Some Tidbits From Around the Country

After I left my village I had a little time to travel around the country. We went to Pokhara and Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, and I had the chance to see some awesome temples in Kathmandu. Before that, however, was a visit to a cave.

This stone marks the exact birthplace of Buddha.

At Lumbini several countries have monastaries such as these two.

This is the pool where Buddha's mother bathed before giving birth to him.

Boudanath Temple in Kathmandu

A wonderful Buddhist location.

This is at a Hindu temple in Kathmandu, it is a place where bodies are burned and the ashes are placed in a river that flows into the Ganges, a holy river in the Hindu religion.

There are also monkeys everywhere

On our way to Pokhara we rode on top of the bus for most of the four hours. It is an enjoyment I wish everyone could experience.




Fewa Lake in Pokhara
Aaaaaaah

Last Days in Nepal and a Bit From Before

These are some Photos from my last days in my village. I am quite computer illiterate, so these are in reverse chronological order. Basically they depict some photos from my school, a bit from our last day in which we were covered in tika, and some random shots from around the village.

My little friends from the Chiya shop

One last photo with my beloved deaf students


Us with all of the teachers

One of my favorite things about Nepal is the tika (the red stuff). And when people go away we are entitled to tons of it.

The beginning of our goodbye ceremony

All assmbly-type events were held outside.

NAMASTE!

Just hanging out in the ol' schoolyard

I used to kid this little fella that his tooth was eaten by a mouse.

The beautiful family portrait.

Aama cookin up some grub

There is nothing on this planet like a big mouthful of daal bhat

My buddy's bedroom

Holding the little God-boy

Little Andy got a little gift from America

Aama and Bua striking a pose.

Studying hard at school

The last month or two of my time our tap didn't really have water very often, so we would gather it from this little spot from a stream.

Once the monsoon season began, these tin roofs at the school didnt really last long.

Parents and teachers gathering for a meeting.

Pusha (worship)

This is a wedding from before I went trekking. A long walk with dancing to awesome horns the entire time.

These are some pictures from a Women's Day rally. We walked in front of the government buildings reminding them that women too have a voice.

Hanging out a really cute student's house

TREKKING IS CRAZY!!

Before I came to Nepal I am pretty sure I had never said the word 'trekking'. However, I found out that Nepal is one of the best places in the world for trekking. So for my two week vacation, Elizabeth, Ryan, and I went for a little stroll in the Himalayas, specifically the Annapurna range. Our destination was the Torung La Pass 5460 meters above sea level, and a ten day walk from where we started. It became ridiculously cold and was one of the hardest things I have ever done, but now I have sexy massive calf muscles and I think my eyes could fall out of my face because I have seen the most beautiful sights I can imagine. So here are some tid bits from the trip; also check out Elizabeth's and Ryan's blogs for awesome pictures: ewray123.blogspot.com and moshinnepal.blogspot.com.





The view from the tiny plane. I believe this is Machupuchure, one of the biggest mountains in the world...ever

View from Muktinath, a pilgrimage site for Buddhists and Hindus

The view from about 5000 meters up.

What has just been conquered

Torung La Pass, 5460 meters above sea level, 50% air pressure, the culminating point of an arduous voyage. To also put that in perspective, the tallest mountain in North America is 6193 meters high. The Himalayas are waaay bigger.

Some real hardcore folks right here.

baph re baph! (Nepali for 'wow')

Big time stuff.

A look back at what we just accomplished

We began totally unprepared, but with a lot of medication and sweet walking sticks we kicked the crap out of trekking.

Our hotel just before going over the pass.

*whistling noise that goes down in pitch as if to indicate to luscious site before your eyes.

View from the gompa in Manang.

Prayer flags...they are everywhere.

Hero of the mountain.

Inside a 1000 year old gompa, with crazy old Buddhist artifacts. A good place to find peace with the world.

Rock outside the Gompa. I have a feeling whatever it says is soul touching.

Inside a monk's room

Rainbow gloves: not primarily for the promotion of homosexual appendages anymore.

Prayer wheels, inside are prayers in Sanskrit, and since most people can't read that you just have to spin them.

Tending a wound.

This is called 'The Gateway to Heaven' for completely obvious reasons.

The sun rising on the Himalayas...pretty nice.

When trekking it is important to exert one's dominance over the trail, by ninja force if necessary.

This dude carried that huge iron thing up a really big hill. I think it might be the worst job I have ever witnessed.

I have no idea how to turn pictures the right way around.

I have been here so long that this doesn't look strange to me anymore, but I remembered that its not every day back home that goats ride on the top of the bus. It is really fun to travel with them up there.

On the way to a wedding. The groom is carried for about and hour and a half walk up a hill and rides like a stylish baller the entire time.

The Hindu festival Holi: get attacked with tika and play with water balloons all day, we must adopt this tradition in America.

Just after a women's day rally in Dhading Besi. I must say when I wear Ashish's clothes I look quite stunning.

The monkey temple in Kathmandu...monkeys everywhere try to steal your empty juice boxes and attempt to punch stray dogs...Crazytown.