Namaste!
I woke up from a very weird dream about a religion exam that I had to prepare for and my girlfriend teenage party, even though she isn’t a teenager anymore.. Very strange! I dream a lot when I’m here in Nepal, but I think it is because of all the new experiences in a different culture.
Anyways our theme today was about human rights. First Jinita explained generally about the human rights system and what ActionAid is focusing on. Later we got this individually exercise that we have to draw and explain an article from the human rights declaration. It was an interesting and creative exercise, which gave us knowledge about the human rights. After lunch we split up in the country groups where we need to find information about human rights in the country that we are going to. For me I have to search about human rights in Sri Lanka and if Sri Lanka has signed or not the human rights declaration. It was really difficult to find information and therefore we were allowed to make the presentation at Friday morning.
Tonight we went to the cinema to see a bollywood movie, but the movie was cancelled so we decided to see a “real” Nepali movie. It was really fun. The movie tried to be a thriller, but really didn’t work out, because of the misplaced music, the fake acting and the awkward camera angles. A really amateur movie! I think we all had a great time laughing at the movie. Really fun! Now it is time for bed and I hope not that I am going to dream about this creepy movie..
Goodnight!
- Sidsel
Friday, March 23, 2012
Thursday, March 22, 2012
२१.०३.१२
Namaste everyone!
Yet another day has passed by here at the Global Platform in Nepal.
Yesterday I wrote a list of all the things I expected would happen today। Some of my expectations were met and some were not. – This is how the list goes:
1: Being woken up way too early in the morning by dogs barking outside my window
- This did happen!
2: Taking a bath
- This did not happen!
3: Attending the communication and conflict management course
- Of course I did, we all did
4: Having Dahl Bat for lunch
- To our surprise the kitchen had prepared rice and (hot!) vegetables
5: Performing a Forum Theatre (where the audience participate in the making of a solution for the conflict, which the actors have acted out)
- This we did and it turned out to be a very funny experience because we all were forced to improvise, act and react)
6: Having Dahl Bat for Dinner
- Yet another surprise! The kitchen had cooked (hot!) vegetables with some “risengroed”-ish rice. This tasted incredible!
But some of today’s events I could not predict, like going to Parth Dubar Square with the global changers to see a real Forum Theatre used as a media/tool for debating social change I womens rights, or succeeding in watching a documentary about activism, when almost everyone else fell asleep।
This was today’s events and surprises from my point of view.
Goodnight!
- Johanne
Yet another day has passed by here at the Global Platform in Nepal.
Yesterday I wrote a list of all the things I expected would happen today। Some of my expectations were met and some were not. – This is how the list goes:
1: Being woken up way too early in the morning by dogs barking outside my window
- This did happen!
2: Taking a bath
- This did not happen!
3: Attending the communication and conflict management course
- Of course I did, we all did
4: Having Dahl Bat for lunch
- To our surprise the kitchen had prepared rice and (hot!) vegetables
5: Performing a Forum Theatre (where the audience participate in the making of a solution for the conflict, which the actors have acted out)
- This we did and it turned out to be a very funny experience because we all were forced to improvise, act and react)
6: Having Dahl Bat for Dinner
- Yet another surprise! The kitchen had cooked (hot!) vegetables with some “risengroed”-ish rice. This tasted incredible!
But some of today’s events I could not predict, like going to Parth Dubar Square with the global changers to see a real Forum Theatre used as a media/tool for debating social change I womens rights, or succeeding in watching a documentary about activism, when almost everyone else fell asleep।
This was today’s events and surprises from my point of view.
Goodnight!
- Johanne
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
तुएस्दय ३/२०/२०१२
Hello everybody,
Today we are halfway through the course here on Global Platform in Nepal, which means that we have only two weeks left. Two weeks to do everything and learn everything and then leave this platform transformed into an experienced, creative, open, fun and cool volunteer. I think those of us who will not stay here in Nepal also really wants to see, hear, smell and feel every bit of this country before leaving. That is hard to do in two weeks. This weekend we will go to Pokhara and I am looking forward.
Anyway. Today’s “theme” was project-management. Using a case we had to choose a problem and create a project. We were divided into groups consisting of those who will travel to the same country after the platform. It was great working like this and knowing that it will be these people and probably also similar projects for the next three months. Through different methods like “SWOT-analysis”, “Scope Statement” and by making an action plan we ended up feeling quite prepared for making a change. Or at least try to.
