To avoid aging, travel fast (english)

The new democracies

2008-05-23T05:15:00.000-07:00

Some years ago, during my epoc of student of Sociology, I assited to one lesson in which the students keep a discusion about if in the future there will be more wars or slowly all the human race will be reaching a global peace like the model of the western europe.
For my sorprise, a huge amount of the class was sharing the idea of all the countries living in peace after some years, imitatin the european and american models. At that tiem, although agaisnt, I couldn't withdraw any idea and stayed quiet, but I didn't stop thinking about it.
Their idea was based on the vision of actual Europe, where we can enjoy a kind of "pax romana" without emperador, in which states follow the dictates of the european central bank and world bank( that follow the dictates of the blind economy, not the blind justice) anbd millions of citizens live following the orders and rules of their comapnies and the mainstream of fashion and society. The freedom rest in the ability to chose the colour of the jacket that you are to wear, without objections.
The vision of this Europe, in which I wish to live, and its conscience, generated by thousand of years of its own culture, that create thousand of charity programs all around the world lead my mates to claim the we were in the vanguard that will rescue the starving masses of the third world, that will create at the end the global peace and will eliminate bad feelings and whises from the surface of earth. That we support the true and it allow us to go to other countries and impose it, rescue them from their cruel traditions and giving the light of the reason and knowledge. With that same idea, the conquer of the world began 500 years ago. After the firs and second world wars, all this countries became independent, unifying territories with the reallity of their colonial past, not with their real needs.
As a result, all this country nowdays are holding a lot of problems in social economical, cultuarl, politic and enviromental aspects. Huge part of the popullation is analfabet, living poorly without minimal helathy standars, with econmies first world dependant, millions of habitants living in a time in which their culture is facin a foreign one, the western that shows the more usefull one to get food and usually with wars, intern and externs.
And this is the reallity that I face in Nepal and India. Kathmandu is just some centimeters above the suburb level, with buildings created in some days for people without any knowledge. Travelling acroos north india I have seen huge works in amazing highways that cut in halves small twon in which time have jsut sttoped to live plastic waste and the somke of the heavy traffic.
But even the education is another problem. Most ot the time given by people without the correct knowledge, is a score one oriented, just to provide the student the scores needed to go abroad and star a new life in another country. INstead of creat people that thinks, they are jsut creating workers that will answer to some situations in the job, nothing left ot the daily life or even in case of not getting the job, like most of the cases. Another problem is that the education is just a copy of the western one. In Nepal is a copy of the brittish system, with just a little adpatation for the new culture. Oxford and Cambridge are educating the third world, that is getting it through small,weak, fine books.
Menawhile, the tourist just reach this place to travle with confortable transport, at least more that the local one, drinking in hte hotel the beer brought from Europe for them and visiting the monuments., without reach really this problems that they of course don't want to face. And for the once with conscience, volunteer project are all around. Paying a dontation you are welcome to work, even if you aren't ready. In most of the cases, they wil just work enoguth to take a picture to show in Europe to their families and friends. The oorganization just stand for the money.
And usually, the tourist are chaeted by the locals working in the touristic sector. But even for them is cheaper, because is still cheap. There are als ocomapnies that offer services with western prices, and better services, but is even more a cheat. Althoug all that have arrived from Europe, the pixed prices haven't been adopted, its the face of the toursit and its ability to bargain what fix the prices.
And something similar happens at governametnal level. Goverments just care about economical problems, to atrack foering capital. Enviromental and social problems will be fixed by western organizations.
And it's here where the rpoblerm begins. Millions of people aroudn the world are growing with a goverment that doesn't offer any basic service in a proper way. For them goverment is nothing more that people taking money from them, a kind of enemy. And if the country holds artifical frontiers, the state will not be jsut a foreing ruling over ones different land, it's also a foreing group of thieves. This is a big seed for comunism, as had already passed in Nepal, wer the population had changed al the politics of a inefficient system for a comunism party that years ago was a revel group. And it's happenig in more countries. The population is showing that they want democracy, that they think will bring prosperity, but it's the economy, not the politics that can bring it. But wath will happen if even this new politics fail? Then, the seed for the anarchy. And even more autocratic states wilkl help more for the black orchid.
But even in Europe, it's happening. Goverments were able to give the sensation to the popullation that the world is wquiet and they can be quiet, but more and more people is becoming more and more unhappy with the goverments, the states, with the privatizations slowly are offering less and less, and more people has to struggle to get the basics( when in a democracy a strong educated and well class media needs to be sustained )
And alos problems with artificila borders also exist. (Spain- Galicia, Euskadi and Cataluna: Turkey- Kurdostan, Canda-Quebec). We have seen what had happen in Argentina, but none cares.
After all, democracy was a succesfull system in ancient greek, were 200 citizens met to talk about their problems, not the ones of the slaves, women or children. NOwdays, 400 lords met to talk about their business, their friends bussiness, and the problems of millions of persons if they affect their bussiness. Of course, the improvement in Europe and America on the last century it's great.
It's with this reallity, that I had seen in the last months, from where I claim the the history is not finishing, and even is more alive than never, with a new russia willing to get power, and also China, with a inestable third world, with islamic extremist everywhere, with the global warming, with more and more people with debts...

Traveling around India (like in the third world)

2008-05-23T04:39:00.000-07:00

Since I entered India, I tried to use public transpor that the average indian has to use, not the ones set up for the tourist, so I could get more closer to the indian daily reallity, talking with them, instead of another tourist. But, the reallity that I don't like the reallity that I have seen.
The bus. In the third world, in Nepal is the same, the transport by road is the cheapest way to travel, little bite under the train. But it's the cheapest due to the system that teh companies employ. If a bus departs at seven in the morning, I will appear around there at quarter to seven, to get my ticket and be sit some minutes before the departure. But at the time, the bus doesn't depart. First, because the india, doesn't have a time conception like in Europe, they can arrive to hours late and they don't consider that are getting late. But even once the bus is full, the bus stay quiet. The ticketyer officer, is just waiting for more and more people to the point that all the bus, even the corridors, and roof in Nepal, are full. Your are inside, close to a lot of human beings, suffering from heat, but not because of the 45 degrees outside, jsut because of the human heat inside the bus.
Once the the bus starts the travel, it doesn't follow a trip from A to B. It stops at any city, goes to other cities out of the way jsut to collect more and more people that is put inside the bus like if they were plastic bags.
Meanwhile, the driver just drives the bus as fast as possible, even in narrow streets, pulling the brakesa lot of times, and through the highways, small roads without haouse around, faster and faster, overtaking cars, buses and trucks one after the last, pulling the horn most of the tiem, because around this lands, is the only way to overtake, like saying: " Ey, I'm overtaking you, brake. or I wil;l crahs with the truck that is coming in the other direction"
The jeep is the saem thing, overcrowed, but with the diferences that one passenger, my case in one of my trips, will be close to the driver, with the gearshift between his/her leg, unconfortable.
The train, is something more confortable, but not too much in class sleeper. You can sleep during the trip if the other 99 indians and tourists of your coach let you and the sound and noise of all the stations to which the trains is calling at. Besides, the train is stoping most of the tiem, even without aparent reason. But, was i nthe trains where I got my worst experience travelling aourn India. In my trip from Mughalsarai to Siliguri. I didn't have time to buy a reserved ticket, so I bought a unreserved one. In my guide book, it's written that once in the train, a ticketer officer wil take you to one sit, charging you a little more that you would pay in the station. But that train was overcrowed, not full. I was sharing during ten hours a space in a corridor with other six indias, standing up, without sleep, just because the ticketer officer didn't pay any attention to us. The true is after a change in the officer, the new one toldme to go to the coach at the end of the train, the secon class generenal, to travel with the poor indians, but it was better that the corridor. I got an unreserved ticket, but the other indians were holding perfect valid tickets, but couldn't use them just because of the fullnes of the train and the passivity of the officers. The last seven hours of the trip, I was sitting with really kind indias singin, chatting or trying to sleep.

From the palms to the pines

2008-05-23T03:58:00.000-07:00

After two nights in Varanasi, I decided to run away from the hot and go towards Darjeeling. For that, I had to take a train from Mughalsarai, a small town near Vanranasi, to Siliguri, another small city, on the way to the Himalayas and therefore Darjeeling.

When I finished a horrible trip, of which I talk in another section, it was eleven in the morning and I looked for a place to stay and rest for the trip.

At the beginning my idea was go to Darjeeling from Siliguri, with the Toy-train, but there wasn't tickets until the sunday, so after two nights, because of a new attack of diaorrea, I moved from Siliguri by jeep.

Siliguri is a third world city, but charming, not like Varanasi or Agra. It's small, with palms everywhere and views of the hills on the way to the Himalayas.

What most surprises me in Siliguri was the close that the people live with the railways, to the point that's they become the road in some streets, of course with less traffic that the normal strrets for cars.

And right now I'm in Darjeeling. One of the ways to describe this small city is how was the street in where I was yesterday morning. In that street, full of nepalis hindus (altough been in indian territory), I was looking at a colonial building, one of the hundreds that should be around the city, that had in its garden a palm and a pine, just fity metres far away from a mosque. At the same time, as the clouds allow, I could see the near hills, from this hill, higher, sorrounded with clouds, that seems to take the city from the earth to the heaven. The clouds are everywhere, not just around, also in the streets and in the roads, climbing the hill to the top. Like that, parts of the city are not visible for moments from other points. Are this cluods tthe ones that doesn't let me glance to the Himalayas, theorically perfectly visible from this hill. If I had had benn in Switzerland, probably this city would remain me it.

The people is just fabulous. Not like in the rest of India, none come to you to offer you something that you hadn't ask for. They let you alone, but they are ready to help as soon as you ask for help, and with a good knowledge of english, not like in the rest of India.

