketball field and a football field. Clean toilets for the students and a big school building that looks like a proper school. This school is a sister school of an English University and much more professional. (pictures)
On the first floor they have a proper laboratory, a real library and a big classroom for computer lessons with 22 computers!
The school fee per student is of course higher, but we can compensate this with from next year on no more basic computer courses needed for the C.W.A. children next in line.

The same counts for the school library. They will have free access to any kind of book needed. Still I am pleased with our purchase of the drawing books and materials we donated this year to the Shining Star. As the pictures will show (if I get them on one day :)), that even the smallest one of C.W.A. is using them as soon as homework is done.

Although Thak is going to replace his/our children maybe to the new school, I still would like to keep providing the Shining Star Boarding School with the so badly needed materials. The principal shows in every conversation that he knows what is needed to upgrade his school and having met the several teachers of this school I know they want to improve the teaching methods, the sources for their beloved children. (Every child that comes in in the morning and leaves in the afternoon is addressed by her/his name, a cuddle here, a stroke over the head there; they really care about 'their' children). With the inside knowledge of Maria I\we will exactly know what is needed in the future.

Back to my program of the day: on our way to the computer institute.We arrived at BITT (I will get a copy of their program from Thak, together with a copy of the receipt.)

We signed the admission for Manju and Alena for the 3 months course Basic level Information. This course includes basic technical information, working with Word, Excell and Powerpoint. They will start the course the 28th of March (after finishing their school exams). I paid the deposit for one student (Rs 2.100) and will give the other RS 2.100 to Thak, who will pay this when the girls actually start. He will send us a copy of the second payment.

And then it was again 18.00 already. Back to Lakeside, where they first dropped me of at H.E., so I was still on time for dinner, served at 18.30.
A coffee in the garden before dinner, catching up with Pashpati about the achievements of today and with making an appointment for my cooking at H.E.
Friday evening I will cook for the staff and volunteers: Indonesian Dal Bath (fried rice = Nasi Goreng) and a nice change of taste for everybody.(although I still have no problem with eating the Dal Bath every evening so far.)
An after dinner coffee with Doreen in the garden, listening to her adventures with the little ones of today and wishing her good luck with her 3 days trekking tomorrow. Time to go tired but satisfied up to my room, writing about my 'boring' day by candle-light.

I really need to program my to do list, I have only 12 days left in Pokhara, so I need to schedule around my workshop, the electricity hours, some socializing/ resting time and the things still to plan\organize.

Now it is again 22.00, my candle is almost finished, the signal to close the day and my eyes.

Suba Rathri from a happy, grateful Sanghita.

28 February, a ME day!

08.30 alarm.
A coffee on the balcony.
09.45 Reiki.
As soon as the girl layed her hand on my head I had the most beautiful, amazing dream/vision. Tears rolling over my cheeks, a lighter feeling in my chest and throat, a lighter -not so tight stomach.
A small break - sitting in the sun on the roof with still tears running and running. A grateful feeling while looking to the mighty Machapuchre (Fish Tail mountaintop), the beauty of the Fewa lake surrounded by the Annapurna Mountainrange.

11.30 Energy body work and healing session.

This session offers an open space for healing to happen, naturally simple and yet miraculous. Deep energy work help clear and harmonize the energy fields as well as the physical body. In a space of relaxation and let-go old wounds dissolve and new opportunities open. The session giver functions as a medium for the transmission of healing energy.

Weather you believe in Reiki/healing or not: it was indeed miraculous.
I felt a kind of prickling through my whole body as well as a sense of complete peace, calmness.
A vision and confirmation of the dream/vision I had with the Reiki. I don't want to write down on the site my vision. Sorry, that is something I will keep for myself, maybe later I will share it with some people.
By the time Sagar, the reiki-master, reached my feet my body felt lighter, like a puppet on a string I felt my legs 'pulled up on a wire', dangling lightly around like a Pinocchio. A gong sound was the signal that the session was ended. To me it felt like only a few minutes had passed.
Sagar took me outside and while sitting in the sun (I was feeling a little bit cold) we talked a bit. He asked me to come to his office after one hour, so we could talk a bit more and he had some suggestions for a 3-days workshop, not from a 'program', but specially 'designed' compiled for me.
I went for lunch, not having the urge, the desire to write about it at this moment.
Just having a toast, a coffee and watch the world go by.

At 12.30 I was back in the office and indeed I have booked a workshop for 3 days. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday with a morning session at 10.00 when Sagar will perform more bodywork for 1 hour (he calls it Sal-Chit-Ananda. Whatever it is called, I just feel that it is the right time for me to do this workshop).
Then at 14.00 another one hour session in which he will explain and each me the technique, so I can use it whenever 'needed'.
The same for Tuesday and Wednesday. The 14.00 session on Wednesday will be an 'initiation-ceremony with music, dance and receiving a Mala, a kind of necklace to be a kind of amulet, helping-aid to 're-call' the energy.

After this meeting I went for a quick check of my emails and to my very pleasant surprise I saw that Kim, my friend living in Canada had made a donation of 250 US on my Pay pal account!!
Back to my room, to find out that the electricity was already on (instead of the scheduled 16.00). I used this opportunity to finally fill in the gap in my diary from the 12th of February until the 18th of February. I saved it on the USB so tomorrow I can just copy and paste all those days on the website.
As you will understand it will not go into detail, because I had to dig it up deep from my memory with so many happenings afterwards.
But, it will give you the big picture and enough to read at once.

The rest of my written diary is now update on the day itself and also a few days of them already on the USB stick.
So very soon you will read synchronized with the true date about my life in beautiful Nepal! (with a lot of details :).

Around 15.30 I was a bit tired of my impressions from today, so I layed down for a bit.

18.00 to H.E. for the daily chat and diner, after-diner coffee and back in my room at 19.30.
I skipped my plan of going back to the Internet to put the update on the website. After all today it was a ME day and tomorrow is another day, but I worked 1 hour on the dictionary until the power went of.

Program for tomorrow:
breakfast at H.E., being at the home at 9 to walk the kids to school and stay in the school to help the teachers with who knows what.
Lunch break ant then together with Kay putting the beads in the special boxes we bouth to take them with us to the home in the afternoon. Tomorrow girly-time in the house.

Now it is 21.30, enough written for today.
I am going to cuddle myself up in my bed, 'reviewing' my vision\dream from this morning in my mind, which most probably will give me a peaceful sleep.