It is great with tasks like these that you can bring with you and use when standing with a problem in for instance Mutur in Sri Lanka. That is where I am standing two weeks.
The electricity here in Nepal is teasing me so I am going to get up stairs and scream into my pillow, now.
Thanks for reading my thoughts
Andrea
'Adventure in the streets of Kathmandu' - Movie day
Namaste everybody,
Yet again the sun has risen and another day in Kathmandu has begun. Everybody is ready for a new adventure, or at least I am. Today’s program is set for how to pass on a message and in this case we’ll do it through a movie. We started out by having the ritual morning meeting and energizer and then we were sent out in the streets of Kathmandu on our own. We all went out in groups, some on their own, with our heads full of ideas, maybe. My group started at the Garden of Dreams, which was a very beautiful place, an obvious sight for digesting the day passed and gathering your thoughts in reflection and silence. In our case it ended up with cake eating and tea drinking.
Then we went through the tourist district, Thamel, in a rickshaw, trying to catch some interesting pictures and clips for our movie. We ended up at Dubar square, where the architectural and colorful temples took our breath away. Even more astonishing were the cute children running around the streets. Seeing them made me remember how privileged I am and it only enlarged my passion for doing more volunteer work. Even though it is a sad sight it was warming to see them laughing and enjoying themselves with skipping ropes and sticks.
After several hours in the sun and dust, filming laughing children and smiling people, we went home. Unbelievable as it may sound, we still had the hard part ahead of us, the editing. Power outs and incredibly slow internet didn’t ease the job. But after many hours and what feels like square formed eyes we are on our way and close to be halfway there. With crossed fingers and sleepy eyes we hope that all the hard work results in a good product.
Sleep tight and pheri betaula,
/Trine
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Tempels and monasteries
Namaste!
Today we went on a field trip to a Hindu and a Buddhist temple and what a day! We started out at the platform with a presentation made by some former students about the change from platform to placement. The 4 students are staying here in Nepal and tried their best to give us a realistic picture on how the change and cultural chock will be. Some might say they scared us off a little, but at the end I think, they did a good job and gave us some brilliant advice, like not to expect too much, and to put on out “yes-hat” as we say in Danish.
We went from hearing about a future cultural shock, to actually having our first small one! We went by bus to our first Hindu temple visit, and this was at least to me, quiet an experience. We visited the Pashupatinath Temple which is the largest and most visited Hindu temple in Nepal and is the temple of Shiva. One of the most impressive, and maybe also scary things were that we came very close to the cremations of the dead people, that were being burning on the riverside, . The smell of the dead burning bodies, the beggars and all monkeys running around was very hectic and from time to time a little too much - but I am happy to have experienced it. We ate our lunch on top of the temple area and while we ate we rounded up a small assignment Janita had given to us; we got 5 questions and when had to get the answers by talking to the people at the temple. It worked out really well and we all enjoyed the friendly spirit of the Nepali people and I think we got most of out answers correct.
After our hectic visit, we went to the Buddhist temple, Boudha, and I must say that this experience differs quiet a lot from the first one. The Buddhist temple was quieter, but still here were a lot of people, as I never think Kathmandu goes really silent or runs of out of people. We had time to go around and see some of the temples, we got to see the wheel of Dharma and many Buddha pictures. Some also talked to a couple of Buddhist monks who were very open and shared their knowledge about the temple. Again the friendly spirit of the Nepal showed itself.
This field trip was definitely a great way to put all the knowledge and facts we have learned from our classes on the platform into practice. Now my head must rest, because a day likes this demands time for reflection!
/Kirsten
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Religion ned social structure
Nameste!
Our first monday here in Kathmandu is now coming to an end and what a day..
It started out with a weeding. Just across the road the groom was preparing himself for mariage. An orchestra was playing , the weeding car was decorated with flowers, more people kept shopping up and the woman were all in beuatiful dresses. Especially the girls who all looked like little princesses. They invited us all into the house so that we could see and meet the groom and there we got our first red dot in the forehead or an tilaka which represents the third eye and is a mixture of this red powder, yoghurt, grains and rice.