Yesterday I visited a hindu and buddist temple, got myt permit to Sikkim and today morning I visited to zoo, where I could see betweem others, the snow leopard and bengal tiger, and later the botanical gardens. I wanted to see the sunrise over the HImalayas from a near hill, but it seems imposible with this weather so tomorrow I will be leaveing to Sikkim, where I hope I will see the Himalayas.

Varanasi

2008-05-23T02:58:00.000-07:00

After Agra, mi next stop in India was Varanasi, one of the seven holly cities for hindus, famous in the world due to its Gaths, that rest over the Ganga river. The first thing that surprises me in the city was its placement. I was expecting a city in both sides of the river, but just in the west side is placed the city. Over the east, just a huge beach of white sand.
After the war with the ricksaws, get to my hotel and rest a little bit I took a path around the city, following the Ghats. What I felt during this path was the the Ghats are the equivalent in Varanasi to the parks in Europe. Teenagers play criquet. Adults sit and talk . Yes, the city has its narrow streets full of markets and shops with muslims, but is in the Ghats where the soul of the city lies. Also in the Ghats, are the two crematories, where tourist can go and wacth, even from balconies donating money to charities, but never making photograpies, for respect to the families and religious ceremonies.
The next morning, I woke up soon to go in a boat around the Ghats during one hour and a half, with the sunrise, the moment in which all the hindus wish to take a bath. As soon as I arrived to the Ghat I saw hundreds of young people ready to make yoga under the directions of a Guru. Once in hte river, I could sdee how slowly more and more hindus were coming to take the sacre aily bath. What that I thought as a religious ceremony was being undertaken as a party everywhere, with a lot of joy, laughs, thousands of conversations, prayers and bells from the temples. the city was full of life, in its own daily party.
Besides the Ghats, Varanasi is like nay other indian city. Full of chaos, with small narrows streets full of shops with a lot of traffic and smoke. In India, p[eople doesn't have any idea of urbane culture. Inthe streets the smell of fuel is mixed wit hthe one of stool and urine. Due to the amount of tourist that arrive every year, also the cycle-ricksaws and averyone that works in the touristic sector will just trye to deceive you and get money from you.

Taj Mahal

2008-05-14T06:52:00.000-07:00

Agra is a small not realy nice city. But I could found things that make the differences with Nepal. At the first glance, Nepal could seem as a copy of India in hte Himalayas, with hindus everywhere and the same caos, but India is flat, has more caos als obecause of the more population and the big difference, the great islamic tradition. I can heard the prayers from the nearest mosque and I'm visiting the Taj Mahal, a islamic tombe.

In Agra, anywhere, there's nothing more than the Taj, and other monuments really expensive too. The Taj Mahal cost 10 pounds.

About hte Taj Mahal, I'm no really happy, I was expecting more. Maybe I was thinking on it as bigger, more brilliant or I don't know... it doesn't mind that isn't worhtly. It is. Sorrounded for huge gardens full of birds, squirrels and flowers, the huge Taj, rest in a marmol cube.

The more carachteristic is that the in the Taj, all the walls have incripstions, made with precious stones, something that just schoks anyone when looking at it.

Kolkata

2008-05-06T04:59:00.000-07:00

A lot of things have changed since I arrive to Kathmandu. All my travel plans, my way of thinking, to treat with people and even with children... When I was planning this trip, I never thought on go to Kolkata, since I imagined it as a city full of beggars and sick people around the streets that should be flloded most of the year. But it's now when Kolkata apeeras in my way to Thailand.

I haven't decided yet the rute, but if there's no problems on thursday I will be reciving my Indian visa without problems, around next sunday monday I will be on the way. I don't know if I will go to Darjeling or New Delhi, I got around 20 days to croos India, in its trains, buses or on bicycle ot reach the Indina New York. The other day in the Indian embassy a girl forma Haiti told me that it's a really nice city, full of good architecture, and with godd cienmas, ( she also loves cinema) so probably I won't be able to resist and I will go to the cinema after three months.

But why I'm going to Kolkata?

Well, the first reason it's the prices of the air tickets to Thailand from Nepal and rest of India. Kolkata is the only airort from where a low cost airline flies to Bangkok. I haven't buy the ticket yet, but I'll do once I reach one of the office of the airlien in India.

At the same time, when I was locking how to go to Thailand, I got in my mine another ideas. The first one was cross Burma by land, but one visit to the embassy in which I was told that is forbidden, throw it to the rubbish. the second one, was take a ferry from anywhere around India towards Bangkok, but it doesn't look that it doesn't exist. So I will forget my four months in Kathmandu going to Kolkata.

The second reason isrelated with teh visa and after all with problems in the school. The next week, myvisa expires, I just got right to one fifth month, and I not gonna renew it for spent another month in the school in the actual conditions. Theorically, it won't be a problem since right now I should have my non tourist visa to work in the school. Since I accept to stay to work on my ideas in the school, uring the last five weeks, I haven't done anything. Just go to the school, sit, play chess or football and nothig more special. Whe, after three weeks of inactivity, in which none came to ask me about my ideas, to talk about how to work on them, or just ask me one favour, gime some work or even ask me advice, I complained, and the answer was that they were busy and that they don't really know how to start. I answer that I don't know all the answer and to fix something it's necessary to speak, instead of don't say anything. Anyway, after two weeks and good intentions, the thing is in the same situation, so I'm really thinking if comeback after Thailand to work in the school. At the same time that I wasn' working no information about my visa that was promised or even basic petitions that I made to be able to work were close to become true.

I tried to find myself as a guilty, I certainly my actitude waiting during three weeks could have helped to the actual situation, but nothing else. The principal and subdirector were busy, it's true, and even the principal is going abroad, an so on, busy preparing everything, but I was told to be part of the team, and I was just let in one side.

So, if I'm not staying longer in Thailand or India, whatever the reason, I don't even know If I will come back to the school to try to work on my ideas.

During this long inactivity, I was still going to the orphanage, taking the children to the swiiming pool, with Kevi and a new volunteer, May. One saturday, I got the chance to meet another spanish after three months, from Barcelona, thet were also working in another orphanage, taking the children to the swiming pool.

During the spare time in the school, I have created I chessboard for three players, it's really complicated to play it and aslo read books about central Asia, that makes me think that I will try to come back Europa by land, through the silk road, instead of go by air.

59 kilos

2008-04-21T23:24:00.001-07:00

I weight 59 kilos. I knew on Sunday.

On sunday, after woke up at four thirty, I went by walk up to thamel, to hte office of The last Resort. There, I made with another tourist the check-in an later we wnet to take the bus that would take us to the last resort.

As we were leaving Kathmandu valley and getting closer to te chinese border we were crossing mutiple different climae areas, as we were going dwon o up. From the tropical palms to the pines of high mountain and forest that seem from center europe. All in just three hours around narly one hundred kilometres.

And, as were getting closer to the last resort the river valleys were becoming gorges as the hills were becoming mountains. And, at the end we reached the Khole Ghosi gorge. The bus park in one side of the gorge, but to get to the last resort we had to croos a bridge that was more than one hundred sixty metres high over the river. It was quite emocionant cross it.

After cross it we went to the bar of the resort, whewre all together waited for the instructions of the instructors. There were a big gruop of israelites with their semitic noses, the polish drinking beer for breakfast or inviting me to rum-cola in the way back, two californians with their chill out, an irish quite scare and a gruop from Holland, with Jonathan from Haarlem, a nice city close to Amsterdam where me and my brother were close to buy apiano two or three years ago, within them.

After the instructions the monitor made some control, and by the wight of each one we were put in different groups. I was in the first gruop, with tmost of the israelis, the irish and Jonathan plus two american girls. We went to the bridge.

I was one of the last ones. They shout: The 59!!. My turn. One israelu girl scream because she knew that she was the next one. I sit where they ordered me while they were putting the arneses and ropes andtry to calm me down.But didn't really need it. I was taking a sunbath and breathing deeply while waiting, amazing the israelis, I'm spanish, I run in front of he bulls, this is nothing.

After all was ready I came close to the end of the jump platform, Below me 160 metres of free fall towards the river. In the border, whitout really realize I started to sing a piece of one tango, Volver(come back) of carlos Gardel.

After sing, I bent my knees and tried to get impulse, but I couldn't do more than let me fall to the vacuum. After soome milisecons I started to scream, I scream that I dind't control at all. Amazing, espectacular, the sensation. 3 seconds and a half of free falling. Unfortunetly the canyon swing, that offers 8seconds free fall was suspended because of the wind. Anoher time will be.

And then, justcoming back to Kathmandu, under a red full moonbecause of the hot, witha gentle breeze that remained me the Mediterranean sea.

The swimming pool

2008-04-21T23:14:00.000-07:00

On saturday I decided to take the children to the swimming pool that was going to be open at last. So at ten we went from the orphanage. The day wasreally hot so perfect. But when we arrive to the ticket office, the infrom that the pool is opnening at one, not at nine like they had told me before. I'm quite tired ot the information in Nepal. But at one we get to the swimming pool.

I wanted to play with the children and take them to the deep shallow, but the swwiming pool was so full of over-excited nepalis that was nearly imposible do something whitout be distrubed for them. After took Ramesh dnd Sarita there I couldn't do more than give up. But the experience was not so bad. I could relax and refresh myself and the kids really enjoy.

Right now I'm really hapy with the kids, they reallly apreciate me. Always share everything with me. I remember some weeks ago when in the way back to the orphange from the school they stop in one shop to buy some swweety things with their few money and they cut to the half the three sweets to offer me a half. And always like that. In the school Suraj always offering me biscuits. Unfortunetly Rajednra have take them to other school, so I'm not gonnasee them so often like until now.

Lal salam(red greeting)

2008-04-15T06:03:00.000-07:00

The last week were the elections in Nepal. There was a huge expectations on it. During the previus months the way to them was a lot of times really dificult with a lot of problmes of violence and misandertoods. But at the end there were celebrated in a really pacefull day.

The day after them, when I was in the school working in the computer, Sangeeta was going with some friends to the International Complex, neurological center of the counting, I and though, why not go with them. I was lucky and I meet some candidates of one party, and with them I was allowed to access to some places were even periodist weren't allowed. Besides of the special that it can looks like, it wasn't nothing really special.

One thing that really impressed me is the use of the nazi symbol. I know that it comes from India, were its an important religius symbol, that until today I was unable to decode, but during the election people should choose their party leaving a mark of the symbol in the correspondent area of the party.

Even today, the results are not definitive, but its clear to see that the maoist have won. And how.. they got until today 105 seats in hte parlament meanwhile the second and the third party don't add between them even 50 seats.

First, its obvius to see that people in Nepal was tired of the old politics. I heard a lot of times that maybe people was not going to vote because of the tireness of nearly fitty years of weak democracy that didn't change too much, but thay have voted and eliminated the old parties.

Si, what now? Maoist will have to respond to the call of the people. During the last years with their war agains the system thay have change a lot of things, but its now when they have to change the things, people have voted them to bring the new Nepal with what they dream.

Also, I hopde that besides of their huge victory, they will not forget the rest of the parties when building the new Nepal and also leave the arms, now that they got the power, if not could be really dangerous. At the same time, I also hope that a strong censour system will grown in Nepal like in China, but we will see.

In the internationall panorama, India will stop o support and block Nepal as it was doing until now, and in its place qill appera China, that will block and support them. In a really free and personal opinion, I think it could be good. A closer relation with Tibet(China) can help Nepal so it gets a little part of the rtibet pie, all the natural resources, so maybe in hte future, because of China problems with the rest of the world, tibet will be independent and help its friendly country Nepal, and Nepal start to create its own future. Until right now it depends of other countries that kust let him survive. Nepal exist thanks to the tourism.

Meanwhile of the crowd is waiting for the results that will speak about the future of nepal, this child, that are the real future are still working in the street.

Boudha

2008-04-15T05:56:00.000-07:00

The day of New year, before go to the festival, I decided to go to Boudha, a stupa in northwest Kathmandu. I don't know if it's the biggest stupa in the world, but it's huge. Swayambhu is speacial because of the enviroment that sorruonds it, nut Boudha is spectacular because of the stupa. Also, all the shops and small restaurants around is really beautiful and quiet. Anayway, because of the enviroment I prefer Swayambhu.

Interior of a adjacent monastery.

New year

2008-04-15T05:30:00.001-07:00

The first of every new year, there is a tipical ffestival in Kathmandu and in other cities of Nepal. In Kathmandu that festival stars at Queensway, near to the royal palace, at five o'clock. When I arrived, the chariot wasn't ready, they were still finishing it. At the same time, the amount of people wasn't so huge at it was going to be later, so I could see everything. At the same time, this year something more spectacualr also happen. But slowly.

After finish the build the chariot, first arrive the official orchrest that animates the enviroment and let to the tourist and photograpers to take pictures.

Then, the arrive of the god that is in procession is waitedm and between a excited crowd is taken to the chariot. At the same time, the people dance at the rhythm of drumms and some make exhibitions of ability with a large stick aadorned with colour flags.

Once the God is in its possision, the procession starts. Hundreds of volunteers pull the chariot with the help of huge ropes and the God is taken to the white temple. I have tried to put a video, but I was unable.

Until here, all is like all the years, but this time, as soon as the chariot started to move, its top part became lead to one side, and as the chariot was going on more and more.

And in one moment, when the chariot was in a ramp, and volunteers pulled so much strong so quickly, the chariot falls down. At that moment I was taking pictures and as I was pressing the bottom I could not believe what I was watching. Some minutes before I was speaking about it with a american photographer, it's going to fall, but the true it's that you don't really expect it to become true. After the noise of the chariot falling over on bus, the crowd start to run, but luckily I was in an elevated position.

The last they of the Nepali year

2008-04-15T05:11:00.000-07:00

The last day of the year was quite normal. I haven't seen spectacualr celebrations and even in private hauses it was nothing really special. All the people says that is like that because of the elections celebrated two days before. Anyway, I got some dinner.

But in the afternoon I went to the orphanage. After two weeks thinking what to do, worried about the future and whatever, that evening was just great. Like in the first days, I went with the children to the field and we were a lot of kids playing, enjoying, until the rain came. So later, in the orphanage we make a pillow war.

But after around one hour, Sarita was hit in one eye, and of course we stop. But the problem is that she went to his bed, cover with a blanklet and don't even uttering a word. At the first time I thought maybe she was just acting and I hit once really strong in his head, but it didn't help. I didn't know what to do. Later, I found her hitting the wall with his hands strong and strong, so I went I just said: "If you have a problem, try to solve it, don't do something to make it larger. Hitting the wall you are not gonna get anything."

The next day, I went again to the orphanage and she was totally oeky. But sometimes I don't know what to do with them. they got bigger problems.

This pictures were taking for one Nepali, with their quality. I'm the one in black t-shirt.

Teaching

2008-04-15T04:41:00.000-07:00

Which are the changes that I would like to make in the school and make me stay longer in Kathmandu?

Since the opportunity appears, I centered my study in two questions:
What to teach?
When and How?

A lot of people woul say that the first question is really dificult to answer, and it is, but is more easy whitout involve ideologies. At least I have tried to adopt a scientific actitude.

In the school, from the nursery till the end of primary education, all seems center in give to the students all the knowledge to pass some exams. The education becomes a way to just make the students able to pass the exam. And also, there is the problem of the methodologies of the teachers, that is not really good. It's sorprising the good results of some of the kids, but it also shows what a good education would be able to do with that children.

So, after critisize and add my own ideas the next points came out:

1- The most important its the development inteleectual, emotional and physical of the children. The intellectual development doesn't just include knowledge. Also the development in memory, atention, creativity are important. Is true that the the teaching and learning of some subjects help in the development of this areas, but extra-activities and better metodologies could help a lot.
2- Due to this principle, examinations will be just one form of evaluation(until now they are the only one) to know the state of the child, and the evaluation will be a part of the education, not the education a tool for the examinations.
3- To get a better development is neccessary to center as much as possible in each pupil, to know their potentials and try to him/er to reach them. Fo that, I will try to make intelligent test, emotional, test, interviews and any other ideas to get a more accurate knoledge of each student.
4- to get a major efficinecy, the size of the classes need to be as smaller as possible. Ideal no more that 12. Also, and talking about methodologies, to help in the development the lessons need to be design in one way in which the pupil is a active member in the teaching procces taking the knowledge by himself, instead of give to him the rules written in one paper. For that, the teacher need to be a guide and monitor in such activities, instead of an aoturithy.
5- to the development of the lessons, a control in the contents of the subjetcs by level and age will be made, so just what the student is ready to learn will be tought.
6- I also will try to create lessons and subjects to the vreative development of the pupils, not justin art, also in science and tecnologhy.
7- To promote critical spiryt and automotivation I will crate groups or extra-activites in whichi volunteer students of diverse levels will elaborate through one year works in one area. I thought about climate change, schooolar, newspapaer, international geogrpahy, Nepal history, ... and also the kids will have the change to offer their own ideas.
8- A farm will be create in the school, so the children will learn directly facts about basic natural science, cultural facts, and more. At the beginnig will be just plants, but I'm thinking in also buy small animals like rabbits and chiken.
9- I'm also thinking in create a reciclying project to the area of Ranibari, where is the school, which the school as a center and the kids as a workers to promote a more responsible treatment of the rubbish. This valley is beautifull, but in the last thirty years it has been quiclky become really polluted.
This are the main ideas. Any other idea, comentary and critic is hearthly wellcome.

The week

2008-04-14T04:37:00.000-07:00

But I didn't just think what to do, I also did more things, like work in the school or play with the children, but without nothing really special. In the school I have been the whole week setting up sheets in the excel so in the future the procces of evaluation of the kids will be automatic, after just introduce basic data, doing the computer all the calculations and analysis, showing a individual evaluation child by child.

In the oprphanage Kevin and another volunteers are improven the conditions in the orphanage, and they are doing really good. Until to day they have built a hot shower and painting the walls and room of the orphanage. Now they are thinking what to do with the kitchen. Actually is Kevin, the rest just help. But as they are working, the kids are bored i ntheir holidays without know what to do. So I decided to take them to the swimming pool. AS everyone told me that it should be open, besides the information I got, I came back to ask in the swimming pool, and they told thet its open. So the next day I took the children but in the ticket section agaain told me that is closed. So we just enter in the park, and Janga and ramesh take a kind of shower in a public shower inside the Balaju park.

A hard decision

2008-04-14T04:05:00.000-07:00

When I decided come to Nepal, I wanted to see the Himalayas. Everest, Annapurna and maybe something else. To be a volunteer was just and introduction and one experience. But, after three months I'm still in Kathmandu. Of course, because of my opwn decision. Two weeks ago, due to my problem with Happy home I had to left my plan of go to Rasuwa to be a english teacher. So, when I was thinking on go to Annapurna or Everest, or trying to find another organization that could send me to the Himalaya region from the school I had a new offer. They had offered me the academic chairman, to promote the needed change that will improve the education. It was a great oportunity, but the first idea was that I was unable to do something like that. I don't have the experience and teh knowledge to do it. But at the same time that I was planning the travel I couldn't avoid ideas referred to the school coming to my head. And some days ago was when, just before coment to the principal of the school the ideas when I realized that yes, I can keep travelling, I got enought Nepal, I had learnt a lot, and I got all dthe ideas in my hedad, but stay here to work in them will make the difference, a huge diference. For that reason I had decided to stay longer. Of course it depends of the visa, if I can get it or not, but right now it doesn't seem a problem.

