Freshly arrived from Europe finding ourselves in the streets of old Delhi. It is a pity we could not add sound, temperature (it felt like 45 C) and odour.
Every profession, exhibiting for the people walking by, could be found. Here you see somebody restoring the bottom of a bucket. In fact a tiny contribution to prevent earth warming from these people' side.
Going with the crowd in Old Dehli. Imagine the noise at 45 degrees Celsius.
Red fort (Lal Qila) in Delhi; once upon a time the residence of local rulers.
Jama Mashid mosk from the roof of our hotel at night (Old Delhi).
First glimpse of Kathmandu from the plane during landing. Our plane was delayed for several hours due to the rainy conditions. We started our journey at 3 am and arrived at 1 pm. The flight itself took 1 hour 30 minutes.
Our arrival at the monastry. From second left to right: Karma our guide to the village, Tseringla, the head of the monastery, Brecht and myself.
Discussing the trip and the plans for the coming weeks.
Ready to start the projects.
Brecht, myself, Karma and Tashi the bookkeeper of the monastery.
View from the Porong Pelmo Choeding monastery in Kathmandu. Although visually looking very modern, in reality big differences do occur with what we are used to. Irregular water supply (not always drinkable), daily power supply cuts to mention a few.
Another view looking direction West (towards the centre of Kathmandu from our location). Below in front the tops of monks rooms.
The temple of the monastery in front, and the rooms of the monks to the left.
First thing we did was buying gym shoes for the monks
Sizes needed to fit: it was peculiar to note that all monks opted for rather too large sizes, probably they were concerned by their still growing feet in the future.
Only happy faces !
Hartwarming to see.
On the road ! One had the impression that roadworks were underway at all places at the same time. Only the road workers were not present.
Queues in Europe ! Just try out this one first.
Priority of the strongest!
Starting our trip to the village Rathankot, waiting for the bus.
The road as seen from the bus
We where lucky as a tourist bus who missed his passengers invited us to join, as a result we got plenty of room.
The roadmap to Ratankot (right finger) starting from Kathmandu (red circle bottom left on the map).
Some views alongside the road.
The bus overtaking a car under quite difficult conditions; a normal thing in life for Nepali.
All together "singing in the rain" on the roof of the bus.
Nice country side with very steep hills (the word mountains is more appropriate).
Busstop for a quick meal alongside the road.
12 km before we arrived we had to switch to the regular bus. Quite a difference and very crowded in between boxes with live chicken.
Approaching our target ! This road which is bi-directional was constructed by the Swiss government +/- 40 years ago and is more than 100 kms long. People today still call it the Swiss road.
Arrival we thought !
Refreshing with a cup of typical tea. Notice the water filled plastic bag hanging on the ceiling. According to the shop owner it frightens the flies intending to land on it as they see a magnified picture of themselves !
The kitchen; a view from our table.
The start of the last 3 kms. The easy bit as we had no clue of what was waiting in front of us.
Some helpful companion even offered to take some extra luggage from Karma's mother
The views were fantastic.
Karma's mother with a newly bought pot from Kathmandu.
Paddy rice fields everywhere going down.
Slowly we continued our way down, crossing some local people bringing home grass for their cattle.
Eventually we reached the bridge over the river. This bridge had been renewed last year with the help of a donation of French people. It is the only access for the villagers to their village during the monsoon season.
And now up through what the villagers call the jungle.
Up to now we didn't realize what leaches meant. Anyhow they liked us and watched us coming.
It really became tougher than we tought with the load on our backs.
And we kept climbing ....
So we finally reached Karma's family house.
I do not know whether we or the camera got a blurred vision at the end.
With time vision improved !
Karma's mother immediately started the kitchen. She reached the house half an hour before us despite her age (55 years). Strong women !
It did not take long before we were surrounded by curious children from the village.
We made a tour of the village. Here you see the inside of the community house under constuctrion and sponsored by Norvegian people.