After that we went back to the platform to have our first class with Jinita. Today the overall theme was religion and social structure of South Asia. We concentrated on 4 religions: hinduism, buddhism, Islam and Christianity which was really interesting cause eventhough we all new about the religions, Jinita had so much more to tell.
Tonight we had a social night with the global changers who also lives here on the platform were we where divided into groups after our nationality and each group then had to make a short presentation of one of the other countries. It was a night with singing, dancing, funny games, smiling faces and more dancing.
Tank you all for a wonderful day!
Cancelled on account of rain
Yet another day in beautiful dusty Kathmandu has passed. Today though for the first time since our arrival, one of the 36 million gods in Hinduism let some well received rain fall on the ground of this mountain country. This rain, as needed as it may be, still caused some issues for our group as we were supposed to go temple-crawling today. As this could turn out to be an unpleasant experience, our facilitators decided to do it tomorrow, and instead have lessons on spreading the message of social change today. This gave me the opportunity to write a blog about spreading the message of social change, while spreading the message of social change. A meta-blog if you please. So here goes.
Your blog should start with a funny fact or a joke, like that you have an upset stomach or that your right hand got sunburned while you were mountain biking during the weekend, because you used it to rub sun screen on yourself and, at the end of the sun-screen-on-solar-exposed-bodyparts-rubbing-ritual, forgot to put sunscreen on it. Both are, sadly, in my case true.
Now your target group, and, or receivers, feel that they can trust and feel acquainted with you. At this point in your blog you have to tell your readers something interesting, educative or inspiring that you have experienced during the day. In my case it would be the conversations I have had with some of the people from the Global Change program on the platform who, under their dancing and laughing exteriors, are inspiring young men and women who fight for a change in their respective communities, and have achieved many times greater things than I have.
Now your readers have received, and hopefully understood your message. The only thing missing is to give your readers a reason to return to your blog. This could be telling them about all the cool things you do, and will write about the following days. On this particular blog, you will tomorrow be able to read about a trip to the marvelous Temples of Kathmandu, which is sure to be a very spiritually inspiring post.
Now end your blog post with something authentic and original, like a phrase in Nepali.
So, Pheri Bhetaula! (See you later)
/Daniel
Friday, March 9, 2012
2nd day at Global Platform Kathmandu
Nameste!
Today the overall theme was developing countries and social changes. We heard about different development theories and did a lot of group work, where we for example had to mark out Action Aid Denmark's values from their own written vision.
We were given a short assignment, where we had to pretend we were in the future and then make a news paper headline as we wish the world to look like in the future. Mine was for example: For the first time in 50 years pollution is at it lowest.
Afterwards we had our first Nepali class with Khati. It was pretty exciting to learn some Nepali. We learned a lot of useful sentences like: Tapai ko Naam ke ho? (what is your name) - Mero Naam Anna Ho. (My name is Anna)
It was challenging to pronouns the words and also difficult to understand when you use the different words, because some of them have different meanings. You use different words for yes and no, depending on if it has something to do with a possession or if something is right or wrong. You can hear it is even difficult to describe.
In Denmark you often start out a conversation with a stranger by talking about the weather, but in Nepal it is common to ask: Tapai Le khana khanu Bhayo? (Have you had food?) - It is not rude in anyway to ask people this even though they have not eaten anything. The class was helpful and I learned some simple Nepali sentences.
Later in the day we had to make a problemtree, where we had to put up a problem from a text about a slumarea in India and try to find some solutions to the problem.
Overall it was a instructive day!
Pheri Bhetaula! (see you again)
Anna
Today the overall theme was developing countries and social changes. We heard about different development theories and did a lot of group work, where we for example had to mark out Action Aid Denmark's values from their own written vision.
We were given a short assignment, where we had to pretend we were in the future and then make a news paper headline as we wish the world to look like in the future. Mine was for example: For the first time in 50 years pollution is at it lowest.
Afterwards we had our first Nepali class with Khati. It was pretty exciting to learn some Nepali. We learned a lot of useful sentences like: Tapai ko Naam ke ho? (what is your name) - Mero Naam Anna Ho. (My name is Anna)
It was challenging to pronouns the words and also difficult to understand when you use the different words, because some of them have different meanings. You use different words for yes and no, depending on if it has something to do with a possession or if something is right or wrong. You can hear it is even difficult to describe.
In Denmark you often start out a conversation with a stranger by talking about the weather, but in Nepal it is common to ask: Tapai Le khana khanu Bhayo? (Have you had food?) - It is not rude in anyway to ask people this even though they have not eaten anything. The class was helpful and I learned some simple Nepali sentences.
Later in the day we had to make a problemtree, where we had to put up a problem from a text about a slumarea in India and try to find some solutions to the problem.
Overall it was a instructive day!
Pheri Bhetaula! (see you again)
Anna
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Namaste!
First morning in Kathmandu after arriving yesterday at the platform! We started our day in the warm morning sun of Nepal on the roof of the platform, getting introduced to our next month in Kathmandu. Even though the sun is shining and it’s very hot the weather is quite misty so we are only able to see the Himalayan Mountains as silhouettes against the sky – I think we are all looking forward to the weather getting clearer as it seems like the view of the mountains from the platform will be both spectacular and amazing! Through the next hours we were discussing our fears and hopes, our way to the platform, challenging each other in a quiz and al lot more with our kind facilitator Vibe. This was only interrupted by refreshing energizers, ping-pong breaks and a delicious lunch. I really enjoy the Nepalese kitchen. Even though there is not much meat, the rice, beans and lentil soup spiced with chili makes a solid meal and you have nice feeling in the stomach many hours afterwards.
In the afternoon we all went to Thamel for booking a trip to The Last Resort where we will go this weekend. Here the bravest of us will bungee jump and those less brave (including me) will experience river rafting, canyoning, mountain biking and other sports making your adrenalin circulate through your veins.
Thamel is the tourist-part of Kathmandu, filled with souvenir shops and salesmen eager to sell you something. Unfortunately there are also a lot of beggars and I get such an awkward and guilty feeling when I say no to a child asking for money.
Now we are all back to the platform, relaxing and playing games, all tired after a day in chaotic but charming Kathmandu, but also very excited about our next four weeks on the platform.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Friday 17/2 2012
I believe we all heartily welcomed the late start of today's program. However, no matter if the time was spent relaxing or by playing table tennis, it still couldn't calm our excitement for what was going to happen today.
Today was the day where we were all going to the Peace Home orphanage, but first we had to endure the one and a half hour long drive from the platform to where it is located.
Upon arrival at the orphanage - or rather a few minutes prior, as we picked her up on the way - we met the warden of the orphanage who greeted us with a nice chat about it - of course accompanied by a sweet cup of Nepalese tea.
The children of the orphanage were still at school at that time so we were able to begin satisfying our hungry bellies with a nice, large portion of Daalbhat. We didn't finish eating up before the children slowly began to come home from school. The schools in Nepal end their classes early on fridays, we had been told by the warden as a slight uncertainty about when the children would be home had arisen among us.
As we finished our meal, it was time for a Tour de Peace Home. And very much like the Tour de France, this was done at quite a tempo. On top of this heavy pace, entering a room required taking off your shoes whilst an eager child was dragging you by the arm trying to show you every single little nook and cranny of the place. And meanwhile you were also trying to have a conversation with another child who was just as eager to follow you but simply hadn't gotten hold of your arm yet.
All in all, it wasn't really a bad thing but much rather added to the exciting experience it was to visit the orphanage.
The whole thing was rounded up with a game of "round bat" which the children really seemed to enjoy, and even though it came off as a bit confusing to us, we quickly grasped the essence of their ruleset.
But it wasn't long before it was time to turn our heads back towards Kathmandu; however, there was still plenty of time for a photo session. Countless pictures - and that is without exaggeration - were taken in various combinations of us and the children, so when Jinita called for the final shot, it was with a tiny bit of relief but a huge amount of sadness that we had to leave and possibly never come back again.
I think it goes without saying that today we had an experience memorable for at least a few life times to come.
Today was the day where we were all going to the Peace Home orphanage, but first we had to endure the one and a half hour long drive from the platform to where it is located.
Upon arrival at the orphanage - or rather a few minutes prior, as we picked her up on the way - we met the warden of the orphanage who greeted us with a nice chat about it - of course accompanied by a sweet cup of Nepalese tea.
The children of the orphanage were still at school at that time so we were able to begin satisfying our hungry bellies with a nice, large portion of Daalbhat. We didn't finish eating up before the children slowly began to come home from school. The schools in Nepal end their classes early on fridays, we had been told by the warden as a slight uncertainty about when the children would be home had arisen among us.