During this time, I had also find something asbout me. During this months, the people used to call me egoist, insensible. Just because I'm travelling for pleasure and getting experiences, being far away from my friends and family. And it's true. But I'm not doing that by its own shake or because I'm insensible. In contrast with most of the people, I just don't care about that ones with I have had some relation. I care about every single human being, and even animals and plants, about life and what it's need to life. And yes, I'm travelling and getting experiences, and now staying longer in Kathmandu to help and in the future be able to help in a better way. I'm not gonna create a perfect world, but as better as my knowledge would be, better my respond and help in the future will be. I now that I'm doing this because od feelings, I'm doing this because I had impossed to myself a onw moral and reasonal universal system. And I'm able to sacrife my feelings and happyness for that. I trust that the future satisfaction and happynes will be bigger. This is my sacrifice.

Meanwhile I will still watchinf the Himalayas from Kathmandu valley. The dry season has finished, now the weather is really hot and all night there are electric storms. Now, it's possible to see the HImalayas from Kathmandu, and even from my house. Usually is quiet complicate take a picture of them. They are 100 km far away. But two days ago, in the morning, there were the perfect conditions. The sun was just for them while Kathmandu, and I with it, were under the clouds. Anyway, the pictures are not the same that the reallity. Hte are huge even in the distance, but at the same time seems that you can touch them with the points of your fingers.

Apologies

2008-04-01T22:20:00.001-07:00

I want to apologise because of the delay in the update of the english version og the blog, but I hope that if you read it, you will understand the causes of such delays. Sorry and thank you for your time and comprehension.

Happy Home????

2008-04-01T21:46:00.000-07:00

Two mondays ago I wnt to Happy home as usual. After finish in the school, I went in the bus and then walking with the the kids until I reach Happy home. When I arrived, Brian was waiting for me in the door. AS the last monday I wqas teaching some of them to greet, David, came outside and when I asked him how he was, he answered me: You are fine, and you?
But a big change was coming. Brian started to speak, he was nervous as I could realize because of his voice. He is from Seattle, and for me his accent is really dificult. Firs he said that I was not working more there, I though, no.. he must said that he is not working more here, then he started to speak about of sexual abuse acussations, i though that maybe Bishwua had accused him of sexual abuse of some children. And the conversation was like that, with my ,for sure, stranges answers until the moment that I realised that I was the one being blamed. I was shock. For Brian there was no boudt since the children were the onces that had reported something against me.
When I realized that was imposible to speak with Brian, that just wanted to blame me I went out. First I went to the other orphanage, to have tea with the children, but then I went to the school to tell that to Sangeeta and Himal. Sangeeta called to the office of Happy HOme, and Bishwua's wife, because Bishwua was out of kathmandu, said that was true. Children have reported that I had abused of some of them.
I was really worried. I knew that I was innocent, but I didn't know at first how to react, how to face such a acussation in a foreign country. That night I didn't sleep too much.
The next I went to speak with Rajendra and ask him for help, and he says that yes. Here, an aclaration is necessary. Rajendra always thought about me as a sick or ill, or mad person. He was scared of me taking the kids out of the orphanage becuase it give me the chance to take one of the girls to the jungle and abuse of her. And the same with the way I wear. All that was reported by Sangeeta. And in fact, Rajednra wanted to talk with the girls that had blamed me and after thay told him that I had done something with them, he really weanted to speak with me. And here its the difference. Sangeeta and Himal don't really care about the childre, for them all is Biswhua related, hi is the one that had tried to put me in trouble. They don't believe that acussation from the beginning.
I spent the next days in the school, helping to make the exams and really worried. I can't not avoid think that maybe something can't go wrong, and Himal and Sangeeta start to suspect and them be alone. From he first ight I know that I can use pshicologist to show that thwe kids are lying, but the idea of all going wrong is imposible to avoid.
That day, Himal explained me his theory, that's really interesting. He open my eyes to a new reality, to the world of some volunteers. Usually volunteers come here to Nepal to earn money. How? They start to work and in the anme of the organisation they collect moeny between their friends or whatever, and when they give that money to the owner of the orphanage, they recieve automatically 25%. With that money they can live in Nepal and have a really nice holidays. Sangeeta and Himal don't see this as a real problem, but for me is something really b ad. Another things is that all orphanage owners are money seekers, they just want the money, they don't really care about the job of the volunteer or even the volunteer, just about the money that he or she brings. So maybe, when Bishwua realized that I was not going to leave money, he is just not interested in my job. Another theory is that maybe something wrong is going on and they are trying to avoid me goign there and finding out it.
At the end, on Thursday a met Biswhua. In this meeting, Bishwua told me that the kids have reported sexual abuse from my side, but he is not really worried, he thinks that I am a good person, he whishs me all the best and for that reasson as long as I am not coming back to the orphanage I don't have problems. I should not come back to teh orphanage because of the health of the kids. Himal thought that maybe they were going to ask me for money to leave me in peace, but maybe because of the Rajendrass and Sangeeta's help, they became scared, one actitude that I felt in the meeting. I was recording everything and Bishwua actitute was " as long as you are not coming back, that is good for th kids, and for you, you don't have problems, that is good for you".
Of course it's really strange. If kids have really said that, and I am the owner of the orphange, I will try to find out the true, something that Biswhua didn't look like to want. I don't know if I will be able to find out what happend, but I will try. I hope have the help of some people from UNICEF and polie officers. Now that I'm free I could just forgot about it, but somethins is going on with that children.

Rutine

2008-04-01T21:38:00.000-07:00

The week before Holi was satisfactory. On monday, I went to Happy Home. I had been thinking a lot about activities and reading books to start to teach them english. The monday, was a total success. I tough them how to introduce and greet. But the second day wasn't so perfect. I hadn't had prepared lesson like on monday and two kids were crying all the time. I didn't know what to do. I tried a lot of thinks, but at the end just singing I could calm one of them. The other one, was running away from me as soon as it saw me.
The day before, while teaching, I realized that most of them are not following a proper line of development, having problems to which no one pays attention. So, the second day aftert try a lot of thinks I gave up and decided to investigate more before came back the next monday.
Meanwhile, in the school, I decided to teach them songs. Some days before I had found in my baggage sone cd's so I used them. Play of Moby is one of the alnbusm, another is a rock cd made by me and the othert a U2 great hits. I tought the kids Love street of The Doors, What a wonderfull world, Ramones's version and I sitll haven't found what I'm looking for. They loved the music of Love street and the lyric of What a wonderfull world.

Fire in Balaju

2008-04-01T20:53:00.000-07:00

The day after Holi, I wanted to go to the siming pool. The kids had to study for the finel exams, so I decided not to take them with me. But when I arrived to the door of the park in which is the simming pool, I was told that because of the winter season the swimming pool is closed. I'm dying due to the heat, but is winter season. I thought in go inside the park, to do trekking, but and the end I decided to go to the orphanage to spent the day helping the children to study and play.

As soon as I arrived to the orphanage a fire started in the mountains. I took my camera and I got close to it, to take better pictures and help if it was posible.

Because of the dry season, the fire was advancing quickly, but because of its speed it didn't have time to burn the threes, just small bushes that were totally burn in minutes.

To extinguish the fire, the army and the villagers were taking fress branches from the trees, get close to the fire and try to extinguish it by hitting and leaving it wihtout oxygen. The true is that didn't work to much. the fire was running all around the mountain totally free. We were just going back and back azs the fire was advancing. After two or three hours, the people was tired and they started to coma back to their houses leaving the army alone. I also did it. When the night came, the fire was still burnning the mountain and was really to see it like a line of fire from the top to the down of the mountain, "walking" from south to north.

Holi or festival of the colours

2008-04-01T20:41:00.000-07:00

In middle march there's a tipical festival here in Nepal and also in India. Holi ro also known as festival of the colours. The second name explain perfectly what is done in this day. Basictly a ballte of colours. A really funny war. Red, green, blue, gold. All the thins that can give colour are used. When there's no more colour people use to throw just buckets of water. Luckily the weather is hot, at least for me.

So, in the morning I woke up early and after do some exercises and have breakfast I went down to play a little in my neighbour, Nepaltar. After less than half an hour I finished like in the picture in the top. Then I

Happy Birthday Mum

2008-03-14T04:50:00.000-07:00

I hope that the next birthday we will be together, this is the second one that we aren't. Until the next year I hope that Dad and Christian will be able to care about you, and you of them. Here, all is all right, as you can read, but every single day I cannot avoid the feeling, the idea of leave everything and go home, with family and friends. But here I'm getting something that there I can't. So, the only I can say is that I will keep trying to make feel as much proud as possible of your son in this painful distance.

My mother is the one that is hidding behind my faher

In the school

2008-03-14T04:29:00.000-07:00

During this week I've been getting some confidence as a teacher and thingas are becoming easier. At the same time I have realizaed that my impact had been really important.
My teaching method is really diferent from the one that the rest of the teachers uses. I nearly don't use the book. First I present to them the problem ( in lenguage how to express something or how to change the way that something is expressed). Usually they don't get it at first, by at least they have used their mind. Then I explain the problem. We make exercise and then they have to correct them between them explaining why is incorrect or correct and it's at the end when I say yes or no.
The other teachers arrive to the classroom, read the explanation of the book and them make the exercises correcting them without explaining more, if you are wrong you get a small physhic punishment. In fact there is one teracher that always that I saw her is hitting the kids. I think she should hit herself because is she the one to blame for the mistake of the kid, provocated with her bad explanations.
In literature we read, I give them some rulesandthey have to create something new.
The principal like my ideas and had confessed me that she doesn't like noone of her teachers. So she hasask me advice to: choose books for the next year, specially literature, help ot create the curriculum for the next year and elaborate and say any constructive critic when I get it.
But I have also discover another thing. Himal, the subdirector, the guy that is teaching me yoga, really apreciates me. Actually, all the people of the school has a lot of respect to him,andthey have alot of respect to me because he respects me and has a good opinion of me. It has been so strong my footstep that he is trying to create the webpage of the school to look for more volunteer teacher for the next year. Before me, they didn't careabout foreigners, even the met another volunteers for Ocean neapl orphanage, but know I wil be the first andinspirator of a tradition. It gives me a good feeling.
And the same in the orphanage. Went I leave it, I didn't feel that the kids have apreccieated my job, but after Maha Shivaratri, and during this week I have realised in their glazes and in some acts and some gifts that that they are unable to express with words. Of course they are still needing help buit I least I have given them social life. Now, all of them have friends around. The other day, I alos went to that house of the family that had invited me to the MahaShivaratri, to give them some luxury sweets as a present.I gave them to Muhal, that hasmy age, but is married, andwhen he went inside, I could feel the shouts of joy around the three floors as long as they were discovering the present andthe one who had given the present. Was reallly nice.
And also the first day that I was in hte Happy Home orphanage, one teacher from the local schol came ot visit the kids andafter introduced herself to Neal came to me with a really big curiosity to ask me who I was bbecause she always had seen me around with kids. It was funny and nice.
So in general I got a good feeling this week. A fruit after one month and a half of work really nice.

