Day 16: Farewell Nepal

Last night we ended the trip with a wonderful traditional meal in a renowned restaurant. We made our farewell speeches and danced as Nepali folk musicians and dancers performed for us. The atmosphere was electric and emotions were honest and embracing.
Today it comes to a close as we approach the airport and leave the Nepali people and their welcoming culture behind us.
We'll be travelling from here on in and look forward to seeing colleagues, friends and family soon.
Namaste,
The SEA Nepal 2012 crew xxx

Day 15: Edge of the world

Today we returned to Kathmandu from Pokhora where we've trekked through the mountains for the past five days. The trek took in some absolutely amazing sights and experiences that left the staff and students stunned.

We arrived on the first evening after a full day on the road and were met by heavy monsoon rains. The next day was clear and saw us squeeze two days into one as we climbed the range at a cracking pace.

The next morning we woke wrapped in a blanket of thick cloud and filled the day again with walking to our accommodation, followed by some overdue rest and relaxation.

By far the highlight was getting up very early on the third morning and watching the sun rise over the Annapurna Range with crystal clear skies.
It was a very moving experience that brought some of us to tears as it provided an opportunity for hours of quiet reflection in the face of such magnificent natural beauty.

The walk itself was very challenging and all managed to stay in high spirits and look after each other in a way that typifies the Augustinian spirit.

No doubt each of us will return home with our own special stories from the hike but all would agree it was an unforgettable experience.

Day 14: Down from the mountain

Just a very brief message to let all know that we have safely returned from our hike through the mountains.

We'll post more later today when we've recovered a little from what can only be described as a truly breathtaking lifetime experience.

Day 8, 9 & 10 Bhairabi:

The days seem to pass quicker every day and so we come to the last day of our work. With minimal skills, We feel we have accomplished a great deal, with foreman Shiam giving the universal "thumbs up" approval.

In a glimpse of what life is like living in the Biretsati region, we decided to hike down the mountain to the local town to re-charge our batteries with a swim in the river and a cold drink.

After a nice 2 hour hike back up the mountain we were met with the local school children for the closing ceremony. They met us with a traditional song and dance performance in which the girls performing picking each one of us from the group to perform with them.

To complete the closing ceremony the President of the Gorkha region honored us by acknowledging the work and more importantly the authentic and positive connections we have made in our short time in Nepal.

As in the dualities of life, what comes up must come down and with our time completed came great happiness and great sadness. The entire Bhairabi village had come to celebrate and wish us farewell. The women and children of the village completed the farewell with a special performance in which we all happily participated in.

With a heavy heart we woke up on the last day with a blessing from the women and children of the village. Many of them with big smiles and open arms. With a tear in our eye we wished our host farewell and looked forward to reuniting with our comrades on our final leg of our journey at Pokhare.

We are all excited and anticipating another great experience from the hike in this beautiful country. The final leg will be in the Annapuarna region and until then we will be uncontactable. So long for now and we cannot wait to see what is in store for us in the days ahead.

Day 10: The Trek Begins!

Just quickly, we are on the bus leaving Kathmandu and already Internet reception is starting to drop. From here on in we aren't sure whether we will be able to keep updating the blog. As soon as we can, we will share our latest adventures because from what we've heard, it will be amazing!

Day 10: DSA thank you

A special thank you must also be passed on to Dia Ram for all the amazing work he does. As principal o the hostel and school, he is the most compassionate and respectful man who has worked wonders with the kids. He has given numerous children a chance in life and has opened up their opportunities. Also, Maggie piper helped establish our connection with the school and was always so positive. She keeps the world in touch through her Facebook page and is helping to draw attention to needy causes such as DSA but also other community projects. Apin and Ajit are Dia Rams sons. Throughout the whole project they were working meticulously and were always so generous with their time. Without their negotiations, direction and friendliness, the project would have ground to a halt.

Day 9: DSA Farewells

This morning, everyone woke up with enthusiasm and determination to get the hostel finished. More importantly, we had a deadline of 4:30 so there was plenty of time to hang out with the kids.

As we all set into the work it became apparent that it was going to be frustrating; the renderers had set in and were completing the hallways which limited the work that could be done. To get around this, all the furniture was taken outside, cleaned, sorted and moved back in as soon as they finished.

At a frantic pace, the Tetris puzzle slowly came together. Jo Gray was finishing the sink and the kitchen, Matt Anglicas was installing shelves and plumbing and all 6 boys had formed a chain link to get everything into place.

As the sun was setting, a complete picture was starting to be seen. The ladies of the hostel kept enthusiasm high with warm sugary teas and all the deaf students were helping too.

At about 7 o'clock, we reached a point where work was complete. Looking at before and after photographs reveals a huge job that was completed successfully and with pride. The hostel is now clean, painted, rendered and has fresh carpet throughout. Electricity will be installed over the next week and there is a new sink out the back. A truly amazing undertaking which makes St Augustine's, the parents and the community proud.

The last part of the day was also the one which people weren't looking forward to. We were treated to a delicacy of yaumari and in true Nepali style, the electricity cut out and we were eating in the dark. This did not stop the vibe and atmosphere. As a thank you, we were all given a painting by the kids, a beautiful wooden carving with a photo in it and a stunning photograph of the Himalayas each. With hugs (and a few tears) we all said our farewell to the kids.