Today was somewhat solemn.
Why? We went to the famous Lord Shiva (Hindu) Temple Pashupatinath, where only Hindus are allowed inside...however this amazing temple lies next to a river where cremations are done...when Hindus die, all are cremated and the ashes are immersed into the holy river which runs next to the cremation sites.. there were around 9-10 sites, and I saw 3-4 bodies being cremated live.
I've never seen anything like it.
People were wailing...
Others were watching.
I had to sit down..
Stunned.
Saddened.
Praying.
Thinking.
Hoping for strength for their loved ones.
Wishing for comfort and solace.
Ashes to ashes....dust to dust.
I had to get up after awhile...
I was too saddened.
Thursday, August 2, 2007
Why I Danced With A Monk.
Why was my goal to dance with a Monk (Buddhist)?
Because.
Why not.
It wasn't a ritual.
I went up to a monk, and asked for his hand, and twirled him around, and then he twirled me around.
Where?
At Boudhanath, the HOLIEST BUDDHIST PLACE IN NEPAL!
Why?
Why not.
It made him laugh.
It made me smile even harder.
It's simple twirling which I absolutely love to do.
I make my parents twirl all the time and it makes them chuckle.
It makes my patients chuckle too...
There is no significance to it..
Just silliness... and light heartedness..
Simple.
Monks don't usually dance.
This was spectacular.
The guide i'm with is somewhat stunned by my approach to everyone...first having coffee with the Lama, to dancing with the 90 year old cute Nepali man...to dancing with a monk....he says i've done incredible things which have never happened before.
Never say never.
I may go dance with a monk in Tibet next.
Bets on?
:)
Because.
Why not.
It wasn't a ritual.
I went up to a monk, and asked for his hand, and twirled him around, and then he twirled me around.
Where?
At Boudhanath, the HOLIEST BUDDHIST PLACE IN NEPAL!
Why?
Why not.
It made him laugh.
It made me smile even harder.
It's simple twirling which I absolutely love to do.
I make my parents twirl all the time and it makes them chuckle.
It makes my patients chuckle too...
There is no significance to it..
Just silliness... and light heartedness..
Simple.
Monks don't usually dance.
This was spectacular.
The guide i'm with is somewhat stunned by my approach to everyone...first having coffee with the Lama, to dancing with the 90 year old cute Nepali man...to dancing with a monk....he says i've done incredible things which have never happened before.
Never say never.
I may go dance with a monk in Tibet next.
Bets on?
:)
Dancing with Monks
I DID IT.
Danced with a monk...2-3 times over.
Danced with 90 year old Nepali man...all caught on camera and video.
My goal is complete. Now onto other goals.
:)
Whohoooo!
Danced with a monk...2-3 times over.
Danced with 90 year old Nepali man...all caught on camera and video.
My goal is complete. Now onto other goals.
:)
Whohoooo!
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Masala Chai?
I love masala chai (Indian tea with milk/spices), so I ordered a pot this morning during breakfast. It was delicious with fresh cardamom pods. I had 2 cups full. The waiter came to me, and said:
'How do you know masala chai? You from India?'
Me: 'Yes, i'm Indian, do I not look Indian?'
Him: 'You look like you're from Dubai'.
A lot of people who see me never know where i'm from. It's nice in a way--I blend in with everything and anything.
But sometimes it's weird not to be recognized by your own 'people' per se. Oh well.
Comes with the territory.
Next occupation (as I used to joke with my med school friends): SPY!
'How do you know masala chai? You from India?'
Me: 'Yes, i'm Indian, do I not look Indian?'
Him: 'You look like you're from Dubai'.
A lot of people who see me never know where i'm from. It's nice in a way--I blend in with everything and anything.
But sometimes it's weird not to be recognized by your own 'people' per se. Oh well.
Comes with the territory.
Next occupation (as I used to joke with my med school friends): SPY!
Om Mani Padme Hum
This is the chant you say while turning the prayer wheels around the Buddhist temples.. it's quite a nice chant.. one I learned yesterday.
I have the mneumonic MPH (masters in public health) for Mani Pandme Hum.
I'm a nerd.
Queen of mneumonics since medical school.
I thought of you all while doing my rounds yesterday, and will do it again today.
Quite peaceful.
I have the mneumonic MPH (masters in public health) for Mani Pandme Hum.
I'm a nerd.
Queen of mneumonics since medical school.
I thought of you all while doing my rounds yesterday, and will do it again today.
Quite peaceful.
Top of the Morning to You
As I leech internet off by sneaking into the Qatar Airlines crew lounge at this hotel. Gotta love how I leech it--otherwise this hotel charges an arm and a leg, and I like my appendages, thank you very much.
Headed to the gym...then breakfast, and then another tour of places around the city.
Reading: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenence (I know i'm missing pieces of the title)...but good book so far..
Slept sorta well... watching TV... lots of Indian movies are on here.. (I sold my tv 2 months ago, so hence am catching up)...
It's raining this morning... lightly...but I prefer cool weather to hot hot hot humidity.
Tomorrow is Lhasa, where i'll have a full day to acclimate, otherwise will face altitude sickness... let's cross our fingers that it doesn't happen.
Look forward to seeing yaks, not going to drink the yak tea, or eat the butter.