Happy Home

2008-03-14T04:11:00.000-07:00

The last week has been characterised by two facts: I started to work in another orphanage and the other my satisfaction for my good work in the school.

When I was looking for another volunteer jobs to find what to do after leave the orphanage, I found the option to go to Rasuwa to work as a english teacher during one month, in the Himalayas. , but I found something else. The guy, the prtesident of the organization has also one orphanage here in Kathmandu and after visit it, I decided to work there at least two days per week.

The last monday was the first day. It was horrible. This orphanage has really good conditions, better than the other one, however, the kids are more, 15, younger, whithout any knowledge of english so the comunication is impossible, without games(something that Biswhua, the owner, will repair) and, I have to say, more wild. So that day, I was there with Neal, another israeli volunteer, also in his first day, without know what to do. we were feeling like being there, but without doing nothing.

The second day, Tuesday, I dind't fell like going there at all and I was thinking how to say to Bishwua that I was leaving without damage my image to go to Rasuwa, where I will find similar problems. But I didn't like the idea of leaving, give up so early.

When I arrived there, Biswhua wasn't there, so I started to play as I could with some kids while Neal was helping anothers with the homework. But after some time we didn't know what to do. At the end, I decided to use the secret weapon, the reason why I accept to work there. I went to Ocean Nepal, that is coles to this orphanage, 100 m, and took Ramesh, Sarita, Akriti... with me, so thwey would play andwork as a traductors. After the first five minutes, it worked. They became friends and play together. The next day, when I went ot Ocean Nepal, they ask me to go again to that other orphanage, so I was there on wednesday also.

I decided that from the next monday I will teach to that kids some basic english to make them able to speak the basics andhelp the comunication.

Poetry lesson

2008-03-08T04:20:00.000-08:00

Since some days I'm a teacher. English grammar and Literature teacher. It's really interesting and lovely. Before I knew that I will enjoy it, and how much I am.

In general the kids are really good and there's no problems of disciplne at all. Sometimes even I don't tell them to make an exercise but they do it anyway. The previus day I prepare my lessons so there's no too much improvisation.
Just the first five minutes were difficult because of my totally inexperience and some nervius that I had. But the passed and all was nice.
Yesterday I got a good ahnce to give a nice lesson. Waht's about poetry. They have good predisposition for poetry,it's even amazing. Me at their age wasunable to do something like they do with poetry. But they didn't have at all idea about form in poetry. They wrote a poem because instead of write prose they were writing verses. So I tought them stilistic recurses, metric, rhythm and I tried make them think to do metaphores and similes.
At the end of the lesson, the last five minutes I made an experiment. I have seen it in "The death poets club" of Robin Williams, a movie that I love. And it worked. I orden some of them to walk in circles together. The result was teh perfect to teach them my philosophy. That were are special individuals, that we live in society, but that we are human beings and no robots. The result was that after some time they were walking at the same path, when at the beginnig they were walking diferently. The surrender to the average as everyone of us in the society.
So I explain them that we are unique and specials, that they are not just students and they will not be just workers or possessors of houses or cars. That everyone of us is a mix of feelings, sensations, remains, fears illusions and dreams. That in art they canfind away to express themselves unique, in poetry, literautre, painting, music or sculture. That don't have to be afraid of express following their dreams just in fear of don't be normal and tipic or ideal or perfect. I didn't feel like tellinf them to copy that elsson in the copy note to keep it and read it when they were on traubles, so I just suggest it.
Their homework is, in one week time, a realpoem, with rhythm, metric and eveything, without anyrestriction of contents, just with rules to help to create the form andget the beauty of the poetry.

Ramro Shati

2008-03-08T03:32:00.000-08:00

It means good friend. Even with the problems that I got with Rajednra, the experience has been espectacular as no any other in my life before. Every night I went to bed with a really good and nice feeling. Help other is a way to help oneself. Since the first week, the first day that I dind't know what to do, thinking in the moments without water or electricity, remeber the moments of games around the neighbourd, the tickeling wars, the friends that I made around, every single moment hasan incalculable value, higher than the 250 dollars that I paid.

The orphanage are four rooms rent in a two floor building. One is the kitchen, other the playroom, other the bedrrom for the kids nad the fourht was my room for a month. The toilet its outdoors. The neighbourst that live in the secondfloors are just lovely, specially one,'Bono" called like that by me because wear the same kindof glasses and playa the guitar, without know U2. From the roof the view of kathmandu valley and Swayambhu are formidable.

The kids.

Akriti: 9 years old. Could be just lovely, but is quiet spoilt, crook and liar. Doesn't hesitate in askfor sweets or go to the cinema, but Ithink all is because her mother is there. Is also lazy. It seems that in this month I just found bad things, but she is a girl that loves play and maje jokes, have fun and have also power obver the rest. Her father want to kill her as a human sacrifice in Swayambhu. The idea doesn't make any sense because Swayambhu is abuddisht temple. I have seen his alcoholic father went I went to Dadhing, in the middle of his sheeps trying to hit some.

Ramesh: 1o years old. Is from the lowest caste, so Rajendra is afraid of him someone leaving the orphanage to follow his destine, begging in the streets, from where he comes from. I don't believe that he will do it. Alwaysis looking for you and be in you arms, even at his age. The true is that he is alone. Akriti has his mother, Surajand Sarita are brothers and Janga has his amazing imagintaion and goes to his own world, but he is alone. His sentence is: I also play.

Janga: 8 years old. At the beginnig he seems to be even deficient. He is always crashing with everything, is superclumsy. His father mistreated him. With the time Ihave realized that he is really intelligent, just that because of his background he has some comuniccation problems. Is really funny.Remeber me to Harpo Marx.

Suraj: 7 years. The younger one and borther of Sarita. Is all the time crying. Anything that happen or even nothing andhe starts to cry. His sentences is: Look sir, Look sir, sooo niiiiice. Anything that he sees and he wouldsay it. An eagle or an rubbish bag, it's true. Another possibility is Soooo biig. When he starts to cry I just feel like slpaing him, but it would be useless. Is another disaster and lazy, but lovely.

Sarita: The oldest one. 12 years old. She is also the more responsible, cold and shy. She never ask you for nothing. She loves to read and I gave her The little prince as a present when she wasthe first of her class. Suraj and her were abandoned in Pokahara, they are from Dadhing, by their mother after their alcoholic father died. She was working as a weaiter in a restaurant and Suraj carying about babies, don't ask me how. It was more than three years ago, so she was 9 and Suraj 4.

My Maha Shivaratri

2008-03-08T02:56:00.000-08:00

The other day was a festival in Nepal. I don't know if is the celebration of the birth of Shiva, or of its married. Any case, after have woke up and cleaned a little beat my room I went out going to the orphanage.

In that day all is allowad, until some leverl, but even stele small things is allowed. That kids uses to do is go to the roads and streets, put one rope form one side to the other, creating a barrier, and ask for money. No one has the right to get angry. So walking to the orphanage Ihadto pay many times, but it was funny. So when I reached the orphanage and I saw the kids without do it, I askthem why not. They told me that they didn't have a rope and a Shiva picture, needed thigns because when someone pay they have to put 'Tika" the small red circle inthe front. So i bought it. First Iwas thinking in just buy for them some money and biscuitis or other things because I didn't expect them to get too much money. But I spent the 40 rupees andtook them to a medium important road. I think the fact of having me there helpalot, because a lot of people found funny that foreignerthat was taking the rope and having fun like a child. At the end, after one hour and a half, they got 150 ruppes, that for them isa fortune. They spent a part of that money in have their favourite meal,noodles, to which they inviteme really gratefull.

The second important thing this day,is the night. They make huges bonfires. So we start to collect wood for it. When we were taking wood, a family to which I became a friend, because always play with us, invite us to their bonfire. We accepted and started to help them. To take the wood, we went to stole wood from the forest of the king, that rest behind Balaju. We had also found the army, or they found us, but let us after some small payment. I could alos seee how the kids get the wood. It's takebreathing. I didn't have my camera at that moment, but is really dign of pictures. A kid goes up in the tree climbing like a monkey without any protection, reaching 15 metres or more, and in equilibries,star to broke the branchesof the tree that will throw to the ground.

Then they teach me how to use the axe and we continue preparing everything to the party.

It's really helpful,when someone is so far away from home find people that help you and offer you averything. They give me a lot, but for sure it was funny have a spanish in their bonfire. Because of the nature of the party I wasn't allowed to take pictures. So here my relate finish.