Suba Rathri.
Take care, because I care with a love of love from Sanghita in a Beautiful Nepal!

27 February, Friday. Pokhara. It's a small world.

08.00 alarm, after a good 12-hours sleep!
08.30 breakfast.
09.00 quick quick to C.W.A. today the children were ready, so we were on time in school.
Back to Lake-Side.

While I was walking along Lakeside looking for a Reiki-centre a woman came up to me.
'Hello, can I ask you something? Already a few days I see you walking here. Do you live here or are you on holiday?"
"I am here on holiday as an ex-volunteer."

We introduced ourselves and were pleasantly surprised. It is a small world.
Her name is Maria and......... she is Greek! Living in Cyprus. Last year she came on holiday (trekking)to Nepal and fell in love with a Nepali(it was love at first sight'). Since then she came back 4 times and since 2 weeks she is now in Pokhara to stay, living together with her boyfriend and maybe get married soon.)

In the meantime that I am writing this Binod and Michael are sitting with me in the study room, drawing. They do surprise me: although I am not really happy how they 'learn ' English (by just copying) it is amazing to see how every child is great in copying/drawing from the drawing books WE bought. If you were not there to see actually making the drawings you would think they were doing it by putting the paper on top of the drawing following the lines). But no, they have such an eye for detail that they can actually draw it!).

Back to Maria. I told her my story and she said that she visited two orphanages in Pokhara offering her help. She had to apply on line for a placement!!!
Thinking of the headmaster of Shining Star I invited her to join me Sunday morning so I can introduce her there. I am sure the school will be very happy with her help (and it will take one 'job' of my shoulders.)
It was meant to be that we met! She is a lovely woman, wants to do something while her boyfriend is working and I know 2 places where they will welcome her with open arms.

My intuition says we will become good friends in the 2 weeks left and will stay in touch by email!
Maria on her way for her appointment, me continuing the search for a healing centre. Looking up I see we stopped in front of Om Family, home for mediation-yoga-bodywork, Reiki, Daily workshops.
I went inside and I booked a treatment for tomorrow: first 45 minutes Reiki, followed by energy work and healing. That should do the trick to 'fix' my body and energy.

Lunch, while writing diary and time to run again. Today school finishes at 13.30.

When I was still in Elounda thinking about the 3 weeks on my own in Nepal, I sometimes was a bit nervous I might feel 'lost' or 'lonely'. Silly me, I should have known better. Again (as you know me, 24 hours in a day are not enough. Being with the children, socialising- catching up with my friends at H.E., conversations with Roh of the office, meeting new people, making new friends (like Maria) AND stay in touch with you, the people at home.
So many old and new impressions, so much love, too much sometimes for my overflowing heart, so much information for my overflowing brain.
3 Weeks Pokhara on my own is again not enough for me. Hopefully I will be able (financially and time wise) next winter to go maybe 3 months in the winter season.
For example leaving Athens with 1 group for 3 weeks. Do the 'tour' with them - 1 week break. Group 2, again for 3 weeks - 1 week break. And then group 3 (beginning of February) for another 3 weeks and then the last 3 weeks again for myself and the children.

Arriving at school again the Principal came up to me. We sat down in the library, he telling all the plans he has and again saying they need help with this (NOT only financially), but also physical help. I told him about my meeting with Maria this morning and he was very excited about it. Maybe she can do the library? Maybe she can help in the office? Maybe she can do the nursery class? Maybe she can teach 'real proper' English?
I said that most probably she will join me on Sunday morning to the school, so he can meet her and they can speak together.
Everything seems to fall in the right places again: it is nice to know that I was able to 'connect' Maria with such nice people at the Shining Star, who will be very grateful for any kind of help she wants to be and can be for them.

A relatively 'quiet' afternoon in the house: the older children are at dance-classes, I am in the study room with Sjeevah, Bipana, Michael and Binod, busy with their drawings. It gives me 'extra' time to write.
So many things happening in one day!

I also want to revise my opinion about Thak. This morning he took me to his office again showing the papers of the bank account. It only shows that a certain amount in Rupees was added, but NO NAME or any kind of information where the money was coming from. No wonder that some sponsors (like Renske) never got a message that the money was received and/or a Thank You letter. He said that he was planning to change bank, where they are specifying the money (Euro, dollar, etc) and from which country the money is coming with name of sponsor with specification for which child it is mend to be.

Next thing was that he said that he does not know how to keep the website up-to-date. At the moment he has to wait until Peter from Germany comes to visit, he is updating the website, but is visiting Pokhara only once a year.
I suggested to Thak that after finishing the exams Sudeep will be more then happy to update the website. After all, that is what he has learned with our computer course! I also told Thak that I gave my old digital camera with card reader to the older boys. They can make pictures, Sudeep knows how to download them on the computer, he can update the pictures on the website and he can attach pictures to emails.
Soon we can expect more frequently mail with pictures from the children!

We programmed together for next Saturday a picnic (no boat trip Thak says, too expensive and maybe we can use that money for other things more necessary), and a pizza evening (tradition) on Thursday 12th of March. (NOT my last evening having in mind that last year a few kids were too upset about our leaving (Gurash and me) that they did not want/could eat). He suggested to go to Lake View Restaurant, which has a big garden with lake view and he knows the owner better than the owner of Mamma Mia, so maybe he can get a discount. Fine with me, Mamma Mia is a bit dark inside, while Lake View is a bright, happy place with lots of flowers and a beautiful view.

I am afraid that I will have to face a few more ceremonies to come. Everyone is writing on their calendar my last day - including the headmaster. Most probably next week I will be called in again. Please let me just do my 'work' and let me be happy on the background.

Around 17.30 Thak called to the house. His meeting with the people who are building the road to the new house was finished and he had sent a taxi to our house to bring us to the painting teacher.
In the same old Suzuki maturi 800, this time with 5 tall boys, the driver and me. Excited faces.