This community house will contain two guest rooms for visitors, a small monastery and a meeting room for the villagers. When you plan your next trip just keep it in mind, the experience is unique !
Back at our sleeping room at the guest family's house. Some had to mind their head !
Unpacking.
After a one's day trip at the dining table.
Karma's father and uncle.
To our surprise the chicken were sleeping in the dining room.
Everywhere where we went we met children and we were the local attraction. Overal waar we kwamen waren er kinderen en wij waren de locale attractie.
The neighbours of Karma's parents. De buren van Karma's ouders.
All villagers were very friendly.
Happy together in the local shop held by one of the teachers in the village.
A typical rain protection garment used by the villagers.
Showing the pictures taken was always an appreciated event.
Running into a group of secondary pupils returning from school situated at the next village.
Having a talk with some of the villagers.
A view of the surrounding nature.
Citrus leaves suffering from leafminers, scales and aphids.
Part of the village with one of the primary school buildings (blue roof) in the front.
The road which is accessible during the dry season only.
The sportshall, with the yoga and fitness exercices displayed.
The local carpenter made stets out of Bambo and some balance boards.
Teaching yoga.
The motivation of these young kids is incredibel.
Also the monks teachers are attending my yoga class, I even let them give the exampel.
Even the small ones are concentrating very hard to get their breathing right.
They love to balance on the slaglines I brought.
Teaching them how to juggel.
Sometimes it is very hard not to laugh with their funny expressions.
They love to play chinese football.
The more fall out the funnier it gets.
Certainly when their our 4 left.
Helping he teachers with the stelt exercices.
Also the motivation of the teachers is incredibel, they never give up.
Finally when they sucseed the smile on their face is my big reward :) .
Saturday the monks have a free day sow they were pushing the stelt to a higher level.
They started practising from morning till night.
Sow now they have to teach me how to balance on the highest level ...
Their devotion brings nice results.
Even at night they were playing with the stelts until electricity came back, then they rush to the television (that they only may look at in their free time).
After the stelts they were up for a new challange : the balance boards ... a little more tricky.
The young monks have an imense amount of energy, so I have to do my very best to get them cooling down.
An other game they love is douge ball.
Some still have to learn they have to throw behind the line (althouw it is a quite imaginary line).
Flexibility and acrobatic stunts are essential in this game, I think this is the reason why they love it so much.
I think I will miss their warm and sincere smiles.
This one I call big man, he is 10 years old and the smallest of them all, but I think you better not mess with him, because he`s scared of nothing.
That day I made a journey around the world with all the tabels, wood and seets I could find, when they entered the hall they became crasy sow I was obligate to give a very intense warming up, befor we started.
They had to clim.
Sometimes to wait when some one was stuck.
Also crawling was a part of the game, but as you see they didn`t mind.
I try to give them also some teambuilding, sow they had to cross eachother.
Sow with their enthusiasm they tried it with 4 .
But the best way was, with two and the help of a strong monk.
They love to do competitions, but sometimes they don`t know when they have won.
But the games are effective, it gets them running and playing.
Helping eachother balancing on the boards.
Big man.
This is Tempa the monastry cook, when I have the time I try to help him. He is so funny telling stories with to much bodylanguage it seems you watch a karate kid movie.
The monks are prepairing some offers for Budha.
The art in their tempel is incredible.
These are some handpaintings outside the Tempel gate, this one is the wheele of life.
Sunday I joined the morning prair. This starts at 5.30 AM till 7 AM. But it was more then worth it.
The young monks are very devoted.
Even when their is no teacher, they continue with their studies.
During a nice dinner we enjoyed are breathtaking vieuw of Bodanath.
My foot 2 days after a nasty musqito bite.
The goldpainted art is magnificant, these are some very exclusive pictures, becaus it is realy rare to have promition to take pictures of this art.
Budanath festival.
Nepali roads...
These our very young boys working...
Childlabour is not so hard to find in Kathmandu.
Some nice vieuws after a 30 min walk.