Death and Life

2008-03-08T02:17:00.000-08:00

The other night, I was having dinner in one restaurant with Sangeeta, a perfect spaghetti All'Fredo, when I don't know how, whe start to talk about death. Since that night Icouldn't have stop thinkabout it and I want to share with you that discover. It couldn't be a dsicover, but for me was a shock. At the same time I think is one of the more important points in which occidental and oriental cultures differ, like the rose and the lotus.

In the school we learnt that Hindus believe in reencarnation and wish to reach the nirvana. Buddhist in this basic have the same believe. Nirvana is a state in which there's no feeling at all and therefore no suffering. From its mithology hinduism shows an idea of one earth and universe in constant change with cicles of destruction anQuite an experience to live in fear, isn't it? That's what it is to be a slave.I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the darknessat Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time like tears in rain. Time to die. d creation, so they believe there's nothing permanent and we just have to play our rule that will finish with the death. During our live,he wil face sicknes, sadness, fights,wars and natural disasters.

With this vision,the idea of a eternal state without any feeling, that doesn't mean eternel happyness but a peaceful state without interrrumptions, without feelings and sensations that disturb it, come out like the main objetct four our soul that trouhg the reencarnations should try to satisfact god and take the right decisions to get it.

I knew that before, but I hadn't met noone with this feeling or believeing before in my life. And when they say, yes, if I die know and get the nirvana I'll be allright, I wouldn't again my life or another one if I get the chance I couldn't do more than get totallly amused.

From there is from where born their tranquility, the orientalpeace and quietness. They have a thousand lives to take and do the right, the eternal human dilema. And if they don't do it, they will get another chance.

Instead of this relaxation, the western, christian, jew or muslim, just got one life to live and do the right, satisfact God, thaht even in hindureligion is not like afurius fahter that will punish us if we don't do the right think, and reach because of our good acts the eternal heaven. If to that we add the complexity of the moral system andthe punishment of the eternal hell we will just become really confused and scared about life and death, worrying every single minute. We live with fear and we can not love properly.

And then are the ones like me. We believe and consider life, and most our's one, asone of the most beautiful and amazing perfect accidents that had happend in hte history of the universe. Without sense, and without soul, our life is just one. we also look to it with fear, but fear to don't enjoy properly every single minute and make this beautiful present dign. In contrast to the hindu, we desire to life one thousand lifes in ours one. And that's I'm trying to do.

"Quite an experience to live in fear, isnt' it?
That's what it is to be a slave.

I've seen things you people wouldn't believe.
Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion.
I watched C-beams glitter in the darknessat Tannhäuser Gate.
All those moments will be lost in time like tears in rain.
Time to die." Rutger hauer, Blade runner

Our thougths and remains are chemical sustances in our brain. Life, our perception of our life, thats the only thing that is in our brain,are that chemical sustnaces. The past and the gfuture doesn't exist, just achemical sustances that create that illusion of remains and dreams. That chemical sustances have a weight, a weight clore to the Planck scale, areally small one, but really important. What I try to get is as much as the sustances having as much experiences as posible so this sustnaces, my reaminsand dreams, would be heavier, make me life heavier.

The silk road

2008-03-08T01:53:00.001-08:00

As some of you know aroun there I'm thinking about come back to Europe byland, travelling throughthe Silk Road. Travel it isone of my dreams since with ten years Iread in a comic that Marco Polo had travelled from Venice to Pekin crossing desserts, huge mountainsand many other dangers.

Since the moment that here inKathmandu I started to think about it I went to some libraries to find information. And what I have found has made me feel even more eager to do it. I haven't found nothing that could reach my curiosity. It look like there's no guides, and in internet the information is also insuficient. It seems more like an aventure to me, sicne there's no too much information. Like my dream. That morning I was running from libraries to libraries, trying to life faster and so reach the moment to start the adventure before. But time has always, or nearly always, the same speed. Someday I will explain in a scientific way the title of my blog, because it just speak about it.

What I found that mornings where jsut some books, written by the explorersthat made it before, like diaries, and some other history books of some countries that talk about it briefly.

The moment is far away, I have to do a lot of things here before in Asia, and ho nows if at the end Iwill be able to do it really. Another fact is do it alone.. if someone is interesting when the moment is come, will be welcome.

If in hte summer I go to Pekin, for the Olimpic games I'm thinking on do it a piece of the south branch. New Delhi-Lahore-Islamabad-Merv, crossing the Hindu Kush.

How to bargain

2008-02-29T04:58:00.001-08:00

When I'm bored around Thamel, the touristic place of Kathmandu, I go to one shop and start to bargain with the seller. It's funny and I can get some practice in the craft of bargain. With the time I'm getting someo practice, so I have decided to let you some tips.

First, just for if one day you reach Kathmandu: Never buy in Thamel, and if you can avoid it, in KAthmandu, it's the expensive place of whole Nepal.

1- Go close to the shop, without show interest in the article. You are just looking.
2- Once that the seller comes and tells the price, say that you don't want to buy.
3- He will tell the fiast official price, lower than the first one, but you explain again that you don't wnat it.
4- The price starts to go down.
5- If he doesn't starts, you should do it. Start to go personally. Where are you from, whatever.
6- Explain that you now about what are you showing interest, that you know a lot about the theme. Eve nif isn't truth, but that you don't want top buy know.
7- He will down the price.
8- Explain that you don't want to buy now, maybe another day.
9- The price will go down again, and at that tiome you turn around going. He will down the price asa lot, and then you come back smiling. Here you can show interest without saying anything, he will down the price once and more, until reach the price that you think is good and say Ok. Another is just start to make offers.
10- You are foreigner, and he nepali. You are millionare. He just want take as more money as possible. They will win a lot of money anyway, usually the products doens't cost anything, aybe 50 rupees, and they sell them for hundreds. It's easy think that you are not paying anything for the product, but one nepali can eat one day in restaurants for 40 rupees. You will reach the limit of the price when he say NO straight away, tha means that you have reach the real price. Someitmes I got 60 percent of discount, but I never buy, just once I bought, getting 45 percent, but i think I could have get 60 easily. By my heart say that's wasenough.

There isone exception for the tenth rule. If you are the first customer of the day. Then you can ask for wahever you want. The nepali, and the Hindu, think on the day, not on the month or year. They just have to get food for the day. The think that if you are the first customer of the day and you don't buy anything, they wil not get anything that day.

Miscellanea

2008-02-29T04:49:00.000-08:00

Me and the kids
Francoise and Anna
Ratna Pani area

A film being shoot on the street

As I have promised, some pictures. Mainly from the streets of Kathamdu, but I'm preparing a full and proper reportage of the orphanage with history of the kids, funny stories and how my month spent on it was.

Himalayas from Kathmandu

2008-02-29T04:42:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, if the day is clear, if there's not dust in the air, and if you are in the perfect street, you can see some peaks of the Himalayas from Kathmandu. You are walking down trough the street and suddenly you see the snowed peak, that makes you feel good. The true is that they are just takebrathing. Unfortunetly, I just can share with you some compried pictures in a webpage. I just can say that in the future I will be able to share more, from the proper HImalaya range. Right now I looking what to do next atfer the orphanage anb I'm thinking on go as a volunteer to goverment schools in some village of Langtang, in the Himalaya range, close to the Tibet border.

Pictures

2008-02-25T23:13:00.000-08:00

Nowdays I got a problem with my camera, but I hope in some days will be fixed. As soon as I fix it I will publish the pictures, pictures about the mountains andhimalayans from Kathmandu. The dry season is finishing, and is posible to enjoy the landscape. Hte HImalaya peaks are visible form Kathmandu and even the Kathmandu valle yis really beatifull. The other day from the orphanage , from the roof, I coul see the whole valley, and its just beautifull.

Rutine

2008-02-25T23:03:00.001-08:00

I've left the orphanage. The last week I moved to Nepaltar, another neighbourgh, in the north of kathmandu, quiet far away from everything, but that has two ventages. One, there's always water. Secon, is really quiet and calm, like a village. In the orphanage, for example, in the last 14 days they didn't have water 9.
When I saw movies like In the mood for love or 2046, I always thought about the fact that the charactars were looking for rooms instead of for flats. Live with another family,strangers, share the kithcen and all the things. But right now I'm doing the same, I'm looking for a room due to the place were I'm now isreally far away, but it's complicate. More of the rooms doesn't have toilet, not talk about shower, or a lot of problems with the water. Probably at the endI will stay on Nepaltar.
Of course everywhere the water is cold, so the shower is col, with water that borns in the Himalayas.
The last week, during four days, I got gastric problems again, the worst in my life, so I was four days with intense pain on bed. But right now I'm quiet well. Even happy.
In Kathmanmdu, fresh fish is cheaper than chicken. Now, in my own room, with kitchen I starting to cook, learning how to cook oriental dishes andalways facing the lack of ingredients. Hte other day in the market I bought 32 spices and 10 kinds of tea.
So... I stablishing my self here, starting to cook, to teach, thincking about the future and everything.

Nepal's situation

2008-02-25T22:47:00.000-08:00

As you have read, I'm gonna be around Nepal some time. But, at the same time that I'm looking for a room, I'm thinking how to get out of thecountry, if the situation becomes worst. Nowdays, the chance es come back to Europe or go to Thailand by plane, because I don't need visa. India or China are imposile right now. To India I have to wait to my visa to expiry, until April. China is imposible because the acces is through tibet, close if you don't go with a tour, something taht I don't like. In fact, if a go to the Olympic games, I will go crossing all China, so theorically I will not have that problem that exist in the frontier with Nepal or India.
But what's the situation that maybe I will have to run away from?
After a civil war, the country is really weak. There is a king, that doesn't have to muchpower, but that wants the power. There is aparlament, with seven partys together to create a constitution that will not have space for a king. There is a maoist, communist, paramilitar group, now in peace, with centres an armed men all around the country. In two months there are elections, or maybe not.
The seven partys want the elections, create the new parlament that will create the new constitution and all the proces... but the king not, and he is trying with his small power to stablish the anarquy, war, and take again the power. At the same time, it seems that the maoist group is not totally quiet and is still taking positions in some places around the country. Tha parlament, the goverment, doesn't have enough power or ability to rule over the country properly and peoples is complaining about it and dissapointed with the democracy. In general, too much hands wanted the power that right now is too much divided.
At the same tiem, in the Terai, there are problems. The Terai is close to the India, it's a reache area and everything that comes to Nepal from India, so everything, pass the Terai. In the Terai people wants to become independt, so to press the nepal goverment, they are blocking the transport. So in Kathmandu, there's no too much petrol, gas, rie, and a lot of other products. The situation is close to a crisis.
But in the terai, there's mora than one band, each cast wants its own country, so the violence is daily between them and against tehe police or army. Ther is marcial law in five cities of the Therai.

