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!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by Rita Sanghita at
8:17:00 AM
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