Arriving at the atelier of the teacher he took us upstairs to show his work and then Thak arrived (on his motorbike). All going downstairs where Thak was negotiating the price: 5 boys lessons for 3 months. He made a fantastic deal. Rs 25.000 (250 Euro) for all. Last year we paid Rs 20.000 for the two students! Thak told me that his argument was that indeed there were more students now (5), but the time frame for the teacher was the same. Two times a week 1-1 1/2 hour lesson. With mentioning the name of another teacher 'our' teacher came quickly around. Great: 5 boys having painting lessons!
I have to leave money with Thak this time, because the boys first have to finish their exams (in about 2 months). He said he didn't want to give the money already to the teacher. "He might run off in those two months, move house, disappear."
Fair enough and after our last meetings as I told you I trust and understand him more. He said he was going to send me the receipt as soon as the boys will start the lessons.

Quick back in the cramped taxi, I am late for diner time at H.E. (18.30). The taxi brought me first to the base camp, leaving with 5 boys with glowing faces and sparkling eyes.

Bimal was pinching my hand on our way back all the time, he could not believe how lucky he was that he really already this year was going to the lessons.

In the office of the teacher the boys were joking with me. One by one they came to me, shaking my hand saying "Hello, my name is Arjun, I am a C.W. Artist!". Hello, my name is Kamal, I am a C.W. Artist. And so on.
When I made the picture of them with the teacher they said in choir: "We are the C.W. Artists!"

Another thing to mention:
While I was sitting downstairs in the house Mongol (the singer) came to sit opposite me. On his knees, to be at the same level. He was holding my hands, studying my face. "Are you alright, Didi?" 'Yes, I am fine'. Putting his hands on my face, looking me straight in the eyes. Again "Are you okay?". 'Yes, sweety, I am fine'.
Mongol: "You have to take care of yourself, you have to take a rest. Of course we want you to be with us every day, but we have only 1 Sanghita and we don't want you to get sick again, we want you to be with us for many, many, many more years, so please take a rest."
Not able to speak with this big lump in my throat I nodded and mumbled I will.
"Promised?" 'Promised, promised'.
And that from a 17 year old boy to one of the so many visitors, volunteers they see in a year coming and going. A squeeze of my hands, a big big hug and of he was to dance-class, giving me the time to dry my eyes and give my overflowing heart, my blocked throat a big breath before I was going to sit with Gongka, who was cutting the vegetables for the evening Dal Bath.

Like in 2005 we sat together, chatting away, peeling potatoes for 23 hungry mouths. I could feel her examining eyes on my face. Also to her I said I was going to take a rest as soon as Kay - the volunteer - was back (tomorrow) and she seemed to be satisfied. Did ask although if I stayed for Dal Bath :). I said that next week I would love to stay one evening with them until bedtime for the children. A big smile, holding, stroking my hands and she seemed to be satisfied.

At H.E. a fun dinner. Dal Bath with Doreen, telling about her day with the little ones and which games they played. Roh joined us and when the table was cleared he grapped a newspaper making origami figures. He made a fantastic frog, if you put your finger top on its bottom it actually jumped. We started fantasizing frog races. Meanwhile Doreen had made a paper handbag. We tried to make the frog jump into the bag. Roh: a real jet, no a simple aeroplane, but a real airplane. Frog Rescue. A whistle, a butterfly, a toppi (sunhat) for the frog. A Japanese fan (for the frog), everything in mini size and ending up in the handbag.

20.00 to Internet, first to make a proper phone call with Mum and then answering some emails and updating the website.
it was 22.30 before I realized. Time to go home and have another good night sleep.

26 February, Thursday.

01:00 I went to sleep and this night I did sleep a bit better than yesterday.
08.00 awake
08.30 breakfast at H.E.
09.00 On my way to the house. Today somehow the children just won't move. We are late for school! Another sunshiny hot day.
Back in my room, where I started to make the Sponsor book. My comments, the bills, the pictures concerning the projects.
Next to that picture album I will make an album with the touristic pictures, our travelling and the children. I finished the sponsor book up to Chitwan.
Electricity is on until 14.00, so from 12.00 till 14.00 work on the computer.
Around 13.00 I gave up. I am exhausted, so I layed down on my bed for one hour.
Now sitting in the sun at the Japanese restaurant in front of Mountain Villa for a quick pancake-lunch before I have to be at school at 15.30 again. No volunteer today, no teacher today, so I have to go. Otherwise I think I would have layed myself down on a blanket on the balcony for a few hours. Ke Gerne? = what to do?
Tonight after dinner I have to go down Lakeside to call to Holland, mum's birthday, but for sure I will be in bed very early for a full night sleep (or at least a good rest).

15.30 waiting outside the school. Jeevan, Bipana and Binod were the first ones to appear. And they were determined to 'kill me softly'. They sang a Nepali song for me and when it was finished they all jumped on me, kissing me over and over again, saying we love you - we love you - we love you. A huge lump in my throat trying to keep my eyes dry.
Then the headmaster came outside looking for me. Next week it is Parents Day again and he wanted to invite me personally! Thank you.

He asked me if I could stay in the school sometime to help him and the teachers to prepare for Parents day. My tired - emotional brain - picked something up about fixing the library. I know he said also something about 'fixing' another room, but I do not know exactly what (and was too tired to ask again, probably would not have understood anyway at that moment).
I said that I am very busy, but that I will come to the school in the morning, dropping the children of at 9.30 and then stay to help. Then I will find out what else he has in mind.

Coming back at the home Thak told me that I was on my own today: no volunteer, no teacher. HELP!!! I am TOO tired!!!! My silent prayers must have been heard: at 16.00 the teacher came and at 16.30 the Dutch couple Clara and Greg came in.

Clara sat down with me in the study room and she will not easily forget me: when the tea was brought up (Thank Buddha, finally they remember I do not like sugar tea with buffalo-milk, they bring me black tea) I spilled it all over her!
In our conversation I learned a lot more. They have been to the new school with Thak and she said it is a very good school. Very disciplined, clean, big classrooms and the principal told them that his school is emphasizing on computer lessons ("it's the future"), sports and giving the students as many opportunities as possible after school time to attend those classes, without paying extra for it. Sounds good. One of the next days (in my busy schedule) I will go with Thak to visit the school, so I can see for myself and to make pictures to show you as well.

I bought an extra copy of the drawing book (The simplified Art) to give to Bimal. I know he has NOTHING that is really HIS. I wrote inside: For Bimal - an 'Artist', with love from Sanghita and Elounda.The look on his face when he read the message: I have never seen such a big smile, such happy (water) glittering eyes! It is so easy to make someone happy, to make someone feel special (for 4 Euro only).