As we finished our meal, it was time for a Tour de Peace Home. And very much like the Tour de France, this was done at quite a tempo. On top of this heavy pace, entering a room required taking off your shoes whilst an eager child was dragging you by the arm trying to show you every single little nook and cranny of the place. And meanwhile you were also trying to have a conversation with another child who was just as eager to follow you but simply hadn't gotten hold of your arm yet.
All in all, it wasn't really a bad thing but much rather added to the exciting experience it was to visit the orphanage.
The whole thing was rounded up with a game of "round bat" which the children really seemed to enjoy, and even though it came off as a bit confusing to us, we quickly grasped the essence of their ruleset.
But it wasn't long before it was time to turn our heads back towards Kathmandu; however, there was still plenty of time for a photo session. Countless pictures - and that is without exaggeration - were taken in various combinations of us and the children, so when Jinita called for the final shot, it was with a tiny bit of relief but a huge amount of sadness that we had to leave and possibly never come back again.
I think it goes without saying that today we had an experience memorable for at least a few life times to come.
Thursday 16/2 2012
"I have found a new song for the picture round of Hit Med Sangen, Julie told me as the first thing this morning. Of cause I were exited, and her lovely interpretation of the Danish soccer 'slagsang' from the European Championship in 1996 reminded me of the five cool heavy metal guys from the the music school, we visited yesterday. They were fond of Slayer, Slipknot and of cause Michael Learns to Rock.
As the applaused the fact that the lead singer of Michael Learns to Rock comes from the village as me, I reflected on how grotesque it is that even though we are in Nepal, we seem closer to the Danish soap pop band than ever before. But as well I reflected on how I am looking forward to create more longterm relationships with the Nepali children.
Actually this thursday was luckely ment to be a tour de future where we GCA at the MS GP thought on DOC's.
Or in other words: had a thought on our hopes and ideas for future projects at our future placements.
As delicious nice apples in the autoum, we volunteers presented and brought us into a world of Cambodian theme-days, inter-nepali soccer tournaments, by Sri-Lankanian youngsters facilitated forum theater, indoor activity of Vietnam, created and between different orphanages showed plays of Cambodia and Next Stop, iPod caught surfing exchanging of Myanmar.
With this day and yesterday's visit at the music school in mind, people seems to be more corious and nerveous in the good way about how they sre going to spend the next three months.
As day turned to night, future turned to past and we enjoyed a cosy evening with the lovely game 'Do you remember the year 2002'.
/Nikolaj
As the applaused the fact that the lead singer of Michael Learns to Rock comes from the village as me, I reflected on how grotesque it is that even though we are in Nepal, we seem closer to the Danish soap pop band than ever before. But as well I reflected on how I am looking forward to create more longterm relationships with the Nepali children.
Actually this thursday was luckely ment to be a tour de future where we GCA at the MS GP thought on DOC's.
Or in other words: had a thought on our hopes and ideas for future projects at our future placements.
As delicious nice apples in the autoum, we volunteers presented and brought us into a world of Cambodian theme-days, inter-nepali soccer tournaments, by Sri-Lankanian youngsters facilitated forum theater, indoor activity of Vietnam, created and between different orphanages showed plays of Cambodia and Next Stop, iPod caught surfing exchanging of Myanmar.
With this day and yesterday's visit at the music school in mind, people seems to be more corious and nerveous in the good way about how they sre going to spend the next three months.
As day turned to night, future turned to past and we enjoyed a cosy evening with the lovely game 'Do you remember the year 2002'.
/Nikolaj
Wen. the 15th of Feb.
Due to our morning of, we all decided to explore a Buddhistic temple, called "Monkey temple." When arriving a little barefooted boy cough my attention "365 stairs, you need a guide?" he kept asking. I always feel so akward in these situations, I want to help, but at the same time, we cant.
When seeing the temple rising above me a feeling of calm and a sense of divine hit me. The main temple was astonishing with its traditionally clean white lines and Buddha sitting metastatic looking down at one. Surrounding the temple was a lot of stands uniting the Buddhist and Hindu. The beautiful nature and all the different people, smells and sounds left me with a desire to explore more.
