Life here is indescribable, it's stunning and heartbreaking.
Under stunning I mean:The incredible warmth of the people in the monastery and the people in the mountain village.The simplicity and sobriety (poverty by our standards) in which people still find their happiness.
The breathtaking nature, which I enjoyed enormously in the mountain village and the two-hour walk to get there. The flashback in time back by two centuries` (but with occasional power) in the mountain village.
The incredible discipline of the young monks, children from 10 years getting up at 4:30 AM for learning their texts, afterwards from 5:30 to 7:00 AM they join the morning prayer. They continue with a whole day of lessons till 6PM. In the evening they attend the evening prayer from 6:30 PM till 7:00 PM. Finally they end their day by philosophical discussions in the courtyard. finally they go to sleep at 22:00 PM, restarting again at 4:30 AM.
Additionally, the indescribable gratitude and motivation for the sports lessons is a joy being a teacher. Most of these children come from remote mountain villages (the majority from outside Nepal)like I have visited. Villages where they have to work in extreme conditions, and often are neglected an maltreated .... it is wonderful to see how they literally throw themselves at this gift of a better life.
Also the courage of the local population that we are working together with, is incredible. Their motivation for making things change in their difficult situation. I have met many people that I will hold as an example in my own life after this trip.
Under heartbreaking I mean: the incomprehensible corruption of people with power, police, politics, doctors ...
Everyone, really everyone complains about it and you see this country lives in chaos.
The streets are really no streets,there are no traffic rules here,
Most of the streets are unfinished, due to road works, electricity cables are sometimes hanging head height with hundreds together. Every dirt they just throw around the corner. A VERY large proportion of the population lives in unimaginable poverty. The pollution of the thousands of cars alone in Kathmandu is just incomprehensible.
These people really need all the help they can get!!
I honestly can say that this has been the most meaningful trip of my life!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Our trip running to its end
Days have been flying by too quickly. The sports lessons are running very well, and the monks are enjoying it a lot. This last week, in every group somebody has to replace me as the teacher during the yoga and fitness exercises. This will enable the monks to continue the lessons in my absence. I noticed their big progress in balance, flexibility, juggling... Every day they enter my class with the same big smiles on their faces and loaded with energy.
Last Friday I had a half day off so I went together with Tsering-la for book shopping in the tourist part of Kathmandu; Thamel. On Saturday (which is replacing our Sunday) I asked Dawah, the brother in law of Karma, if he could join me to visit some temples, my father having returned to the mountain village again. The company of an insider is always nicer and very useful. Dawah accepted and even prepared a whole day trip, visiting the whole Kathmandu Valley.
It was really exciting. First we visited the west part of Kathmandu Valley : the monkey Temple our Swayambhunath Stupa: this is a very big stupa on the top of a mountain surrounded with forest with plenty of monkeys jumping around, teasing tourists.
Next stop was the centre of Kathmandu : Kathmandu Durbar Square , a very big and splendid place filled with temples.
After a wonderful lunch we headed to the south where we visited Patan, again I was astonished by the many temples and castles still left in their original state. I learned that wherever a royal castle have been build, construction of monasteries and temples did follow.
After a good walk and look around we went to Bakthapur, one of the most popular places famous for his pottery. As expected we visited even more temples, castles and stuppas. As temples and castles got bigger entrance fees followed accordingly.
Our last destination was a visit to some very nice waterfalls, a little bit less exotic than I was expecting, because they used the water for electricity production. Despite this, it was very nice. Meanwhile Dawah'sister and a friend joined us because they lived nearby.
We ended our magical day by visiting Dawah's family in law. Over a cup of coffee ( what seems to be a luxury product) we discussed our visits. After our nice cup of coffee I intended to leave this warm harted family in search of a restaurant. However I did not get the chance because they insisted on having dinner at their home. I was honoured and happy, feeling the warmth and hospitality of Nepali people.
I really enjoyed the good food under the all seeing eye of the head of the family making sure I wouldn`t lack anything. We ended our dinner with a plate full of fruits. Leaving very late around 22`0` clock I got 4 bodyguards with me because streets are desserted from 20 `o` clock and they seem not always safe.