Bishal came up to me: where is my paper, where is pencil? I did buy some, so now he also has his own sketchbook and pencils. I told him that next year, when he is a little bit holder, he can go for painting lessons also. Another happy boy.

I think by now all the children got something. The boys drawing materials, tomorrow the girls will get the beads to make bracelets and the little ones can start to make hats and aeroplanes from the paper Rita gave.

I gave all the younger children also a pencil and 5 sheets of drawing paper. Thank YOU! I love you!

18.00 back at H.E., relax in the garden till Dahl Bath is served at 18.30. Yummie.
An after dinner coffee, a quick phone call home to say Happy Birthday and then I dragged myself up the stairs to my room.
20.00 half dressed I fell asleep, that exhausted I was.
I woke up around 22.0, put my pyjama on and fell asleep again to wake up at 08.00 next morning.

Suba Rhatri.

25 February, Pokhara. Discovered: Bimal is an ARTIST

Wednesday, 25 February 2009. Pokhara

08.00 My ‘Kitty alarm went off.
Because of my late falling asleep last night, I had to drag myself out of bed.
09.00 at H.E. for just a coffee, no time for breakfast. But then Pashipathi told me there is no school today! Well, that gives a positive swing to the day. So: breakfast: toast with jam and another coffee in company from Doreen, who also had an unexpected day off.
10.00 back to my room, to work 2 hours at the dictionary again.
As soon as the electricity was off on my way to the children.

Although I was later then promised, they were very happy to see me. The 3 little ones hanging around my neck, the other ones coming down one by one: Namaste Sanghita, how are you? I am going to miss this good morning when I am home again!!!
While the girls were still upstairs, cleaning up their rooms and/or washing their clothes, I had the time to have a chat with the older boys.
Finally I also had the change to take Bimal (as you know, my very special boy) a bit apart and to ask him if he was really doing okay, if he was happy AND if there was something special he wanted to do.
He whispered in my ear that he also would love to learn painting/drawing, that he wants to become an artist.
That was for me the sign to take him with me, back on our way to my room to go and collect the new drawing books we bought in Kathmandu!
I tried to explain to him that he also can get sponsored for painting lessons, but that first he has to learn better English. Despite his age (sorry, I still don’t know exactly his age, I think around 14) his English is very poor compared with the other children. This is due to the fact that only since end of 2007 he came to the home, before that he was living in a remote village, where they even never see a tourist!
Giving up the conversation, with in my mind to have another conversation with him when Kay is back and she can function as translatior, we walked back. You should have seen Bimal’s face when I handed over the books AND the sketch book in which I quickly wrote HIS name. He had something, ONLY for HIM!! He was holding it like a treasure.

Arriving back at the house we went into the boy’s room, where he quietly could have a look into the books and where Kamal was making his homework. With the help of Kamal I explained again that the books are to be used by the older girls and boys and I asked Kamal if he could help Bimal with the English explanation about dimensions in the books. Kamal was very willing to do so and also he was ‘eating’ the book. His face, when he saw the pictures of a still life, worth a fortune and for me the moment to mention again that next time on my visit I wanted to see a different painting from him and Arjun than that same old Fish tail mountain!!!

Kamal took the time to show me his portfolio. With a big smile he said that the paintings, drawings he was showing were made about 2 and 3 years ago. And I could see the difference; he really has become much better with his paintings and techniques.
He also showed me a Thangka painting. He worked 3 months on it and I think he did an excellent job.
The Thangka paintings have a special technique, performed by monks. You are using a very small brush (2, 3 or 4 hairs only!) to paint the miniscule details! (see picture).

As shy as Bimal is (as I learned to know him), when the other boys came into the room, they just took the books up and started to look into them. I took one book of them (they are very similar) and I handed it back to Bimal.
Straight away he started to sketch a head with a face in HIS own sketchbook.
I saw that the shape and the dimension were not right and that Bimal was trying to copy them from the book too small. Again I asked Kamal’s help: if he could draw a bigger head (egg shaped), so Bimal could practice the dimensions and to put eyes, nose, mouth and ears in it. Straight away this treasure of Kamal sketched 5 head shapes on the first paper and handed it back to Bimal to practise.

Sujan entered the room (of who also with my ‘investigations’ I had found out that he wanted to learn how to drawn) and gone was the other book. To his room, where straight away he also started to practise. (pictures of Bimal and the other boys).

Time for me to leave the boys in their room and to have a look where the rest of the kids were.

Entering the study room a nice surprise: Michael, Big Mamatha, Alina and Sofia were sitting there, practising how to draw flowers and colour them, from The How to Draw Flowers book WE gave them!
It is their day off, and they are voluntarily in the study room!!! (pictures).

Little Binod with always too much energy (I am sssssssspiderman!!) came in and to give the girls a break I handed over my camera, so our house photographer could make pictures of us. (see pictures). At his age I think he really has an eye for making pictures. It took him ages to make the picture with the 4 of us, that one had to move a bit to the right, the other one more to the middle and so on. Finally mr. Binod was satisfied and he made the picture.

Shiva, around 20 years old now and an ex-family member, now living on his own in Pokhara, came to visit. He asked me last year already for a digital camera, so together with Sudeep I showed him my old camera, explaining about the battery, the battery charger, the card reader (thanks Mike, that is now your donation) AND that Shiva is welcome to come and borrow the camera, but he always has to bring it back to the house again, so everybody can use it.
Happy Shiva let the house with the bag with camera; he was on his way to shoot pictures to download on his computer, so he can use those pictures later for his paintings. And again, we managed to see something different next year than the good old Fish Tail Mountain!

Time to go and see Mongol, our singer and guitarist! I gave him my recorder with a minicasette with the explanation that I have to take this tape recorder back with me, but that I would love it if he could record some of his singing on this tape, so WE can hear him singing when I come home.
I think just out of politeness he stayed 10 more minutes sitting with me, but after he was gone and I did not see him anymore by the time I left!
So, be prepared, we can hear OUR sponsored singer soon!!

What was next on this eventful day?
Ah yes, Thak came up to me and we had a chat sitting outside.
We discussed when we are going to the paint-teacher and which of the children are going to these classes: Kamal, Arjun to continue their study. Raju, Sujan to start with the study.
Also we will try the same day to go to the computer school to sign Sudeep up for an additional 3 months course (during his holiday), to sign up Manju and Alina for the beginners course.
Another day we will go with Rasilla to the cooking school to sign her up for the cooking course.

