A Visit to Panauti

Hello!   

We hope you are having a lovely 2013 so far.  We are, thanks to the Lord and have been busy as usual, but we like it that way.  Ramon was happy to have Hong Kong Adventist Hospital's Ear Team here a few weeks ago doing surgeries.  They worked long hours and accomplished everything they needed to.  There are many happy Nepalis able to listen to their world now!

 It was not "all work and no play" however--at least for Mom and me!  (She was here for two months.)  One day we went to Panauti, an ancient historical town not far from here.  I hope Ramon can go with the me the next time I go.

 You can see the temples and one of the sacred rivers that meanders around the town and through the valley.  The mountains make a majestic backdrop for the ancient town (which dates from the 14th or 15th centuries or even earlier--depending on who you talk to) which was at the junction of important early trading routes.  One of these temples is supposed to be the oldest or at least one of the oldest in Nepal.  The town is an important medieval site and also considered one of Nepal's most artistic towns.

Last year, when my niece Liesl was here, we (the school) had a field trip and picnic on the top of a nearby hill (which I call a mountain)

where we had some magnificent views (when we finally made it to the top)!

I was happy to be able to go back with Mom during one of our holidays from school.  As you can see by the pictures, it was one of those beautiful days with those beautiful blue skies that make it impossible to take a bad picture!  This is the square where the bus stop is.

The streets are narrow and busy just like in Banepa.

Everyone we saw was busy.

These ladies were able to take a break

and these young men found time for a game.

There were lots of small temples everywhere, which is common.




After I took the above picture and we walked a few steps, the little girl you see above called her friends and they all called for me to take their picture.  Surprisingly, they didn't ask for chocolate, as is common.  They were satisfied to just be in a picture.

A few steps later we were at the entrance to the famous temple area.  I think it was the back entrance, although it was the entrance we found first.  The little cutie on the right was so happily helping his mom!

This mother had some happy helpers too!


As we walked in, the largest temple was in front of us.

We walked up and to the left to get our tickets in the office.

In this building is an interesting museum filled with very ancient artifacts.

One of the artifacts has a sign that it's from the 8th century, but some of my signs are blurred, and I can't find it.  Oh well.  Maybe next time I'll be more careful!  Anyway, you can get a general idea of the museum with these few pics.  We really enjoyed it.

Now for some shots of the temples.

I took this shot of the top of the largest temple because I had read that young couples hang pots and pans up there to signify their hope for a happy and prosperous family life.  I didn't see any, but maybe I just missed them.

There is a chariot festival held here every year, but we haven't been able to see it yet.  One of the days is called the "Duin-chha-nya-ye-ke-guis" -- sounds interesting!  There's also an important pilgrimage that happens every twelve years.  The last one was right before we came in 2010.  Thousands of people come to Panauti during these times to cleanse themselves in the rivers.  I can't promise that we'll be here for the next one in 2022!

On the short drive home, we saw this beautiful sight that we can't see from Banepa!
So close, but so far!

Also saw the harvesting in action!

In a jiffy we were back home in Banepa.

Next time, Ramon, you are coming with me!  :)
 Have a nice day!

Holiday Memories!

Hi!  Wow--how is it possible that the holidays are now just a nice memory?!  We hope you had a very happy holiday season!  We were blessed to have had my mom here with us this year for two months, and it was nice having her around to "mother" us with her good cooking and good company! 

Here we are in Dhulikhil, Nepal where we ate Christmas dinner with this view!

She also helped out at the school and played the organ for our two programs.  She enjoyed interacting with the children and I'm not sure if she had more fun or if they did!

The first program was at the hospital for the patients, workers, and anyone who happened by.  The older students sang and put on a Christmas play.  They did their own translating into Nepali, which made all of us very proud.  They did such a good job.

 

 

What's a program without food? :)

When Sabbath came, the youth presented a Christmas pageant and Pastor Chuck presented a Christmas sermon.  Then we had the annual Christmas potluck dinner.  The weather cooperated and it was a beautiful day!

Tracy and Sarah were able to find some of their favorite foods!

 

Baby Hannah didn't eat any Nepali food, but she smiled for everyone and looked pretty cute in her hat!

Our school program for the parents was on the afternoon of Christmas Eve.

As parents arrived, Mom did a sound check with the sound guys.

You can't see it, but she looked really nice in a pretty kurta.

I went over the hand motions of a song with some of the kids before the program.

Anjan did most of the work orchestrating the program (both programs actually).

Good job Anjan!  You deserve a day (or three) off!

This program had singing,

(I was leading and Mom playing for the "English" part of the program, I don't have any pictures of that--sorry!)

 dancing,

(Tried to upload a video--but had no luck!)

(Some of the little ones got in practice for next year's program:)

 

a Nepali play the kids wrote (good job kids!) about a boy who learned his lesson
the hard way about proper eating and sleeping habits and he had to see the doctor,
(Our young doctor did such a good job he may be recruited by the hospital!)

prizes,

 

and last but not least--the cultural show--which I love!

 

 Great job kids! 

This is the view we had on Christmas morning.

 This is Mom taking a picture of the view we had at the restaurant we went to in Dhulikhil (about five miles away) where the first picture in this post was taken.

As you can see, it was a beautiful place for Christmas dinner!

 It was really relaxing to eat out on Christmas--no cooking and no cleaning up--just enjoying good company, good food,

and good views!
 

We plan on eating out on Christmas day more often!

Here's a pretty cool picture Ramon took of someone else enjoying Nepal's views!

  Christmas and New Year's Day are not big deals here.  (Remember that the Nepali New Year is celebrated in mid-April.)  Life was pretty much "Business as Usual"
although we did see this Christmas tree at the grocery store

and this cutie shopping with her "mommy!" :)


We also saw people selling festive balloons

which looked slightly easier to carry than these boxes!


Pretty sure this sign says, "Men at Work" or something similar.

Glad to see this fellow wearing gloves--not all have that option.

Somehow this young man sews with his gloves on!

This young lady found time to relax

and so did this "family"

We were able to relax and have fun because we were together too!
 We hope you had a fun holiday with your loved ones too
and we wish everyone a safe, happy, and healthy 2013!

Coming up--our visit here: