08-07 Expedition Bio-gas.

With the sound of debating monks clapping their hands on the background , we start the report of Day 6 in the monastery. And yet another amazing day it was. Loaded with a fresh and huge amount energy, the monks were already showing off their basketball skills even before sport lessons had started. Enthusiasm in its purest form. Brecht's intestines more or less regained their normal activity level, and so his Yoga lessons continued. Jonas and Sofie skipped the morning sport activities and headed for “expedition bio-gas” to Kathmandu center. Together with the ever so kind Karma they checked the availability of equipment to build a bio-gas installation in Ratankot. Dust, cows, ducks, dust, most of the equipment on their list and dust were amongst the things they found on the expedition. After lunch, the monks gathered for the presentation we had prepared on waste management. It was amazing to see them so eager to listen to what we had to say. We talked about how the things we use every day can become waste that pollutes the environment, and about the things we can do to reduce this polluting effect. They had great fun guessing the best solution during a little 'waste quiz', and the applause we received at the end really was heart warming. We hung up some waste management pointing cards on the monastery walls, so the monks will be daily reminded of the importance of good waste management. Afterward we all went down to Karma's shop. He guided us around Bodanath Stupa, where we went in and out of a thousand shops, or so it seemed like, to buy the most beautiful souvenirs. We won't be keeping them for ourselves though. O no. We will take them back to Belgium and sell them on several occasions (to which you all are warmly invited in advance), with the profit going to the different incredible projects of Geshe Pema Dorjee La who works so hard to help other human beings in need. The tour ended in Dawa's shop (Karma's brother in law), where we had the cutest Namaste of the cutest toddler in Kathmandu (it was Diwa, Dawa's son). Back into the monastery, electricity failed once again...., though it brought us the most romantic candlelit diner together with Tinlee and Tashi. Hans became ecstatic after seeing the french fries Tempah (the monastery cook) had made specially for him. He's still running around with a big smile on his face. As are we all actually, not only because of the great food, but because of the utter privilege of being here all together in the monastery...