After lunch and some shopping in Thamel, we met up with Ginita, who toke us to visit a music project. Here we met Titi, a very inspiring women, who had started the project a few years ago. She already had more than 100 children, who in their past had experienced some traumatizing things. She gives them the opportunity to hell and build them selves true music. We each had time to talk individually with the children and afterwords they played for us. This was a really fantastic and overwhelming experience. especially because it is not something every tourist can experience. It reminded us whey we are volunteers and left us with a great desire to go out to our placements.
When seeing the temple rising above me a feeling of calm and a sense of divine hit me. The main temple was astonishing with its traditionally clean white lines and Buddha sitting metastatic looking down at one. Surrounding the temple was a lot of stands uniting the Buddhist and Hindu. The beautiful nature and all the different people, smells and sounds left me with a desire to explore more.
After lunch and some shopping in Thamel, we met up with Ginita, who toke us to visit a music project. Here we met Titi, a very inspiring women, who had started the project a few years ago. She already had more than 100 children, who in their past had experienced some traumatizing things. She gives them the opportunity to hell and build them selves true music. We each had time to talk individually with the children and afterwords they played for us. This was a really fantastic and overwhelming experience. especially because it is not something every tourist can experience. It reminded us whey we are volunteers and left us with a great desire to go out to our placements.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
13/2-2012
Today was the first day after a great weekend in Pokhara and we could all feel that. We were all very tired, but we still had an exiting day about movie making, where we had to tell a story about our partner. All the stories ended up being unique and entertaining.
Amazing weekend in Pokhara
We took the bus early morning and 6 hours later we arrived to the cheap, but nice hotel where we could order meat and that was something we really needed.
Saturday we took the bus at 5 am with mr. Fox who was our guide. He took us on an 11 kilometers hike ind the mountains. It was an extremely beautiful walk and the best part was to see the sun rise above the Himalaya. After the hike, some of us went mounting biking and other kanuing.
At night we went to a restaurant and we all had a few drinks.
Sunday some of us went paragliding and that was a wild experience, where one of us got a kiss in the air and another landed on her head...
All in all we had a great day today and a fantastic weekend in Pokhara!
-Maiken..
Amazing weekend in Pokhara
We took the bus early morning and 6 hours later we arrived to the cheap, but nice hotel where we could order meat and that was something we really needed.
Saturday we took the bus at 5 am with mr. Fox who was our guide. He took us on an 11 kilometers hike ind the mountains. It was an extremely beautiful walk and the best part was to see the sun rise above the Himalaya. After the hike, some of us went mounting biking and other kanuing.
At night we went to a restaurant and we all had a few drinks.
Sunday some of us went paragliding and that was a wild experience, where one of us got a kiss in the air and another landed on her head...
All in all we had a great day today and a fantastic weekend in Pokhara!
-Maiken..
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Thursday 9. february 2012
On thursday the rain had finally stopped and full of optimism and excitement we embarked upon our first field trip to two temples in Kathmandu. One hindu and one buddhist.
The first temple was the Pashupatinath which spreads over a large area with many different buildings and a river running through. We walked around the area in small groups, answering questions with the help from local visitors. Actually we didn't need to address people in order to get help with the questions, most people adressed us long before. Some of them were just local people or other tourists being interested in us and wanting to say hello and help us. Some of them were trying to sell us something; jewellery, flowers, Tikka for the forehead, guided tours or even a photography together with a monk.
A few meters away from all the salesmen were a lot of platforms alongside the river where dead people were cremated. We walked very close to the fires, smelled the smoke and ashes and saw different bodyparts sticking out of the flames. All in all that was a very strong and also strange experience and I think we all came to a closer understanding of hinduism and its meaning in Nepal.
After a couple of hours we withdrew from all the people and went up the hill to have a delicious lunch prepared and packed by the platform kitchen. There we could eat almost alone, only disturbed by a few hungry monkeys, a deaf man and a wedding party.
Then we went to see the buddhist temple, or stupa, Boudhanat. This was quite a lot smaller than the hindu one, and the temple itself was only one building in the middle of a kind of courtyard. A large white pagoda with a small tower on top with Buddhas characteristic eyes looking out on (and for) all of us. A kind british guy our age discretely hinted us that we were about to walk counterclockwise around the pagoda instead of clockwise as one should.
