Dinner at the US Embassy - just another week in Nepal

COUNTRY: Nepal
PROGRAM: UniBreak - Kathmandu
PROJECT: Health projects
WRITTEN BY: Trent Cutts

This weekend we decided to comandeer a van and take to the hills to take in the sites and get some respite from the hustle and bustle of Kathmandu. On the way we dropped into Bhaktapur to check out its Durbar square. There are three separate cities that occupy the Kathmandu valley. Over the years they have all but merged into one super city, but each of the three (Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan) each have their own Durbar square which is made up of historical palaces and temples. Bhaktapur has definitely been the highlight for us.

Tonight we are all sitting around playing cards and drinking top notch masala tea at our hotel in Nagarkot. It's definitely a bit chillier up here but is not a bad trade off as the air is considerably fresher up in the hills! We have just got back from watching an incredible sunset from down in the village. Definitely one to rival the one we saw in Chitwan! We are all hoping that we have a clear morning to watch the sunrise over the Himalayas that span the horizon. We have heard mixed reports about whether you can see the big girl herself, Mt Everest, from up here, but we will be all on the search in the am!

Following on from last weeks blog about our trip to Chitwan Nationsl Park, we decided to take Monday off to take the 3 hour dash to Lumbhini down near the Indian border. It was a very different vibe that met us down there in the southern Terai as we got off the bus. The temperature had been turned up a few notches and we noticed a few subtle differences in the local culture. Lumbini turned out to be an incredible detour on our way back to Kathmandu and definitely worth the 10 hour slog home in the back of a bus. Lumbini is home to the birthplace of the Buddha and we all saw the exact spot where, around 2300 years ago, he was born plus where he was bathed and educated. For Tina, who is buddhist herself, the experience was of special significance and she joined with other pilgrims from around the world to pray and take in the very peaceful atmosphere.

On Thursday we had another bizarre experience to add to the many we have had. Maddy was invited to a party at the USA embassy and managed to gain an invite for all the volunteers. After passing through the thorough security check and devoid of our cameras we were led to the marine's building. The BBQ was under way when we arrived and we wasted no time, digging into the grilled chicken, buffalo sausages and pasta salad. James even had a pool battle against the marine who's leaving party we were attending. It was very easy to forget we were even in Nepal!

This week was the last at our respective placements and for many of us it was sad to be leaving the amazing people that have facilitated our experience. Each of the volunteers has had a distinctive experience and have faced their own challenges over the last 3 weeks. Some have been a touch taken aback by the methods used by the healthcare workers, some have been amazed at the diseases and conditions that they have helped to treat, but I think we have all been humbled by the toughness and resilience of the Nepali people and have a heightened appreciation for the level of healthcare we a fortunate to have in our own countries. Next week we all head to local schools to implement a health education program. For quite s few, it's time to get excited about the prospect of a soft bed, hot shower and Big Mac combo. Home time!