Kathmandu

2008-02-25T22:33:00.000-08:00

Two weeks ago I decided to stay longer in Kathmandu, and maybe establish it as my base camp to my travelsaround Asia. In some days I will start to work as a english teacher in the school. At the beginnig, when the idea came I wasn't sure about it. First, I was thinking that I don't have english enough and that I never was english teacher.
But the true is that since I arrive to Nepal, I just speak english and therefore I'm getting fluent to speak, that even I'm still studying here english in my free time and that my english is better than the other teachers of the school I decided at least to try. Why not practice if a want to be a teacher?
So, at least until a learn Yoga, maybe some more nepali, I will not keep with my travel. The deadline is June, I will go to Thailand.
The true is that Kathmandu is not abeautiful city, but I got some really good firends, I having good time and with this chance I can see the festivals of kathmandu, that are coming. Now, that the hot season is starting I would like to be in the beachesof Goa, but I will go anyway.
Since, the beginning of the travel, the ideas didn't stop to change contanstly. And it's that I wanted. I didn't want to lose and oportunity because a plan or follow a plan that woul fail. I remember, two summer ago, that my firen Susete ask me to go in the next autumn t o Poland. I told that I wanted, but Ididn't know what would happen auntil the autumn so I coldn't say yes or no, Isaidthat maybe I would broke a leg so I wasn't going to be able to travel. Unfortunetly, he was the one who broke the unkle, so we din't go to Poland. In my opinion, we have to wae ideas, but not plans, just and actitud and hability to adapt ourselves to the conditions that change and we can not change. As better hability, better results.

Apologise

2008-02-09T23:36:00.001-08:00

I want to apologise because I'm not publishing with the properly frequency that you deserve be informed. I'm doing my best, and between the problems of electricity of Kathmandu, my busy days, the speed of internet in the cyber this is the result. I hope that in the future I'll be improving it.
At the same time, thank you very much to writte an e-mail or comments, they are really helpfull to me, when I'm 8200 kilometres far away from home.

Maoist protest

2008-02-09T23:27:00.000-08:00

The other night, after kids went to bed, I walk with Anna and Francoise a little until half of the way to Thamel. When we arrived to one of the main roads, a kind of big avenue that goes to Thamel, in the distance we saw the lght of some bonfires. While I don't feel unconfortable with the situation, the couple just try to walk as fast as possible to leave the area as son as possible. When we past the protest area, I left them in his way and I coma back to the orpahnage.
I couldn't take pictures because I didn't have my camera. The bonfires were really bis and the people was singing the maoist himn in front of the police, trying to provocate them. I asked some journalist what was going on, and they tell mew that the police wanted to take the maoist centre. of Balaju. But they didn't know why. I asked then to the maoist, but they couldn't explain me because or they didn't know the reasons or eglish to explaind them.
As I couldn't get the answer I came back to the orphanage. As I had avanced 100 metres, the police started to fight and a lot of the maoist started to run or fight. Probably they started the fight, because they were really anxius for it, as they were showing. They were with sticks and the police with sticks and guns. Fair play.

Kathesimbhu

2008-02-09T22:50:00.000-08:00

I found it by chance when I thought I was lost in centre kathmandu, I wasn't, and it was a nice surprise. It's the biggest stupa of Kathmandu, and when someone is sick or very old, and can't walk up to Swayambhu, he or she must come here to reach the same religius prize.

There are pigeons everywhere and four monasteries and tibetan shops all around, very beautiul.Ther also too much people just spending their time talking around, like in Swayambhu, and a lot of small kids begging.

My life

2008-02-07T21:19:00.000-08:00

As I have already said in another e-mail or post, I'm not leaving as a tourist that is travelling around Nepal. Right now I'm leaving like a Nepali. My house, the orphanage, is cold, without any kind of heater. The sun just warms my bedroom one hour per day, and three or four the kids bedroom. The living room and the Kitchen don't recieve sun light any time. The orphanage is sorrounded by tallers buildings, that's why. So, in general, winter is really cold, but probably in summer would be perfect.
Toilet is in the yard. The tap is also there, so every time you need water you have to go to the yard. The water is really icy. And more, sometimes even ther's no water. Nepla is the second country of the world with more water, but some days we don't have water at all.
The same happens with the electricity. Kathmandu has hyroelectric power station, but the black outs are more than 40 hours each week. During that hours Kathmandu is under the candles lights until that with shouts of joy everywhere light comes again.
I decided to come without any kind of music reproductor. I really loves music and it hurts a lot. So every time it's my memory that works as music reproductor. I tought that I would remember more songs, but there are just a few, around 20. The other night, I was brushing my theet in the yard, and someone, in a near house was listening Red Hot's Californication. My joy was huge. I remember the concert and I was dancing happy.
Nepali people don't stop look at me whereever I go, and a lot of them just come to me to have some conversation. Just take a walk and you will meet someone. Like a few minutes ago, when I was coming to the cyber. A nepali started a conversation and at the end he offered me go to hos house in a small village in Annapurna region when I'll be there. Or yerterday, I was taking a walk around Balaju and a scurity man come to give conversation during one hour.
Last week I started to read Ramayana, a basic epic of Indian culture. Some days ago I started to do medtitation, yoga, following the advices of Bhola and Himal, yoga to be wexactly.
And when one week is left to leave the orphanage, I start to think about what to do after. I want go to Everest. I will need 29 walking to reach it. And I will take more, because I want to go to Goyko lakes, a really beautifull place close to Everest. So, as I'll reach base camp, I'll be 5 kilometres far away from Everest, and his top, 3300 metres over me. and I'll be 5500 over the sea level. It's amazing think that are just a few points in Europe that are near or 3300 metres
over the sea level.
And then Annapurna, another 21 days. Then, far west Nepal eith Bhola, tomorrow Losar celebrations starting(new tibetan year), in April nepali new year, then thailand in June with my friends, China with the Olymp[ic games, India, the giant India, Dharmsala, where I want to do volunteer job alos. Too much things to do and not enough time...
Who knows how future will be.

Swayambhu

2008-02-07T21:01:00.000-08:00

A myth tales that kathmandu valley was long time ago a lake. Natural historians used to agree, and that explains why the land of the valley is so fertile. Long tiem ago, in the centre of the lake, a lotus flower self-created appeared. The beauty of the flower was great because is was perfect and it radiated a powerful light, that makes it famous in far distancies.

One day, a chinese monk, arrived to see it and amazed with the beauty of the lake and the banks decided to make that place habitable. With a powerful sword, he cut the mountains and drying the lake.

During the drying, the self-created lotus flower reach the top of the hill situated in the centre of the valley and there it becomes the Swayambhu Stupa, self-created, whitout man hands.

Swayambhu is a small metropolitan park with two hills. In one side there's a small buddisth monastery and in the other, the big and famoust stupa of kathmandu. Monkeys are every where and for that it's known between tourist as Monkey Temple, due to the hard pronunctiation of Swayambhu.

Around the stupa ther are a lot of small shops, restaurantes and coffes among anohter small monasteries. But far away to be a touristic place like thamel.

It's a really relaxing and beautyfull place, with prayer flags all around, where citizens go to pray, with some peregrins, or just to have a good time. The best moment is the sunrise. The effect of the light and night over the dome of the stupa with the city below it is just magical.

The ghost mountains

2008-02-07T20:48:00.000-08:00

In the morning,really early, we take a bus to Mugling, three hours and a half, from Kathmandu always close to the banks of the Trisuli river, by highway, 70 kilometres. Once in Mugling we take the cable car, that covers a distance of three kilometres, crossing the river and ascending an altitude of 1300 metres in eight minutes. When you are going up or down you got the same feeling than in an airplane.

One we arrive Manakama, we look for a hotel and after have lunch we take a walk. The temple is in the centre of the town and at that time is full of people. Inside the temple people carry out animal sacrifices, usually goats.

In our walk we left the town an we go to near mountain. From the temple and the town, and our walk, I should be able to see the Himalaya range, but because of the dry season, and all the dust particles floating in the air, I can't see anithing more far than some kilometres.

We reach, after cross a small village, another small temple, Bakeshwar Mahadev Mandir, and then a small sacre cave, Lakhan Thapa Gupha. In the top of the mountain there are ruins of a ancient palace, but Sangeeta is unable to walk so far.

After that we come back and while i'm taking pictures of the temple, Sangeeta pray inside the temple.

The next morning, At six come back ot the temple to pray and she's is able to assist to a ceremony that ussually don't allow people inside.
When she come back and after have breakfast, we come back to Kathmandu.

Oracle Ray academy

2008-02-07T20:33:00.000-08:00

It has changed totally my trip. And all by chance. The third day the kids were coming back to school after winter holidays. I didn't know waht to do. They asked to go with them, and I tought, why not? I was thinking in go to visit any toristic place in Kathmandu, but I had another 29 days al least.

As soon as I arrived I didn't know what to do, one doesn't go to visit a school in Europe so aesily, and then Bhola came to me and offer me te and conversation, and all changed. Bhola, Sangeeta and HImal told me that they got a good feeling about me as soon as they saw me, that's way they had opened to me as they had.