After an exhausting day I was very happy to find back my bed. With the day running to its end and the energy devoratig teaching lessons adding up, my energy level was slowly running down. So yesterday I spent the whole day recovering in bed.
Today however I feel fit again and I intend to teach them some last new exercises.
Last Friday I had a half day off so I went together with Tsering-la for book shopping in the tourist part of Kathmandu; Thamel. On Saturday (which is replacing our Sunday) I asked Dawah, the brother in law of Karma, if he could join me to visit some temples, my father having returned to the mountain village again. The company of an insider is always nicer and very useful. Dawah accepted and even prepared a whole day trip, visiting the whole Kathmandu Valley.
It was really exciting. First we visited the west part of Kathmandu Valley : the monkey Temple our Swayambhunath Stupa: this is a very big stupa on the top of a mountain surrounded with forest with plenty of monkeys jumping around, teasing tourists.
Next stop was the centre of Kathmandu : Kathmandu Durbar Square , a very big and splendid place filled with temples.
After a wonderful lunch we headed to the south where we visited Patan, again I was astonished by the many temples and castles still left in their original state. I learned that wherever a royal castle have been build, construction of monasteries and temples did follow.
After a good walk and look around we went to Bakthapur, one of the most popular places famous for his pottery. As expected we visited even more temples, castles and stuppas. As temples and castles got bigger entrance fees followed accordingly.
Our last destination was a visit to some very nice waterfalls, a little bit less exotic than I was expecting, because they used the water for electricity production. Despite this, it was very nice. Meanwhile Dawah'sister and a friend joined us because they lived nearby.
We ended our magical day by visiting Dawah's family in law. Over a cup of coffee ( what seems to be a luxury product) we discussed our visits. After our nice cup of coffee I intended to leave this warm harted family in search of a restaurant. However I did not get the chance because they insisted on having dinner at their home. I was honoured and happy, feeling the warmth and hospitality of Nepali people.
I really enjoyed the good food under the all seeing eye of the head of the family making sure I wouldn`t lack anything. We ended our dinner with a plate full of fruits. Leaving very late around 22`0` clock I got 4 bodyguards with me because streets are desserted from 20 `o` clock and they seem not always safe.
After an exhausting day I was very happy to find back my bed. With the day running to its end and the energy devoratig teaching lessons adding up, my energy level was slowly running down. So yesterday I spent the whole day recovering in bed.
Today however I feel fit again and I intend to teach them some last new exercises.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Village projects - Agriculture
Looking at the agriculture in the village of Rathankot it has to be considered as subsistence agriculture. People do grow crops for their daily life and consumption:
surplusses only are sold.
The conditions in which they cultivate their crops are harsh due to the geographical situation; steep hill or valley slopes which do not allow mechanical cultivation, difficult access to the fields, intensive labour requirements for transportation of goods to and from the fields. The only way cultivation can be organised is through manual labour and the assistance of their oxes for plowing.
The climate is favourable to many crops and they have 3 crops per annum. The soil seems pretty fertile, clay like though with local drainage problems. They grow rice and maize during the wet season. It is remarkble to see how every square (centi)meter is exploited. All rice fields are bordered by soya plants. In between the maize plants one finds the millet plants which will develop to maturity once the corn plants are harvested. Furthermore they grow wheat, mustard and oil rape seed during the rest of the year.
In their gardens next to their homes they grow a big variety of vegetables and fruit trees. Almost every family has a garden.
Vegetables range from potatoes to peppers, tomatoes, beans,leaf vegetables,sweet potatoes, ginger, onions, garlic, corn, carrots, herbs and much more.
At the same time one can find a hughe collection of fruit trees ranging from pears, goba, oranges, kumquat, banana, grenate apple, grapefruit(like)trees,vines, tea, coffee and others.
One can really speak about organic farming as no pesticides are known or used here.