This time I had a much more relaxed conversation with Thak then before. I already realized when I was back home yesterday that maybe it is not his mistake that he ‘hides’ material, but just the ‘not knowing’. In our conversation today it was clear how much he worries and cares about the children.
And I give it you to do: with just 1 father (uncle) and 1 mother (auntie) to take care of a family of 23 children!!!

Then I got a big shock: in our conversation he also said that he wants to change school!!! After the exams he wants to take the 20 children away from the Shining Star Boarding School and to send them to another school!! He explained me why: the toilets at S.S.B.S. were not clean he said, he wanted me to have a look at them at my next visit (tomorrow morning) and to check out the area with the water pump.
Also one of his complaints was that the school ground is sandy: the kids look terrible when they come home after school, dusty, dirty school uniforms and shoes.
Next: the SSBS has no library. I told him that now they have!!
Next: the SSBS has access for the students to only a total of 6 computers, while the other school he is thinking of has a big library with 20 computers available!
SSBS is not organizing enough in sports. The other school does and organizes competitions between schools.

As said, it was a big shock for me: I thought the SSBS was making a lot of effort to teach the children as good as they can and they really ‘care’ about the children. Reason why WE are supporting this school.
Tomorrow morning my ‘home work’ will be indeed to check out the toilets, the water pump and if the wall charts we donated or on the walls (which I expect they will be).
The teachers are such nice people, I am sure Rita Chamelli will be as shocked as I was at first sight, but maybe Thak is right. He said to me that the other school he is thinking of is also a boarding private school, but that they are of upgraded quality.
Sunday afternoon he will take me to the other school, so I can have a look myself. (Saturday the schools are closed).
I will certainly go, have a critical view at the other school, because for me it is NOT only important about to have better facilities, but more to really interact, care about the children and have an open mind (which the SSBS teachers certainly proved already to have).

Even IF Thak decides to place the children in the other school, I do not regret it that we have donated the books, the wall charts and the globe to the SSBS, because I KNOW they are using them and they are for the benefit of ALL the students at this school.

At 16.00 Dan (an ex-volunteer) and Pramot (the homework teacher) came in, time for me to go.
Together with Doreen we jumped in a taxi to Mahendra Pool, the big city of Pokhara for some ‘fundraise shopping’.
Doreen wanted to buy some real footballs and balls for the younger children, to be used during the suggested break, so the children would get some fresh air and could get rid of their build up energy, ready and calmed down again for another session of 3-4 hours inside for the last few hours at nursery school.

I was going for a hunt for a battery for my laptop. Again this was a flash shopping trip. Just ask the taxi driver to stop at a shop with real footballs, it saves you a lot of time AND energy to walk around trying to find those shops yourself. In the same shop I saw that they had exactly the same sketch books as the one I gave this morning to Bimal, so I purchased a few more, for the other ‘future students for the painting lessons AND some different pencils with different hardness.

Leaves me to close this day with a comment about Bimal, the one who keeps breaking my heart.
I will show you with the help of the pictures I will make that he IS an artist. Leaving him this morning, trying to draw the shape of a head, that looked anything except a head, he proudly came to me 4 hours later to show his first attempt AND his last attempt. Again I could not keep my eyes dry. And you will see why looking at the pictures!! His first scribbles and what he was capable of only 4 hours later!!
Beautiful eyes, a sensitive mouth, a perfect nose. Kamal came also outside, while Bimal was showing me his work and behind the back of Bimal he made the WOW movement and the PERFECT sign with his hands. A silent applaud accompanied his surprise and admiration for the talents shown by Bimal.

This makes me to reconsider the decision of sending him for painting classes next year. Thak already mentioned also Bimal’s name (if the funds were available) to put him also on the list for the painting classes and I think we should put him ALSO on this list THIS time already!!

Oh dear, it is already 01.00 o’clock now. Probably, especially after putting my thoughts and impressions of today on paper (not running around my brain anymore) I will be able to sleep now. I better do, because tomorrow my wake up call is at 08.00 and NO holiday from school tomorrow!!

Suba Rathri and speak to you soon again.
And once more, and I can not do this enough, thank you all for your support. I would not be able to achieve so much without your generous gifts!!

Love you all and also a BIG THANK from my kids

Sanghita

24 February, Pokhara.

Tuesday, 24 February, Pokhara.

08:30 wake up alarm
09:00 get up, coffee served on the balcony. And………… electricity!
I start to get into a rhythm:
8.00 alarm,
8.30 breakfast at H.E.;
9.00 C.W.A. to bring the children to school.
Depending on the electricity availability:
- if yes: 2-3 hours on the laptop working on the dictionary job
- if no: to the Garden restaurant to write, sitting in the sun. Internet. Lunch.
- 15.15: on the way to collect the children from school.
- 16:00 study room time, which I can use to either write diary (like I am doing now), to work on the Manual for Volunteers at C.W.A. and if needed to help the kids with their homework. But, they have now also a Nepali teacher coming to the house every day (his name is Pramot).
- 18.30: diner at H.E. (socializing with the staff and volunteers).
- After diner: Internet café, nightcap, room.

This morning a bit different schedule.
I slept a little bit longer (after the travel of yesterday), had 2 hours electricity left which I used for working on the dictionary.
At 12.00 the power was off again.
Shower, H.E. coffee, chat.
To the village for brunch, while updating yesterday’s diary.
15:13 together with Kay to collect the children from school.
And again a lot of surprises: I found out that Kay as a volunteer in the C.W.A. did not know that the house has its own website!
She did not know that there are files of every child … in the office!
So it is very clear that it IS necessary to write a manual for the volunteers in future.

Tomorrow Kay is going for 3 days to Chitwan and I will ‘take over her duties’.
After 3 days she will be back in Pokhara for 5 or 6 more weeks, so she can finish writing the Manual.

When she comes back from Chitwan we will take the beads to the home. I already saw that one of the top cupboards in the study room is empty, the perfect place to store (and NOT hide) the boxes with beads.
There are also some positive points:
- one of the top cupboards is filled with new homework books; the other is containing colouring pens and some paper. VISIBLE!!

I feel like a kind of detective, sniffing around, observing, but it feels good to be able to get the home a bit more ‘organized’. To KNOW that the materials donated by YOU and other sponsors will be used.