Right now, for all the pupils, and even for another teachewrs I'm like another teacher, they greeting me so. The kids respect totally the teachers and they don't have to fight with them. In fact one day I went upstairs to visit Bhola in his classroom and I found him slepping in a desk while the children were making in asilence the exercises. All the subjets except Nepali are tought in english.

Usually I arrived to the school by bus, I see the kids forming and making exercise i nthe yard, before enter in the school. They always take two laps around the school before enter always greeting me as they see me, Good morning, Alex Sir. After they enter I used to speak with Bhola or Sangeeta taking a te and then a omellete with chili. And then I do whatever I have to do that day.

If there's no bus the kids have to go by walk. If they have to come back walking And I'm with them we take a taxi that is usually less than 80 p.

From the first week until now

2008-02-07T19:57:00.000-08:00

From the last moment that I updated the blog, all this has happend.
Just after finished update it I went to the school because I had promised to the children teach them a game. Following my directions all the kids were working to create the field and after listen the rules tha game stars. In the first minutes seems that they don't understand the game and all is going to fail because they are not enjoying the game. But after some corrections the fun stars. Bhola and me also play. After some games, Sangeeta appeared to tell me that the rice that she had cooked for me is ready.

The same evening Bhola invite me to go to one place quiet far away from Kathmandu, one hour, but and the end Sangeeta took me to Swayambhu, one of the most famous places of Kathmandu valley, a budisth temple, also known as Monkey Temple.

The next day, Saturday, rest day, I don't do more than play with the children in a near field.

On sunday, the weather is just perfect, and I pass the morning talking and reading an international newspaper that Bhola has brought for me. Then, Sangeeta take me to a meditation centre that is in the border of the valley. The restaurant of the meditation centre is quite famous because a vegetable pizza, that is really nice, I ate two.

When we came back to the school, the yard is full of people that doesn't do nothing with the school, just with another bussines of Sangeeta. It's amazing how she spend time for me, as well that Bhola and Himal, instead of their own duties.

The next day I wnt to the office of Unicef, but they send me to another. I spent that morning looking for it trought Kathmandu and in the way I help a gruop of Koreans to reach Durbar Square. I stop alos in every bookshop looking for a good full english version of the Ramayana, one of the fundamental epics of the Hindu culture.

When I arrive to the orphanage I shave and take a kind of shower.

Wenesday and Thrusday I went with Sangeeta to the Manakamana temple, in the Gorkha region, famous around all Nepal because its god fullfill all the whises.

On friday, I went to Rajendra office to talk about orphanage expenses and buy a Ramayana. Then I go to the school to teach the kids another game. It's a new sport that I learn in this holidays in Coruna, Ultimate, with the frisbie. This one is hard to explain to the kids, but at the end they really enjoy it. Then Himal, Sangeeta's uncle, that is realy interesting guy, help to change the Ramayan for another better. When he is taking me ot the orphanage invite me to eat in a Newar restaurant. the tipicla one from Kathmandu, that is a Newari place. Newari are a etnic.

On sunday I go to school and a lunch time Sangeeta took me to a Indian restaurant. Then I go to Rajendra's office and I meet a two new volunteers, Anna and Francoise, be;gium and french. They are making a circle around the worl and while they are in Kathmandu they will come ot the orphanage in the evenings to help me.

Monday and Tuesday I'm sick, with dhiorrea, so I spend the days in the orphanage close to the toilet.

The first week

2008-01-24T20:01:00.000-08:00

The first three nights were quiet complicate. Because of the jet lag I couldn't sleep properly and between two and four in the morning I woke up due to my stomach asking me for food. But after some days it past.
My first day, the kids didn't have school due to winter holidays so I was playiong with them all the time. The true is that during the day the temperature easily raise the 20 degrees, but in the night is diferent. Really cold. So I played with them all the day, teaching them a spanish game that they really liked. During the morning we play in the orphanage but in the afternoon we went to a nearly field. In that field, instantly after we started, a lot of people from the nearest houses came out to wacht me, and a lot of kids were wachting without wanted to play, maybe because they were quiet scare. The people was smiling al the time and loughing.
The next day, because I didn't have nothing to do I went with the children to the school, and then, al the days. After arrived by bus, Bhola, a teacher and the second director offered me a te and some conversation. Really kind. Then, the principal, Sangeeta, did the same and Like that I spent al the morning chating hours with both. I'm invated to teach whenever I want.
When the classes finish I come back with the children to the orphanage walking, because there's no bus. There's no bus because the driver wnet somewhere to get fuel, I don't know how, but he didn't get it. Teh road is like a rural one in Europe, full of traffic, with constant traffic jams, sorrounded but rubbish everywhere and fake products markets.
When we arrived to the orphanage I help the children with the homework and after dinner we play a tickle war. As I'm very tickly, they enjoy too much with me. At hte end, I finish laying down on the floor, with the three kids over me, singing and the two girls singin with them as they play cards. When I say that is time to bed they show me postal card sent from another volunteers.
On friday I came back to school. Again the same routine. First conversation with the really kind Bhola, and then with the principal. She offered me to take me to the centre and show me it. As we will need the motorbike, first she take it to a garage when it's said that need to be fixed so we decide to go walking around. But no, as we were walking 20 min. we take a taxi and g oto one of the nearest hills that sorround Kathmandu. Ther she take me to the temple of the Sleeping Vishnu and then to the top of the mountain, to the doors of Shivapuri National Parks, there she show me a meditation centre and we have food in a nearly restaurant. I'm invated by her. I ate momo, tibetan food. We don't stop ot talk about cultural diferences, the orphanage, school, Nepal and more. Invitations don't stop to come, to a pic-nic, to go to her natal village where she wants to built another school. Then she offered me to work there.
Nepal is a country with fabulous people. Quickly they become your friends offering all that they can and helping you a lot. At the same time everyone helps the others, even if he or she is needing help.
when the school finish I took the children to he orphanage by taxi. Then we go to play to the field and is the first time that other children come ot play. We were around 15. People is all around making bonfire so we can see in the dark.
Saturday morning kids take their weekly shower and in the afternoon I takle them to the cinema. This is a curius experience. People shout, whistle, and clap when the good boy come to save the girl from the hands of the bad one, that happens a lot of times in the movie.
In sunday, Rajendra invate us, me and Anna, to visit his natal village, near to the city of Dadhin, in the south. The travel is just horrible, sitting in a van full of people three hours and a half.
At the arriving, we have to take another bus to the top of the hills, where is the village. The trip in the bus is amazing. a 20 m bus that goes up to the top of the mountain by a really small and narrow road full of holes that make the trip really funny jumping all the time in the seat.
When we arrived thje sight is great. In the bottom of the valley, close to the river lays Dadhin. sorrounded by mountains lowered than 1000 m. that let see the Himalayan range, with the snowed peaks.
To come back to kathmandu, I suffer during four hours in a bus with 15 seat, in which are travelling around 25 persons sit, 15 on their foots, and 20 in the roof.
I have get used to the nepali way of life quiet quickly. The true is that I'm not living like a tourist, I living like a nepali, and frequently I can't avoid wish be in Europe with more facilities. But I hold on and the recompense will be bigger, or at least I hope.

Alex begins

2008-01-12T10:58:00.000-08:00

In less than 24 hours I'll be flying to India. After a long stop I'll fly again to kathmandu and will be at that moment when all will star. Time ago, after take the decision I wasafraid about be taken the wrong one and losing my stability in London. Now, I don't think about it more. There wasn't any stability or security in London. Now, I'm wearing in my big back all my posessions. Even some aren't mine.

I'm close t ostar the adventure, I'd love travel in other times, when it means go lucking for fortune and glory, explore unkonwn zones and follow instructions from a map that shows with an "X" the place where the treasure is hidden. Fight to be alive with pirates, soldiers,.. Unfurtonetly, turism has made dissapear any romanticism to travels.

Probably on tuesday I'll start to travel in the orphanage. During one month i'll be at Kathamndu, playing, doing homework, going to school with kids.

2008-01-07T12:58:00.000-08:00

Inhale.

Exhale.

Air is pure.

Cool,

but pure.

Inhale.

The sky is blue.

Exhale.

Just the sound of the wind fluttering the prayer flags break the silence.

Inhale.

Here the colors are brilliants than ever.

Exhale.

Before you, there is a plain whitout vegetation that finish in mountains.

Inhale.

The peaks of the mountain are snowed.

Exhale.

The air is icy, but the sun warms yourt body and tan your skin.

Inhale.

You are 4000 metres below the sea.

Exhale.

You are in Tibet.

10 DREAMS

2008-01-07T12:31:00.000-08:00

Think

Think about ten things that you really want to do in your life.

Think carefully.

Take a piece of paper and a pen.

Take your time.

Write the first ones.

Remember, things that you want to do, not to get.

No material posessions.

Do not specify, do not think on girls.

Don't worry if you don't get ten.

Once you get them, hide them. Never show them to anyone. Never ever.

When you are in troubles or you have doubts, go to the list and remember that your life is not just a job or your material possesions, that you are free and that that make you special are you dreams, fears, feelings and your way or live life, and that your hapiness, your fears and your way of life are in that list.

Try to get five or six of them. You will not get all of them. Maybe eight. Well done.

Your life must be guided to make them become true, you shouldn't think just in study, work, get married and buy things.

Dreams can be way or life or do the things, but you must be reallistic.

Good luck.

Now, I am making some of my dreams true. I'm travelling to Nepal and India.

One year ago I took the decision to go to London, I had more posibilities, but I chose that one thinking on my dreams. Not just on them, another reasons were really important, but not the most. Now, that I'm leaving London, I'm thinking on them again, just on them. I don't know if it's the right decision, impossible to know before see the consequences, but I think is the dreadfull one.