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

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