October has been festival fever. The 2 main Hindu festivals of Dashain and Tihar. Even the goats get a make over! As we write a group of children are in the yard downstairs singing and dancing. The Nepali equivalent of carol singing. Sleep has been short as singing and dancing is going on at night all around.
We went on our mid West orientation trip to Surkhet and Neaplgunj (this should have happened in March but was postponed to the frequent bandhs.) We visited other INF projects
in these areas. To get there by bus took 12 hours, with Patrick being sick most of the time! Travelling in Nepal does wonders for the prayer life. Landslides, meeting other packed buses and narrow bending roads. Rickshaws were the transport in Neaplgunj. Most drivers at the journeys end wanted more money. The one who definitely didn’t get a bonus was the one who breaked too late, bumped into the one infront and Molly fell out into the road!
We also managed to fit in a long weekend in Bardia National Park.11 INFers had a great time, elephant riding, rafting and all round relaxation and good fun. No tigers, but an impressive set of tiger footprints in the sand, which made me wonder how safe we were walking on foot?? We also saw 2 river dolphins!! Which are now an endangered species.
Nepalgunj and Bardia, are on the border with India and were HOT. We tried different cooling down methods. Water fights, and just getting into that river with all clothes on!!!
Hellos and goodbyes are a constant part of life in Pokhara. Ther are always short termers passing through and the people coming long term stay here while they do language study. Chelsey from Canada stayed with us for 3 weeks. She was an OT who worked at Green Pastures. A family who have been here 6 years, from Malaysia, leave at the end of the month. The school had a leaving party on Friday. Saying good byes so often is hard.
We’re getting ready for my mum and dad coming out. 10 months since we last saw them. We are all very excited. Hard to believe 2 more months and we’ll have been here a year.
Invites for daal bhaat (rice and lentils) keep coming. I’m definitely a potato person, but it’s lovely to be building up friendships within the community.
October has been festival fever. The 2 main Hindu festivals of Dashain and Tihar. Even the goats get a make over! As we write a group of children are in the yard downstairs singing and dancing. The Nepali equivalent of carol singing. Sleep has been short as singing and dancing is going on at night all around.
in these areas. To get there by bus took 12 hours, with Patrick being sick most of the time! Travelling in Nepal does wonders for the prayer life. Landslides, meeting other packed buses and narrow bending roads. Rickshaws were the transport in Neaplgunj. Most drivers at the journeys end wanted more money. The one who definitely didn’t get a bonus was the one who breaked too late, bumped into the one infront and Molly fell out into the road!
We also managed to fit in a long weekend in Bardia National Park.11 INFers had a great time, elephant riding, rafting and all round relaxation and good fun. No tigers, but an impressive set of tiger footprints in the sand, which made me wonder how safe we were walking on foot?? We also saw 2 river dolphins!! Which are now an endangered species.
Hellos and goodbyes are a constant part of life in Pokhara. Ther are always short termers passing through and the people coming long term stay here while they do language study. Chelsey from Canada stayed with us for 3 weeks. She was an OT who worked at Green Pastures. A family who have been here 6 years, from Malaysia, leave at the end of the month. The school had a leaving party on Friday. Saying good byes so often is hard.
