A Closed Temple And Some Momos

Namaste ngajubintharri!

(that's right I'm mixing Nepalese and Bunjima - fusion language!)

Today was my very first day of volunteering and I was no where near as useless as I thought I was going to be. Yay me

I can't share photos from the programme but I can tell you the 4 school benches we repaired today were of the highest quality and Better Homes & Gardens would be proud!

I honestly do think after this stint I can go home and do some real nice sub-standard DIY.

I'm really enjoying being on the programme even if I am the oldest one here 👵🏽, everyone is so nice (and possibly reading this post....) and the food is so yummy I'm actually eating three meals a day. I can't even remember the last time I ate three meals a day!

But I don't think I will put on any weight because I'll be sweating the equivalent of a baby rhino. The humidity is next level and when the sun isn't hiding behind the clouds it's searing. Honestly, hotter than Satan's left nut

Yesterday was a really fun day! First we went to a Tibetan temple - this was the first Tibetan temple/refuge built in Nepal back in the 60s.

We couldn't actually go inside because the monks were on retreat, but they were so kind to open the doors and let us look inside the door from the outside.

I really, really love the temples across Asia, no matter if it's Buddist, Hindu, Tao or some other religion I am ignorant of. The buildings are always the most beautiful with bright colours (and anyone who knows me knows I love bright colours).

And there is such a strong sense of calm that settles in to me when I'm visiting these temples. I feel this way at every holy place I have visited in my travels so far and I hope to visit many more.

After the temple we walked over a suspension bridge. I won't lie, my feet did get a little funny walking across that very slightly shaky bridge. And looking down through the gaps probably wasn't the best idea but the adrenaline felt great.

From there we visited Sasane and here I'm going to get a little bit serious.

Sasane is an amazing organisation that fights human trafficking. I am not going to give it nearly enough justice so I'm including a link - please check it out!

https://sasane.org.np/

They rescue women from human trafficking and help them rebuild their lives, they also educate the communities to prevent human trafficking, and work to keep at risk girls and women safe.

Honestly I teared up yesterday learning about the work they do and the fact that there's even a need for it is fucking disgusting!!!

Like how, HOW, is there even a thing as human trafficking???

How can anyone look at another living creature let alone a fellow human being, and think so incredibly little of them that you would strip them down to nothing but a commodity?

While we were there those incredible women gave us a momo cooking class and that was a lot of fun! And I am very proud to say that our momos were the best quality to come out of GVI yet (at least recently).

Mmmmmmm momos 🤤

I'll finish off by saying that I was as giddy as a little kid when I looked out the car window on our way to the monastery and I saw a mountain peak in the not too distant distance.

Fucking majestic!

Now if only the clouds would bugger off long enough so I can see Everest

Hell of a view!

Boom! First day volunteering done