Explorations in SE Asia: Dashain Festivities and More!

So much to write about this week!

(Note: I've written this on Oct. 25Th, and I've just realized that it's two months till Christmas. I'm sure that back home, and in any country where Christmas is a big holiday, the stores have already started selling Christmas decorations, having Christmas sales, playing Christmas music, etc. (Has Starbucks started selling it's Christmas drinks yet?) But here in Nepal, where Christmas isn't a holiday, there's nothing to remind you that the biggest commercial holiday in the Western world is just around the corner. Just a thought.)

The highlight of this past week was definitely the overnight trip to Nagarkot, but before I write about that, here's a few photos and snippets of some other stuff that's been going on:

In which I learn from a lama:

In my English class, there is a 9-year old monk-in-training, called a lama. But he's no ordinary lama, he's THE (a?) reincarnated lama. I'm not entirely sure what that means, but I do know that it makes him special. But to me, he's just a 9-year old boy in my English class. The other day though, I was reminded of his specialness when he taught me a few words in Tibetan? (I'm not sure of the language) and their corresponding hand gestures. After teaching me, he started a chant that included the words and gestures he'd just taught me.

Learning Nepali

While I teach English, my students in turn teach me a few words and phrases in Nepali. I then take these words and try them out with the cook in Kanchanjunga. Her English isn't the best, but it's better than my Nepali. :) Some of my favourite moments have been sitting on a stool in the kitchen, asking her to teach me words in Nepali and having part English part Nepali conversations.

Some of the youth boys are training to be trekking guides. A group of trekkers came to visit Umbrella, and meet some of the boys who will be acting as their porters. We helped them make trail mix bars :)

On the spice called 'ceseum'

Does anyone know what spice this is?? The cook in Kanchanjunga uses it in am amazing cucumber/potato salad, and it's DELICIOUS!!! The only ingredients are potatoes, cucumbers, salt, lemon juice, this spice ceseum and sauteed green chillies. I would love to be able to make it at home, if only I knew what ceseum was. :)

Late night snacks

Last Thursday, after the weekly quiz, we hung around the pub until it closed and we were kicked out. (It was only 12:30, but Kathmandu closes early, there's almost not night-life). One of the Irish lads who works for Umbrella asked if anyone wanted a ride home on his bike. Surprise, surprise, my hand shot up. I've discovered I LOVE riding on the back of motorbikes. :) It was only after we set off that I realized getting a ride from from someone with a few drinks in him (even if he is Irish), through the treacherous streets of Kathmandu may not be the best idea. Oh well. Too late now. We stopped for late nights snacks on the way back. A few food vendors were set up on the side of the road, selling mo-mos, fried veggies and chow-mein. I shared a bowl of mo-mos with a friend and tried not to think about the hygiene of the food cart, or the food cart vendor. :P They were tasty mo-mos!

In celebration of Dashain, goats and buffalo are ritually sacrificed in temples. I missed the actual killing, but I saw the aftermath (that's blood)

Nine month milestone

As of October 17th, I've been gone for nine months. NINE!!!!!!! And it's less that two months till I fly back to N. America. I can't wait. :)

Going to the Cinema, Nepali Style

As one of the Dashain activities, we took all the kids to the cinema. It was fantastic. We took the bus there, and made it just as the opening credits were starting. It was 8:15am. I've never been to the cinema that early! We'd chosen to take them to a Hindi film, “Student of the Year.” Although it was in Hindi, everyone here know Hindi, because a majority of the TV shows they watch are in Hindi. Unfortunately for us volunteers, we don't understand Hindi, and there weren't any subtitles. However, it was a Bollywood film, and a lot can be guessed from their facial expressions, and there were enough shots of hot guys to keep us occupied. ;) And the music and dancing was quite entertaining. :) Us girl volunteers have decided that we need to find a DVD copy, with subtitles.

One of the most important events for Dashain is the Tikka ceremony, where the elders put a red tikka on the foreheads of their family and often hand out treats and money. As these kids didn't go home for the holiday, we had a Tikka ceremony for them here.

Nagarkot

By far the most exciting Dashain activity for the kids was the overnight trip to Nagarkot, a small village on the edge of Kathmandu Valley. We all loaded into a bus for the 1.5hr drive up, up, up. We had a fantastic time! The rest of the photos are from our trip.

THE ONLY paved road with lines that I've seen in Nepal AND it's divided, like a proper highway! It was almost like being back home! ;)

This is a fabulous photo of the lads! So much happiness

The volunteers (and one lad) playing a game of Werewolf

One of the lads took this photo. I think it's brilliant!

DINNER!!! It was a buffet meal. The kids PILED the food on their plates. They don't get to eat as much as they want very often.

It's not the best photo, and doesn't do justice to the amazingness that was the sunrise. But this is sunrise over the Himalayas. FINALLY I SAW SNOW CAPPED MOUNTAINS!!!!