Namaste

Nepal is a small country that sits in between Tibet (China) and India. It is smaller than the state of Utah but has 27 million more people. Despite its size, travel is slow. What would take us an hour and a half to drive might take 6 hours in Nepal due to the skinny, winding roads, lack of any traffic rules and crowded streets. Nepal is home to eight of the world's ten tallest mountains, including Mt. Everest, and is also home to the infamous Yeti. Kathmandu, its capitol, is a bustling city full of people, shops, taxis, bikes, street vendors, temples and just about anything else you can think of. In contrast, once you leave Kathmandu, there are beautiful grassy plains, vibrant jungles and quiet mountainscapes.
This was our destination.

After many hours in a plane, a quick layover in Hong Kong and a night in Kathmandu we headed to the Chitwan National Park. It was here that we got to ride an elephant in search of rhinos and other wild life.

We saw a few animals but no rhinos. We also took a canoe ride down the river and then walked back through the jungle – again, searching for the rhino. I saw the tip of a rhino ear before it ran off through the tall grass but that was it.

Then it was a long bus ride to the lake town of Pokhara where there is a great view of the Annapurna range. We woke up early one morning and hiked to the top of a hill to watch the sun rise over these beautiful mountains. We also boated in the lake, went for walks, and visited a bat cave and climbing museum while in this town.

Then it was back to Kathmandu to meet up with the group we would be taking into a rural village for a week. But first we visited the famous Monkey Temple (a Buddhist temple) that as you might imagine was full of monkeys!
This place was bursting with people offering sacrifices, praying, lighting candles and we even got to hear Buddhist monks chanting in one of the temples. It was almost overwhelming with all of the sights, sounds and smells and was one of the coolest places I have ever been.



Early the next morning our group loaded onto a bus for the long drive to the small village of Madi Chitwan. During the rainy season this village is inaccessible because the rivers swell and become impassable. No one can get in and no one can get out which means no access to outside resources including medical assistance. Most of the villagers can grow just enough food for their family for the year which might consists of rice, corn, mustard oil, potatoes, cauliflower, some beans and maybe a few chickens, goats and a buffalo for milking. There are a few communal water pumps around the village, a church, a community center and a school. Kids will walk up to an hour each way to get to school.

One of my favorite parts of the trip was the 45 min walk from the community center where we were staying to the school we were painting. Each misty morning we walked past bright yellow mustard fields, past small homes, smiling children, working villagers and wandering animals. It was so peaceful and beautiful.

Many of the villagers spoke at least some English so we could communicate a little that way or try to practice the few small phrases of Nepalese we had learned which often ended in giggles and confused looks.

We were fed well while in the village, lots of rice, potatoes, curry, beans. We even ate yak cheese and buffalo milk every morning which was actually very good.

Our project for the week was to help paint the old school which is right next door to the 8 new classrooms that CHOICE Humanitarian is currently helping to build. Since we are not all construction workers, we painted.

Since we were in the classrooms, the children had to have their lessons outside and I’m sure we were not too much of a distraction for them as they took their tests. Throughout the day, various villagers would stop by to help in between their own chores and responsibilities.

The villagers were very gracious and warmed up considerably after a day or so. They have never had a group of foreigners visit their community before so this was all very new to them. The day we arrived, they greeted us with dancing, gave us tikas (blessings on the forehead) and garlands of marigolds. This same celebration ceremony was repeated as we left and included a gift of a hand woven bowl and a small packet of soy nuts.

Then we began our long journey home. Being in a plane for hours on end, although annoying and uncomfortable, was a vital part of the trip. For a few hours you are flying in the air, not a part of any country, but in limbo as you transition from one place and culture to another. The long flight gave me an opportunity to decompress, digest and reflect on the experiences in Nepal to prepare to enter US again. It has been wonderful to reunite with family, friends, favorite foods, my bed and a warm shower but I also wonder when we will get to return to Nepal to enjoy all it has to offer again.

For more photos click HERE.