And definitely look forward to China and restricted internet access where you cannot google the Dalai Lama, or view any news pieces, or heck anything political. Good times.
I guess my 'Free Tibet' t-shirt won't be allowed there.
Unless I want to be:
a. deported
b. jailed
c. cause a crazy ruckus.
Darn it... well at least I can think it, no?
Saw some Maoists here in Nepal yesterday...
Interesting times.
My political knowledge of the world is nill, and i'm truly learning on the fly.
I didn't purge through guidebooks of the places I am visiting..maybe not a good thing...but i've usually traveled on the fly...and learn as I go, and try to take it in... without any taint from someone.
Okay, off to the gym.
Let me run off some steam.
Full speed ahead.
Headed to the gym...then breakfast, and then another tour of places around the city.
Reading: Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenence (I know i'm missing pieces of the title)...but good book so far..
Slept sorta well... watching TV... lots of Indian movies are on here.. (I sold my tv 2 months ago, so hence am catching up)...
It's raining this morning... lightly...but I prefer cool weather to hot hot hot humidity.
Tomorrow is Lhasa, where i'll have a full day to acclimate, otherwise will face altitude sickness... let's cross our fingers that it doesn't happen.
Look forward to seeing yaks, not going to drink the yak tea, or eat the butter.
And definitely look forward to China and restricted internet access where you cannot google the Dalai Lama, or view any news pieces, or heck anything political. Good times.
I guess my 'Free Tibet' t-shirt won't be allowed there.
Unless I want to be:
a. deported
b. jailed
c. cause a crazy ruckus.
Darn it... well at least I can think it, no?
Saw some Maoists here in Nepal yesterday...
Interesting times.
My political knowledge of the world is nill, and i'm truly learning on the fly.
I didn't purge through guidebooks of the places I am visiting..maybe not a good thing...but i've usually traveled on the fly...and learn as I go, and try to take it in... without any taint from someone.
Okay, off to the gym.
Let me run off some steam.
Full speed ahead.
Mt. Everest and Coffee Time with a Lama.
Today....this morning...I left for my mountain flight to Mt. Everest on Buddha Airlines...don't worry...I took tons of photos and video for it.. I just forgot my jumpdrive to upload it onto a computer here (DUH!).
Let's just say it was amazing...incredible..it left the 20 on the plane breathless for a few minutes..the mountain is majestic.....gorgeous...it IS a slice of heaven...if there is a heaven on earth.
I ran up to the pilot to get a better glimse of the peak...
Today was the first day in 10 days that the planes went up (secondary to poor visibility earlier)...hence I am very lucky..fortunate.
The first time in 10 days.
Whew.
Afterwards, grabbed breakfast at my hotel, and then the tour guide took me around Kathmandu...today we went to the Monkey Temple over looking the Kathmandu Valley...and while there we met with the Lama (leader) of the Monestary named Lama Tender...the tour guide with who I was with, told me I could talk to him...and talk to him I did. He even invited us into his room and gave us coffee.
I had coffee with the Lama of the Swayambunath Temple. The tour guide was amazed. In his 10 years going to the temple, it was his first encounter with the Lama, let alone sit in his room and drink coffee and chat.
I asked him what made him be so happy.
His response: Faith in God.
Simple response.
Next we went to the Goddess Kumari's House and roamed around Durbar Square. I even got Henna (mehndi) on my hands... in 4 minutes flat. I'm typing this while it is drying ;). Good times.
Back in Thamel, where i'll hang out for a few hours before getting back to the hotel to rest, and catch up on sleep. It's been early mornings for me, and whenever I go to a new location, I always have trouble sleeping. Hopefully tonight it will kick in. If not...there is always Benadryl.
Tomorrow is another day in Kathmandu. Seeing more temples, and other sites.
Be Well!
Let's just say it was amazing...incredible..it left the 20 on the plane breathless for a few minutes..the mountain is majestic.....gorgeous...it IS a slice of heaven...if there is a heaven on earth.
I ran up to the pilot to get a better glimse of the peak...
Today was the first day in 10 days that the planes went up (secondary to poor visibility earlier)...hence I am very lucky..fortunate.
The first time in 10 days.
Whew.
Afterwards, grabbed breakfast at my hotel, and then the tour guide took me around Kathmandu...today we went to the Monkey Temple over looking the Kathmandu Valley...and while there we met with the Lama (leader) of the Monestary named Lama Tender...the tour guide with who I was with, told me I could talk to him...and talk to him I did. He even invited us into his room and gave us coffee.
I had coffee with the Lama of the Swayambunath Temple. The tour guide was amazed. In his 10 years going to the temple, it was his first encounter with the Lama, let alone sit in his room and drink coffee and chat.
I asked him what made him be so happy.
His response: Faith in God.
Simple response.
Next we went to the Goddess Kumari's House and roamed around Durbar Square. I even got Henna (mehndi) on my hands... in 4 minutes flat. I'm typing this while it is drying ;). Good times.
Back in Thamel, where i'll hang out for a few hours before getting back to the hotel to rest, and catch up on sleep. It's been early mornings for me, and whenever I go to a new location, I always have trouble sleeping. Hopefully tonight it will kick in. If not...there is always Benadryl.
Tomorrow is another day in Kathmandu. Seeing more temples, and other sites.
Be Well!
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