Around each house you find chicken with their chicks. At night they are kept indoors (in the living part of the house)in order to protect them from wild animals during the night. Two years ago they had a tiger dwelling around in the wood nearby. An inspiring idea if you have to visit the outside toilet during the night without any light (or toilet paper). Besides they have also leopards of which the old ones prefer human meat according to some guidebooks. This may be the reason why one find so many dogs around the village.
Additionally one finds several goats and between two and five buffalos. Having these is very labourious for older people as they need to get feed for them from the fields twice a day. All feed has to be cut by hand and carried in typical bamboo baskets back home.
In this village there were no pigs as they are considered to be too dirty to be kept near the house. On the way to the village we noticed some however alongside the road.
Most houses in the village do have cavities in their walls in order to house honeybees. This system is probably thousands of years old and does not allow any handling. Beekeepers are waiting until bees come to install their colony in the cavity. The entrances are holes shaped by cow dung. The cavity inside the house is closed with a stone and fresh cow dung.
Furthermore, villagers do have problems with apes and wild boars feeding on their corn crops.
Despite the fact that nature grows everything you could wish here, it seems it does not come served on a silver plate.
You can see some pictures from the village in this web album!
surplusses only are sold.
The conditions in which they cultivate their crops are harsh due to the geographical situation; steep hill or valley slopes which do not allow mechanical cultivation, difficult access to the fields, intensive labour requirements for transportation of goods to and from the fields. The only way cultivation can be organised is through manual labour and the assistance of their oxes for plowing.
The climate is favourable to many crops and they have 3 crops per annum. The soil seems pretty fertile, clay like though with local drainage problems. They grow rice and maize during the wet season. It is remarkble to see how every square (centi)meter is exploited. All rice fields are bordered by soya plants. In between the maize plants one finds the millet plants which will develop to maturity once the corn plants are harvested. Furthermore they grow wheat, mustard and oil rape seed during the rest of the year.
In their gardens next to their homes they grow a big variety of vegetables and fruit trees. Almost every family has a garden.
Vegetables range from potatoes to peppers, tomatoes, beans,leaf vegetables,sweet potatoes, ginger, onions, garlic, corn, carrots, herbs and much more.
At the same time one can find a hughe collection of fruit trees ranging from pears, goba, oranges, kumquat, banana, grenate apple, grapefruit(like)trees,vines, tea, coffee and others.
One can really speak about organic farming as no pesticides are known or used here.
Around each house you find chicken with their chicks. At night they are kept indoors (in the living part of the house)in order to protect them from wild animals during the night. Two years ago they had a tiger dwelling around in the wood nearby. An inspiring idea if you have to visit the outside toilet during the night without any light (or toilet paper). Besides they have also leopards of which the old ones prefer human meat according to some guidebooks. This may be the reason why one find so many dogs around the village.
Additionally one finds several goats and between two and five buffalos. Having these is very labourious for older people as they need to get feed for them from the fields twice a day. All feed has to be cut by hand and carried in typical bamboo baskets back home.
In this village there were no pigs as they are considered to be too dirty to be kept near the house. On the way to the village we noticed some however alongside the road.
Most houses in the village do have cavities in their walls in order to house honeybees. This system is probably thousands of years old and does not allow any handling. Beekeepers are waiting until bees come to install their colony in the cavity. The entrances are holes shaped by cow dung. The cavity inside the house is closed with a stone and fresh cow dung.
Furthermore, villagers do have problems with apes and wild boars feeding on their corn crops.
Despite the fact that nature grows everything you could wish here, it seems it does not come served on a silver plate.
You can see some pictures from the village in this web album!
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Teaching sports in the monastry.
After half day of driving in the busy center of Kathmandu in search of shorts and sports material, I finally started the sports lessons. I have 4 groups:
First group 8 AM till 9 AM ; the eldest monks and the teachers 10 persons.
Second group 9 AM till 10 AM ; 14 till 16 year old children 12 persons.
Third group 3 PM till 4 PM ; youngest group from 10 till 15 year 12 persons.
Fourth group 4 PM till 5 PM ; 15 till 18 year 12 persons.
The main topic is yoga together with a range of fitness exercices(because later this is easy to continue for them). Next to this I thought them how to juggle three balls and the basic steps towards 4 ball juggling. I thought them balance exercices ; walking on stelts, balancing exercices on the balance boards, walking on the slack line. I also tried to teach them as much as possible games, because when they have a day off (saturday) they can play the whole day.
It is incredible to see all the children and teachers being so motivated and being so enthusiastic. Be assured this is a hard life! It is unbelievable how disciplined all these children are. They start there day at 4.30 AM and stop there activities at 9 PM. This means, after waking up they start studying there textbooks for one hour. Afterwards they join the morning prayer from 5.30 AM till 7 AM. This is non-stop praying. For breakfast : Bread and buttertea, and followed by the start of their lessons until lunch: Dahl (lentil soup, rice and some cooked vegetables). After lunch they continue their lessons until dinner at 18 PM. Next they have their evening prayer in front of the monastry. They end their day with filosofical debates from 7 PM till 9PM. ( meanwile stamping on the ground and clapping in their hands ... I think it is very intense.
But all these young kids and youngsters are truly devoted, they are thankful for getting a better life because they all come from remote and very poor villages...
First group 8 AM till 9 AM ; the eldest monks and the teachers 10 persons.
Second group 9 AM till 10 AM ; 14 till 16 year old children 12 persons.
Third group 3 PM till 4 PM ; youngest group from 10 till 15 year 12 persons.
Fourth group 4 PM till 5 PM ; 15 till 18 year 12 persons.
The main topic is yoga together with a range of fitness exercices(because later this is easy to continue for them). Next to this I thought them how to juggle three balls and the basic steps towards 4 ball juggling. I thought them balance exercices ; walking on stelts, balancing exercices on the balance boards, walking on the slack line. I also tried to teach them as much as possible games, because when they have a day off (saturday) they can play the whole day.
It is incredible to see all the children and teachers being so motivated and being so enthusiastic. Be assured this is a hard life! It is unbelievable how disciplined all these children are. They start there day at 4.30 AM and stop there activities at 9 PM. This means, after waking up they start studying there textbooks for one hour. Afterwards they join the morning prayer from 5.30 AM till 7 AM. This is non-stop praying. For breakfast : Bread and buttertea, and followed by the start of their lessons until lunch: Dahl (lentil soup, rice and some cooked vegetables). After lunch they continue their lessons until dinner at 18 PM. Next they have their evening prayer in front of the monastry. They end their day with filosofical debates from 7 PM till 9PM. ( meanwile stamping on the ground and clapping in their hands ... I think it is very intense.
But all these young kids and youngsters are truly devoted, they are thankful for getting a better life because they all come from remote and very poor villages...
My trip back to Kathmandu.
It has been a while since my last update. The 31th of July, I took leave of the villagers and my father to return to Kathmandu. I was in the company of Karma his father and a girl from the village.
The trip back took us last time 2hours, only this time it took us 1 hour. This wa entirely due to the pace of my travel companions. I had a lot of trouble to keep up with them. After a well deserved Pepsi in the cafe along the street we took the bus.
As our bus was overcrowded we were forced to join the passengers on the roof together with the 6 goats for a 84km ride. Unfortunately, my battery of my photo equipment was down, but I have everything on film. I only say that this was inconceivable to travel in this way. This is probably the best way to admire the landscape. After a long bus trip, we had a few hours in small packed buses to go through the chaos of Kathmandu. The journey of 84 km has kept me busy for 10 hours.
The trip back took us last time 2hours, only this time it took us 1 hour. This wa entirely due to the pace of my travel companions. I had a lot of trouble to keep up with them. After a well deserved Pepsi in the cafe along the street we took the bus.
As our bus was overcrowded we were forced to join the passengers on the roof together with the 6 goats for a 84km ride. Unfortunately, my battery of my photo equipment was down, but I have everything on film. I only say that this was inconceivable to travel in this way. This is probably the best way to admire the landscape. After a long bus trip, we had a few hours in small packed buses to go through the chaos of Kathmandu. The journey of 84 km has kept me busy for 10 hours.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
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