An Experience: A Week in Kathmandu, Nepal
I left the UK on January 28th, just 7 days ago now. I flew into Kathmandu and spent 4 nights there before moving to Kopan Buddhist Monastery which is suspended above the dusty chaotic city on a peaceful green hill top.
Kathmandu
Kathmandu is a city of abundant noise, chaos and dust! Walking down the dusty roads motorbikes, cars and minibuses beep and weave their way past pedestrians, often passing you by what feels like inches. But for all this chaos and noise, the people move about calmly and without rushing. Mothers sit outside small kiosk-like shops with babies in their arms. Bicycles parked by the road side are laden with fruit to sell, the owners waiting patiently for business. Central heating doesn't appear to exist and so, in the evenings, when the temperatures drop drastically, little fires pop up with Nepali's standing around chatting.
I visited Durbar Square (square of temples), the old Royal Palace (though the monarchy ended around 2008 after the family was assasinated), Swyamabhu temple (a stunning Buddhist Stupa on a hilltop inhabited by many, often cheeky, monkeys and decorated with thousands of fluttering prayer flags) and explored the streets.
Kopan Buddhist Monastery (so far)
Tomorrow i start a 10-day course - Introduction to Buddhism - here at Kopan. With no phone and daily teachings and meditations it will be something quite an experience!
To escape the chaos of Kathmandu I came to Kopan Monastery 3 nights before the course started. Beeps of horns have been replaced with rustling trees and birds, along with young monks playing in their breaks from class. At every angle you look out across the city, above the chaos and pollution. I've had a room to myself with not many people here right now which is great! The small landscaped gardens are a peaceful place to read (there is a little library!) and write and be warmed by the strong sun. People have started arriving for the course.
The reality...what's not so great:
The pollution! I've done as locals do and wear a mask but I definitely feel it in my throat. Equally, the beeping horns coming up behind me make me jump whenever I'm out and about.
Something special...a birthday blessing:
I went for a Nepali cooking class one morning at a women-empowerment social enterprise, Seven Women. The organisation trains disadvantaged women (single mothers, disabled...) in literacy & skills in handicraft, the goods sold abroad and to tourists, and runs classes and tours for tourists to gain revenue. I spent a lovely morning making a delicious lunch and chatting to a young Nepali woman who was my teacher. At the end of the morning, having heard it was my birthday, the women gave me a blessing and a little present to take away! I was grateful for this touch making the day a little bit special!
A little extra...the roads:
Crossing big busy roads can feel as impossible as crossing a raging river! Fortunately, the one time I really needed to cross, a bus blocked the way and I dashed across just in time before the motorbikes flowed around the bus. (Pedestrian crossings don't really exist though I've heard this is nothing compared to Kenya)
Kathmandu
Kathmandu is a city of abundant noise, chaos and dust! Walking down the dusty roads motorbikes, cars and minibuses beep and weave their way past pedestrians, often passing you by what feels like inches. But for all this chaos and noise, the people move about calmly and without rushing. Mothers sit outside small kiosk-like shops with babies in their arms. Bicycles parked by the road side are laden with fruit to sell, the owners waiting patiently for business. Central heating doesn't appear to exist and so, in the evenings, when the temperatures drop drastically, little fires pop up with Nepali's standing around chatting.
I visited Durbar Square (square of temples), the old Royal Palace (though the monarchy ended around 2008 after the family was assasinated), Swyamabhu temple (a stunning Buddhist Stupa on a hilltop inhabited by many, often cheeky, monkeys and decorated with thousands of fluttering prayer flags) and explored the streets.
Kopan Buddhist Monastery (so far)
Tomorrow i start a 10-day course - Introduction to Buddhism - here at Kopan. With no phone and daily teachings and meditations it will be something quite an experience!
To escape the chaos of Kathmandu I came to Kopan Monastery 3 nights before the course started. Beeps of horns have been replaced with rustling trees and birds, along with young monks playing in their breaks from class. At every angle you look out across the city, above the chaos and pollution. I've had a room to myself with not many people here right now which is great! The small landscaped gardens are a peaceful place to read (there is a little library!) and write and be warmed by the strong sun. People have started arriving for the course.
The reality...what's not so great:
The pollution! I've done as locals do and wear a mask but I definitely feel it in my throat. Equally, the beeping horns coming up behind me make me jump whenever I'm out and about.
Something special...a birthday blessing:
I went for a Nepali cooking class one morning at a women-empowerment social enterprise, Seven Women. The organisation trains disadvantaged women (single mothers, disabled...) in literacy & skills in handicraft, the goods sold abroad and to tourists, and runs classes and tours for tourists to gain revenue. I spent a lovely morning making a delicious lunch and chatting to a young Nepali woman who was my teacher. At the end of the morning, having heard it was my birthday, the women gave me a blessing and a little present to take away! I was grateful for this touch making the day a little bit special!
A little extra...the roads:
Crossing big busy roads can feel as impossible as crossing a raging river! Fortunately, the one time I really needed to cross, a bus blocked the way and I dashed across just in time before the motorbikes flowed around the bus. (Pedestrian crossings don't really exist though I've heard this is nothing compared to Kenya)
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