Kay, the volunteer, is a great girl. Born in England (English parents), but with her parents she has seen a lot of the world. She lived also a few years in Nepal when she was young, so she speaks fluent Nepali!
17 Years young and full of ideas and enthusiasm. We both are very happy to be here at the same time and to be able to make a difference.

Sitting in the study room, Sofia – my little angle – came to sit on my lap. She was talking non-stop and tried to read my diary. She can read perfectly English, but of course now she saw a lot of new words. What is this, what does that mean? Nice to know that she actually learned something today.
She was folding a boat from paper, and then put it in my bag to take it home. I will not take it out of my back until I go home, knowing that she will check every day that it is still there.

At 18.00 it was time to go home. Dinner at 18.30 together with Doreen, volunteer from Germany for 4 weeks. She is placed in a kind of nursery, development centre. She is taking over from Claire, a woman from Canada who was there as a volunteer for 6 weeks and is leaving tomorrow.

From the talk under dinner I understood that also she is a teacher and she had many ideas. She told Rohri (assistant manager of H.E.) that the teachers were very open-minded for new ideas and she was pleased to be able to teach them new games, new songs and a new method of teaching. Also she commented that it would be better for the little ones to give them a break in between. At the moment they are in a small room with too many children of different ages and she said that after 2 hours the older ones are getting bored and overactive.

Tomorrow Doreen will suggest to the teachers to take a 15 minutes break in between, take the children outside for some fresh air, running around and get rid of the build up energy.

The electricity came on again at 20.00 so I was on my way to the Internet place. There I spend about 2 hours to upload the promised pictures from a CD, but it took me ages to get just a few pictures done!
Around 22.30 the Internet closed, back to my room, still electricity so I started to type out the diary days from before with the pictures inserted. I saved them on my USB-stick and tomorrow I will give it a try to update the website this way.

Tired I thought it was time to go to sleep, but I ended up in one of my famous sleepless nights.
So many ideas, so many new impressions again (I learn so much, get so much new information every day) that I just could not ‘shut down’ my head. At 3.30 I was still awake!!!

Finally I fell asleep, must have been around 04.00, because when I turned around at one point the electricity was on again (from o4.00 till 08.00 said the schedule).

23 February, Monday. Touristbus from Kathmandu to Pokhara

06.00 wake up call.
The hotel wanted to serve me breakfast, but eating at 6.15 is really too early for me. A nice coffee was enough. Again the receptionist apologized for the misunderstanding about our breakfast the first morning (they charged us, while we were on B&B).
I said not to worry and as to confirm that the hotel and service is good I told him that my last 2 nights I will be staying in the Mandap hotel. That made him obviously happy: a big smile.

When I payed my bill last night I found out that the 3 nights were only Rs 3.000 (I owe you some money Reet) and NOT the 20 US a night as they told us before.
Could have to do something with a phone call Dill made to the hotel?????

Around 6.40 Darjan (the youngest, cheeky guide) turned up on his motorbike. Dill finally left the office around midnight so he could not come this early to say goodbye. No problem, I think that he is working already enough hours without also taking care of me.

Last night to my surprise (and embarrassment) I only found out that he is married and has 2 sons; one 7 years old and a baby of almost one year old.
That again shows what kind of man Dill is: always thinking about others, taking care of everybody (including the staff of H.E.) except himself.
In my letter I put in his organizer, I asked him to please start to learn to say NO sometimes and to start to take care of - think about himself more. I know, some of you are smiling now, 'look who is talking', but I did learn this and am still learning to continue doing this.
Life should be sharing, giving and taking, not just only giving nor only taking. Sharing and compassion. One of the reasons that I need Nepal at least once a year: to re-affirm this way of life.

So, on the motorbike with the blue bag with a few kilo of beads between us on my knees on our way to the bus stop. Darjan was checking my face in his mirror and said: 'you look very happy, like you are enjoying it'. 'I do' I said 'I love motorbikes'.
He said he might take me for a motorbike ride through Kathmandu when I am back for my last days. I do hope that will work out: a trip to one of the monasteries outside Kathmandu on a motorbike, what more could I ask for!

The bus left around 7.15. Kathmandu-Pokhara: 200 km - 400 Rs (but for me free, courtesy of H.E.).
Sitting in the front, window seat with a Nepali young woman next to me, who fell asleep 10 minutes after departure. Wearing 4 layers, so also not cold this time.

Today it is a festival day: Shiva rathri = the birth date of Lord Shiva (and the only day of the year that smoking marijuana is legal).
Soon I found out that this trip will take more than the usual 4-4 1/2 hours: everywhere on the road we had 'children roadblocks'. The brave children were standing just in the middle of the road, sometimes pulling up a rope to stop the traffic. We were allowed to pass, only after they had blessed the driver with a Tika and receiving a small 'passing fee'. The driver was having great fun as the passengers did, about those persisting kids AND he was clever enough to indeed pay extra for his Tika after a few blockades. Now at the next blockades they saw his tika from far, lowered already the ropes, wooden barricades and were running along the side receiving money given by the co-driver, given while we continued driving in low gear.

All the slowing down moments gave me an excellent opportunity to finally succeed making pictures of the scenery along the road Kathmandu-Pokhara. I tried this already so many times, but and the speed and the humping-bumping-jumping of the bus made it impossible thus far.

I dozed of a little bit, but could not really sleep. Two stops as usual at a restaurant and finally around 15.00 we arrived in Pokhara. I jumped in a taxi to bring me to H.E. (Rs 130) where they were waiting already for me. A coffee, a fill in about our stay in Kathmandu, my program for the coming 3 weeks and making the arrangement that I am more than welcome to join the volunteers for breakfast and diner every day. I said I will gladly accept this invitation, but that I want to pay for it. The answer was No! 'You do so much work for Nepal and the children, you will try to bring groups next year, this is our Thank you to you. You are part of our family.

Up to my room, my Pokhara Penthouse, to unpack and have a shower (the electricity is on!)
A lay down for one hour, but I could not sleep, too many things running around my brain, too excited to see the kids again.

A tasty Chow Mi with a lot of vegetables served on my balcony by the Japanese restaurant in front of the hotel, brunch in the sun, but.... with chopsticks only. I actually managed to get the food in my mouth for the first time in my life with the chopsticks! Of course it did help that it was mie instead of rice, because for sure with rice on my plate I would have ended up eating with my hand again.

