Wow - it is easy to put up photos. If only I'd believed my friends. Top photo is some of the little Christmas pressies we received at out Xmas get together. The ten of us make ten things to swap - and we get ten little gifts if you keep one of your own. It is really good fun!
Lorraine, who made the reindeer, had us all taking a deep breath thinking of her making ten of them. Hard work is rewarded as she won the Cross Lotto on New Year's Eve. See what sewing can do for you! Ha.
The photo of the little figures is some pressies I made for doll gals - they were a lot of fun! I fired them at Trixie's and some fell over (note flat head on middle guy!) - and some burned - note birth marks under eye of guy with black mustache! I was going to throw them away but fortunately Trixie said they could be rescued. A few coats of paint does wonders.
The idea came from Vol 4 2010 Holidays and Celebrations. Check out page 78 if you have the book - they are fantastic fun.
We're going to have another play with these at our next get together 19th January.
Am in the middle of posting out Cloth Paper Scissors and 'Studio'. Just needed a little distraction! Back to it Joy. Catch ya! Oh - Happy New Year to y'all.

Christmas wishes to all!

"What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace."

-Agnes M. Pahro

Home again

Have been home for nearly a week now - amazing how one morning you can be in the middle of a place like Bohda - and the next morning you are looking around Ikea in Adelaide!!!! Do miss the sights and smells of Kathmandu - miss Liz and the monks, the Tibetan refugees, the beggars, the freedom! It is hard to stay in the 'zone' once arriving home and responsibility hits!!! Meals - housework - eeek. Orrid.
Managed to get everything home OK - amazing what you can fit in a rucksack - there wasn't an inch of room left. Apart from 20 shawls managed to cram in books, beads, pressies, door curtain, three paintings - and more. Visiting Dev and Nilu - friends from the Cooks we hadn't seen for 19 years was certainly special. They have such a comfortable home - with great views over Kathmandu and a warm, welcoming feeling. Nilu and I found we had so much in common and we were sorry we hadn't connected earlier in the trip as so many places Nilu offered to take me. Next time ?????
Liz and Nick took me out to a Japanese restaurant for the last evening - I was unaware that the place existed and it was beautiful food with the best company. We walked around and around the Stupha exchanging thoughts on plans for home etc.
Two great flights home - pat on the back to the Capitane! Always a relief to land safely - leaving Kathmandu had fantastic views of the snow capped Himalayas. It's great on the plane listening to 'travelers tales' of trekking, rafting etc.
Arrived home to visitors - that wasn't the easiest but we got there.
Now it's sorting work and catching up with everyone - a day sleeping, day with my dear Dad. Alice has been fabulous cooking dinner each night - helping adjust slowly!!! Russ has been very busy at work - he was hardly home the three weeks I was away so didn't have time to get lonely. Next time I'm sure we'll go together tho.
Certainly makes one feel so fortunate being able to visit a country like Nepal where there is so much poverty and come home to our wonderful country safe and sound. Met some friends from Adelaide at Singapore airport - they had been traveling Europe for six weeks and we were going home on the same plane. Amazed when we were in the same row of seats!!!! - and I was one behind them in the duty free shop when we noticed the numbers on the orders. Quite strange.

Last class today

Just finished last English class - it's been a really enjoyable experience and the monks are great and keen to learn. Liz is a really good teacher and I've learned a lot thru the experience.
Have started packing - going out with Liz tonight and off to dinner with my old boss from the Cook Islands tomorrow. Quite a taxi trip I think - other side of town. It has been terrific to see them again - so friendly and we had a lot of memories to share. Looking forward to them coming to Australia now!
Have to soak everything up today and tomorrow - walking out from the Monastery Guest house thismorning on to the street and there are all the wonderful people with beautiful smiles and 'Tashi Dalek' greetings, heading down to the Stupa with their Mala beads. It's great watching the place come to life - the meat being laid out in the 'butcher shops', the street vendors with a piece of canvas on the ground with their wares displayed. Everything from stainless steel plates, western clothing, lime, chili, fruit, veges, very good quality watches!!! - mobile phones etc etc.
Liz ordered a milk tea the other day - the local tea - with extra ginger. Somehow things got mixed up and she received a garlic milk tea. Needless to say it wasn't that good! Ha.
Hmmmm - where will I have lunch. Garden Cafe, Saturday Cafe, Flavours? Will I have momos - or curry - or soup. So many decisions!!!!
Better go. Catch you all next week if I don't get a chance to do another posting.
Love to all! Tashi Dalek! Joy

Time to start packing!