There were just as many people, and many more tourists, there than at Pashupatinath, but nonetheless this seemed much less chaotic and crowded, and much more peacefull and calm. It's such a cliche - european youth comming to the east and being fascinated by buddhism, but this place really seemed special. Jinita arranged for us to visit a monastery connected to the temple, where we met an old and very kind monk, who blessed us by saying our name and binding a red and yellow silk string around our neck. This was also a very strong experience and right now I can't really decide whether to take the string off my neck or not - it'll be interesting to see if I stille have it on on monday reading this aloud to the morning meeting.
I think this day showed us a lot about buddhism and hinduism, and for various reasons I would really like to go back to both temples during our three weeks left. However this all seemed to have been enough spirituality for one day and the rest of the afternoon and evening was spent sleeping and packing for the weekend in Pokhara ...and of course on playing a bit of table tennis.
The first temple was the Pashupatinath which spreads over a large area with many different buildings and a river running through. We walked around the area in small groups, answering questions with the help from local visitors. Actually we didn't need to address people in order to get help with the questions, most people adressed us long before. Some of them were just local people or other tourists being interested in us and wanting to say hello and help us. Some of them were trying to sell us something; jewellery, flowers, Tikka for the forehead, guided tours or even a photography together with a monk.
A few meters away from all the salesmen were a lot of platforms alongside the river where dead people were cremated. We walked very close to the fires, smelled the smoke and ashes and saw different bodyparts sticking out of the flames. All in all that was a very strong and also strange experience and I think we all came to a closer understanding of hinduism and its meaning in Nepal.
After a couple of hours we withdrew from all the people and went up the hill to have a delicious lunch prepared and packed by the platform kitchen. There we could eat almost alone, only disturbed by a few hungry monkeys, a deaf man and a wedding party.
Then we went to see the buddhist temple, or stupa, Boudhanat. This was quite a lot smaller than the hindu one, and the temple itself was only one building in the middle of a kind of courtyard. A large white pagoda with a small tower on top with Buddhas characteristic eyes looking out on (and for) all of us. A kind british guy our age discretely hinted us that we were about to walk counterclockwise around the pagoda instead of clockwise as one should.
There were just as many people, and many more tourists, there than at Pashupatinath, but nonetheless this seemed much less chaotic and crowded, and much more peacefull and calm. It's such a cliche - european youth comming to the east and being fascinated by buddhism, but this place really seemed special. Jinita arranged for us to visit a monastery connected to the temple, where we met an old and very kind monk, who blessed us by saying our name and binding a red and yellow silk string around our neck. This was also a very strong experience and right now I can't really decide whether to take the string off my neck or not - it'll be interesting to see if I stille have it on on monday reading this aloud to the morning meeting.
I think this day showed us a lot about buddhism and hinduism, and for various reasons I would really like to go back to both temples during our three weeks left. However this all seemed to have been enough spirituality for one day and the rest of the afternoon and evening was spent sleeping and packing for the weekend in Pokhara ...and of course on playing a bit of table tennis.
Friday, February 24, 2012
A Raining Day
7th February 2012
At the beginning I was quite disappointed, because I had really looked forward to see the temples and learn about Hinduism and Buddhism in practice. But after the first class I actually didn’t thought of the real schedule for the rest of the day. Janita told us about gender and discrimination in Nepal. She told her own and others experience. It was so fascinating that none of us said a single word through her stories. And she made us think and reflect afterwards.
So the raining day became a day for reflection
In next class we learned about social change, activism, voluntarism and development. One could really feel that people was up for discussion for the themes.
The raining day became a day for reflection and discussion
In the evening there was a peaceful atmosphere at the house; most of the group went to Thamel, the boys played Risk in the garden and I enjoyed to calm and quiet moment from my warm bed.
The raining day became a day for reflection, discussion and relaxing
After dinner the rain stopped also for a little while – amazing! Some of us went to the movies to see a film called Kathmandu, while others felt the need to relax at home. The film was about the capital of Nepal; what kind of issues the city was loaded with. Even though, the themes were quite relevant for us, we couldn’t take the film seriously. It is impossible for me to describe why – all I can say is that one should really see this movie! It is long time since I laughed so much!
The raining day became a day for reflection, discussion, relaxing and a lots of fun
- A great day in Kathmandu!
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