Time to go and see the kids!
First I stopped at the Shiva temple which is on the way to their home, but I could not find them there. Continued my way to the home and approaching the house I already could hear their excited voices.
A big Namaste Rita, where is Rita, how are you, how long you stay, the little ones hanging on my back, clinging on to my legs. Finally every body was ready, supplied with their bamboo sticks on our way to the temple.

It is indeed much warmer here in Pokhara then it was in Kathmandu. I ended up pealing off 2 layers of sweaters!

The older boys took care of putting the bamboo sticks in the huge fire while Kay and I kept an eye on the jumping little ones, waiting for the loud bangs when they slam the hot sugar canes on the floor. Every body after the sugarcane explodes and opens is chewing on the sweet wood. I only had a small piece, wondering how they could chew so much wood, being so sweet!

Thak took the little ones home, a bit later Kay left with the 'middle group', while I stayed with the older ones. Sudeep told me 'healingstories' of the snake shaped Goddess of this temple, explained the festival and we watched the men dancing in trance on the repeated music. Some of the men where that high of the smoked marijuana that at the moments the music stopped they fell down or where stumbling around not having a clue where or who they were. The kids giggling of course, whispering 'they smoke something'.

Around 21.00 time for the kids to go home AND time for me to go back to my room.
Too tired to pick up my diary, just relaxing on my bed, a little bit of reading in the book Rita gave me as a present and soon lights out!!
Life is beautiful in Nepal!!!!!!!!!!!!!

22 February, Kathmandu: Chamelli's departure

09.00 my new alarm works well!
Breakfast at Mandap Hotel and yes back to H.E. office again. Rita said farewell to everybody and at 13.00 our taxi was waiting outside the Mandap Hotel to bring us to the airport.
(A big THANK YOU to Dill for arranging everything so smoothly for us, being not real 'clients' of H.E., but 'just' FRIENDS!)

Despite our different ways of life, looking at it and living our lives very differently - which sometimes caused misunderstandings, arguments and discussions - both of us where very emotional at Rita's goodbye.
She is on her way home now, back to 'her world', leaving me behind in a part of 'my world'.
I think I can speak for the both of us saying it was a big experience traveling together, sharing a room together, but most of all Sharing Nepal, the projects and my kids together.
We both have learned a lot those last 3 weeks, about each other (her way, her world, my sometimes clumsy, insufficient way of explaining, expressing myself), but at the end of these weeks we parted as the sisters we used to be, with a lot of respect for each other and compassion for each other.
It will be good to meet up again in Crete, to share our day-off in Elounda on the beach, probably in the beginning memorizing our 'adventures' in Nepal and laugh together about it.

I certainly want to 'praise' Rita for her great participation during this trip. To mention a few things of her 'once-in-a-lifetime' experiences:
no electricity, a lot of less comfort, her Canoetrip on the river on our way to the Elephant Breeding Center (she hates water, is scared of it - like I suffer from being afraid of heights) - which she actually enjoyed after her first 'being afraid'.
Lessons in patience, different food, all kinds of transportation, etc.
If I can find it I will get her a t-shirt with the words "I SAW, SMELT, TASTED and DID NEPAL! Which she did indeed.
Bravo Rita and a big Thank you for your willing, trying and doing this shared experience with me!
Your family and friends will fall of their chairs when you show them the pictures. They HAVE to believe that you've done all and everything!

Also a thank you for 'teaching' me. I know this experience of travelling together will be of great value next year when I will go back to MY Nepal again with hopefully one or maybe even two groups of people on a 'sponsortrip'.

Bravo, Thank You and see you soon in Elounda Bahinie (little sister), Rita2 or your Nepali name: Chamelli (Jasmin).

Back in Thamel on my own. 'Report at H.E. and on my way to the Internet, where I was able to update you with 2 days adventure, until the electricity was off again. I failed to insert the pictures, because the computer I worked on had a broken CD-rom drive (grrrr). I will try again in my favourite Internetplace in Pokhara.

Found a nice little present for Dill: a small leather organizer that will fit in a trouserpocket or jacket pocket to safe all his papers in. An idea of Rita. She noticed that his jeanspockets were full and Dill explained: left pocket just scraps of paper, unimportant. Right pocket: important notes. Back pocket mobilephone, other backpocket some money. Now he can collect all this and organize it in the leather case.

I went with Lolly to a local Dahl Bath house where we were going to meet Dill later. A very tasty Dahl Bath eaten with my hands, while Lolly kept me company. When my food was finished Lolly walked me back to the hotel and he left.

Waiting for Dill for goodbye in the hotelbar, nice and warm, sitting close to a firebasket with my nightcap - writing - until 22.30.

(Oops 22.30! Dill called that he was still in the office, that he will be here in the morning to bring me personally to the busstation.
He first assigned one of the other boys, because we were supposed to meet tonight for a Dahl Bath and a last drink together.

23.15 in my room, have to leave the writing until tomorrow, have to try to get some sleep with my wake up call at 06.00 tomorrow!
(with other words: have to 'switch' my brain off!).
00.00 lights out.

Suba rathri.

21 February, Saturday. Kathmandu. Shopmission Sponsors.

Alarm: 09.00
Breakfast: 10.00.
On our way to H.E. again, where this time Nabin was. He joined us for a drink at New Orleans Cafe. rita and Nabin had a catch up about our 'adventures' of the past 3 weeks, which opportunity I grabbed to start to fill in the missing diary pages.
Accompanied by Nabin again on mission for the sponsor project.

In a conversation with Kay - the volunteer at C.W.A., we learned that she had a 'big' wish. She wanted to do creative things with the children, but she said there was no material in the home to use. I have to check this out when I am back in Pokhara (one of the many thing my To Do list). We promised her to try to find the things she wanted for her 5 weeks more volunteering stay at C.W.A.

A book about origami and coloured paper (so Jeevan is NOT using the homework books of the older children anymore to build his 'rockets') and beats to make bracelets and necklaces with the girls.
Happy with her ideas we were more than willing to get her this material.
In the Pilgrims book house Rita found a few excellent books with examples of being creative with paper. In the back of the book were a few pieces of coloured paper.
Nr. 1 on the list done!

With the great help of Nabin we also got to a whole sale shop of beads, where I bought with YOUR money a few kilo of all kinds of different beats and the thread needed.

Next step: finding boxes to safe the beats in.
Again Nabin (with my backpack filled with a few kilo beats on his back) took us to a small shop somewhere in one of the many side streets. He knew exactly what we needed AND where to find it. Without his help, we would never have found it AND for sure would have got lost, with our famous sense of direction.

On the way I spotted a small kiosk that had coloured paper. rita bought several sheets of each colour. Together with the how to books that is again her donation for the C.W.A.-kids.

Next move: a warm sweater for me and a watch! So far we used Rita's mobile or her watch for the time and the alarm. With her leaving tomorrow I do need my own (my mobile runs out of battery every time with not enough time of electricity to charge its battery). I ended up with a mini alarm clock, pink with Kitty on it, for small children, but it does do the job.

Last on the list: a warm sweater. In one of the many trekking material shops I found easily a fleece. The North Face sweater and our shopping mission was very successful and rather quick completed.

A bit tired, but very satisfied again - a little rest in our room while Rita packed for her departure tomorrow back to England.

Back at 20.00 at H.E. where we met Dill, Nabin and 2 other guides (I am useless with names) to go out together for our last meal at the Northfield Cafe this time.
The boys took us to another local bar for Rita's farewell drink.

23.30 back in the room, both ready for a good night sleep.

Suba Rathri.

20 February, Friday. With the touristbus from Pokhara to Kathmandu.

wake up call 06:00.
06:30 outside H.E., but the door was still locked and we saw nobody around. A few minutes later a taxi stopped and asked if we were going to the bus station. Yes, so we hopped in and were brought to the bus station.
About half an hour later the bus of World Wide Tour Travel came: with a group of Himalayan Encounters inside! Lolly, one of the guides of H.E.: "Where were you?" and I had to explain.
The bus left at 07:30.
We had the backseats, more then enough space. Only, at the other window a woman was seated and she had her window open. I was freezing, realizing I forgot my third 'layer'. She closed the window a little bit, but it took a few hours before it started to warm up a little bit, me in the meantime hoping I was not going to end up with a cold!

Two stops on the way, where we only had a drink, no food with the risk to get an upset stomach (of which Rita already was suffering a little bit).
Very busy on the road, an accident - which held us up for a little while (cigarette time) and at 15:00 we arrived at Kathmandu. A short walk through Thamel to Mandap hotel, where Dill booked us a room for 11 US!
Not really a big difference of room, but indeed a big difference in price compared with the Kathmandu Guesthouse!

We first dropped of our luggage at the reception and went straight to the H.E. office to 'report' that we were back safe. I called Pokhara to apologize for the misunderstanding this morning and to thank them for the great service and care they took of us.
After again a warm welcome back, a tea sitting in the sun and a quick catching up we went for a proper check-in and a bit of unpacking and refreshing to the Mandap Hotel.

At 20:00 we met Dill at H.E. and the three of us went to Rum Doddle for a nice meal.
A few other guides joined us when we were having our after dinner drink at the bar. The bar was packed, live music ( I will tape this music before my departure when I am back in Kathmandu), a few trekking groups of H.E. were there with their guides, the dance floor full with happy 'jumping' people. I also ended up at the dance floor.

This time with leaving the bar I was walking in front and we did not end up in the kitchen or toilet, but in an dead-end street! So much considering the sense of direction for the two Rita's!

Now there is a new rule in Nepal: the bars close at 23:00. Not so bad, time to have fun, but in bed at a decent time so we are not sleeping away the following sunny day.

Although also here we have beautiful sunshine, we both notice that is much colder in Kathmandu then in Pokhara.

In bed around 23.30 to catch up some sleep after the early rising and the travelling, so we will be able to get up around 09.00 for our last day together in Kathmandu - Nepal tomorrow.

Suba Rathri

19 February, Thursday. Pokhara. Rita's cloudbuster!

09:00 wake up.
Another beautiful warm day.
We went to H.E. for a coffee, Gomaya and many other guides I know from before are there. Nice to catch-up with them.

At 11:00 Rita left with Sun Rise Paragliding, I stayed with the volunteers who were going paragliding with Blue Skye. They gave me a lift to the starting point. I was there still in time to make pictures of Rita's take-off.
Not sure what was more scary: paragliding or 'flying' down the road in free gear! But I did enjoy the peace and the views. We had a clear view of the Himalayan Mountain range, but flying down on this bumpy 'road' with this speed made it impossible to make pictures.
Blue Skye dropped me off at their office, so I started to walk towards the landing zone.
After my walk for about already 25 minutes the jeep of Sunrise passed. I tried to stop them, shouting, waving. They did wave back very friendly,, but that was of course not good enough.
Right: turn around - start walking back to Lakeside.
Halfway the Blue Skye jeep passed and stopped. Again a ride until their office,, which left a walk for me from one side of Lakeside to the other. Arriving at the office of Sunrise the girl told me that Rita indeed was back already.
I checked Zorba's restaurant, above the office, where we many times went for lunch, hoping Rita was waiting there for me, because we did plan to have lunch after her flight. Nobody.
Walking to H.E.: nobody.
Up to the room and there she was, fixing her hair (we had electricity).

To Mamma Mia finally (14:30) to have breakfast/lunch.

I was supposed to go to the children and have a conversation with Thak, but the morning took all my energy and we were running late.
At 19:30 we will get picked up by Shiva to go to the Radio station for our 'interview'. Both of us did not really want to go and Buddha did listen to our prayers. When we were waiting outside of H.E. at 19:30 a small boy came up to us and told us that the interview was cancelled.
Yes, that was good news.
That gave us more time space. First a quick check about my ticket. It is arranged now for the 16th of March, one day later. The arrival time at Athens and the departure to Heraklion is a bit tight: 1 1/2 hour. Knowing that it takes quite a long time to get the luggage from the Bahrain flight, I asked George to change Athens-Heraklion 1 or 2 hours later.
A quick email to mum, she was worried not hearing a long time from me. She was right, it is not like me to leave all of you such a long time without news and from Monday I can really update you every day or every second day.
Even with my writing I am updating backwards, (missing still 11 till 18 February).

(Now Friday 20 February) am writing this in my diary, sitting in New Orleans Cafe with a coffee, while Rita is chatting with Nabin, our guide to Bhaktapur in the beginning of our trip).

For our last evening a nice meal at Teatime.
Around 23:00 back in our room, where I had to do a quick packing for the 3 days Kathmandu.

Suba Rathri
Sanghita