Just realized I leave here on Sunday. Talking to Liz thismorning about what plans we have for Sunday - and woops!!!! Makes me nervous thinking about packing and fitting everything into my little rucksack. It's hard not to buy bits and pieces - and it all takes up space. I didn't bring many clothes but did prepare for cooler weather - it's been quite warm, so pity I bought quite so many 'layers'.
Just been to Enlglish classes - it's interesting seeing interpretations of our language. It's hard not to pass on the Aussie accent! Hear things repeated back to me and ooow! Do I really sound so nasal!
Hear that Akira Blount is teaching in Australia next year - that's a coup eh. What an opportunity!
Really have to absorb everything here for the next couple of days - it's all so different. Just walking out onto the street the sights and sounds that greet are amazing. Thismorning walking to classes the vege vendors were out pushing their little carts, people were heading down to the Stupa for morning practice, kids heading off to school - a gorgeous Tibetan man took my eye in traditional dress with several beautiful nose rings, dogs having a stretch, women in saris or shalwar shameez. Then someone spits in the street in front of you - or a motor bike toots right behind and stirs things back into reality.
The traffic is horrendous - tooting, speeding, people, bikes, cars, cycles, push carts all in a jumble somehow getting places - usually safely.
Had a motor bike ride home yesterday - I bought a heap of beautiful woolen shawls and and the shop keeper obviously thought he'd done so well he gave me a ride back on his bike. I'm used to bikes and felt quite safe (even tho HE had the helmet on) - but he kept re-assuring me he'd drive slowly and safely.
The rubbish in the streets is one awful part of the experience - I did see a rubbish truck once - but there doesn't seem to be any regular pick up service - no bins - no feeling that it's wrong to toss things in the street. You really have to watch where you step!
I could go on and on but always scared the power will go out and I'll lose what I've written. Thinking of you all - great to get the odd email here and there. Take care and catch up soon. Cheers Joy

Namaaste

Back in Kathmandu after an exciting few days in Lumbini! It's hard to describe all of the amazing sights and experiences - it is all so different! Lumbini has a very sacred feeling and with over 1000 monks there it was a special time. Walking around I feel like an alien in another world - a priveliged alien!!!!
12 hour bus trip back to Kathmandu - at about 3 in the afternoon I saw the 100km to Kathmandu sign - 'not long now' thinks the ignorant alien!!!! 4 hours later we were still ducking and weaving thru trucks and tooting cars, motor bikes and pedestrians. The river and valley views were breathtaking - and watching people live is so foreign to us. Pumping water by the street, washing and cleaning teeth, getting a shave, hair cut, toileting, checking out each others hair, eating, cooking, dressing, cutting grain - lives go on in public. Saw a lot of very natural village scenes from the bus - mud homes, thatch roofing, cows in the yard all centered around the hand pump for water. Hay stacked so high on carts it is miracle they get anywhere without an accident!
Life here in town is centred around the Buddhist Stupa - and from early morning the Tibetan people are out and about doing 'Kora' - walking around the Stupa chanting their mantras and prayers. They are very dedicated and it is so special to be part of the 'wheel' walking around and around caught up in the movement.
Thismorning I sat and had a coffee and just watched the world go by - the beggars, street cart vendors, delivery men with four large bottles of water balanced on a push bike, women with woven baskets of vegetables for the market on their back and strapped across the forehead, the Tibetan women in their traditional dress, some with many rings in their nose, the old men in their baggy pants and Tibetan jackets - all carrying their mala of beads. Of course the tourists add to the scene! I watch them deal with the beggars and the salesmen. Very good salesmen! Bought some woven little doo dads thismorning to hang from phones etc - walked away thinking I paid way too much but at the time the guy had me convinced I was cutting his profits so cruely! Of course - they were very inexpensive anyway so have to laugh at how good they are at their job!!!
Time to move. Nice to chat - hope you are all going well at home. Wish I was good at puting up photos - next time! Alice and Russ have sent out all of the orders so hope you are enjoying your magazines!!!! Talk soon. Cheers. Joy

Reporting from Lumbini

After a really interesting bus trip here we are in Lumbini! Up at 4am, two taxi trips to the bus station - an all day trip to 'the turn off' - and then another local bus for about an hour to Lumbini itself. Sometimes I think I've landed on another planet - it's so amazing - so different! - and so wonderful. Feel so very, very blessed to have opportunities like these.
Have had trouble getting on the internet - and trouble phoning home - but hopefully someone is checking in here as all is well and wondering how you are all going back in Australia. In Lumbini it is a big Buddhist 'conference' on World Peace. It is surreal sitting with Liz at the Sakya Monastery listening to the chanting and seeing about 1000 monks seated in front of us. There are very few foreigners - very special to be here. Last night we visited the site of Buddha's birth - and it doesn't matter if you are Buddhist or not it has an amazing feeling with people from all over the world meditation, praying, singing, making offerings etc. Quite overwhelming really in the evening with all the butter lamps burning.
I've been able to get on the web site to read my emails but can't reply - so I'll go back now and see if I have more luck.
Greetings to all!!! Will write more when I get back to Kathmandu in a few days.
Yesterday we ran into some Indian Buddhist monks that Liz new from her travels in India - she introduced me and the older monk said 'May you live long'. Such a special greeting - so 'May you live long'. Cheers Joy