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Well its been ages since I wrote anything and needless to say I have been super busy! After the eventfulness of the rafting weekend and the trips to the hospital I had a couple of days off school and after several more trips to the hospital and many injections and drugs later I am very pleased to say that my arm is on the mend!
Had fun at school when I was in last week - learnt a whole Nepali dance and my Nepali itself is coming on in leaps and bounds! Did the usual dancing and singing and the Hokey Kokey is looking very very good!
Rob arrived on Thursday which was nice - he was a really ditz getting off at the wrong place and kinda getting a bit lost - but once he'd been shown round Pokhara he came back and we sat outside and had a chat - its always great when someone new arrives.
On friday Jess came back and in the evening after food we all went to the Blues Bar along with Kelly (who works with Pod) and sat listening to live acoustic guitar music which was so relaxing and peaceful! We then played some pool and finished the evening playing Jenga listening to the rain outside. Me and Rob had a really interesting conversation all about Islam, a fascination with which we both have something in common. I carried on my usual clumsyness streak and fell over the door step on my way out and wacked my leg - and I was the only one not drinking. Typical. Walking back was fun and we all got very wet! A good evening though.
Saturday we got up a bit late and went for breakfast before me, Philippa, Jess and Rob went to Manadraphul to go in search of some temples and Kim, Sagi and Jason (a guy we met in the blues bar the night before - who was very very annoying and opininated and not in a nice way!) took the bikes out to devis falls. We walked around old Pokhara and found some little temples then walked up to the big buddhist temple where Jess and Rob both got red spots on their head and flowers. There was the marriage place there and the whole point is to give a dowry and me and Rob decided that in return for me having his car (oh a lovely little micra) and he would get a box of cookies we would get married. Fair deal we thought! On the way back down we stopped off at Seti groge which was overflowing because of all the rain we had had, it was so fun to paddle out into the cold water although somewhat scary to look over the edge and see how far the gorge went down! The splashing water made some pretty rainbows though. Afterwards we sat out in the sun to dry off before coming back to Lakeside for a shower and food. There were some children there and Jess had a straw which she fashioned into an instrument of sorts and Rob made silly sounds using the grass and his thumb, the children ran off with Philippas camera and took lots of random pictures. I think most likely I sat and daydreamed and dried off.
On sunday we decided to get up early and at 6 me, Philippa, Jess and Rob rented a paddle boat out onto the lake to walk up to the peace pagoda. I paddled us across and the water was so still it was rather unbeilevable. It was so tranquil and peaceful. The lake always amazes me as it seems to change daily as its so vast and the light reflecting on it from different angles at different times in the day just makes it look all the more spectacular. It was a rather nice walk up to the pagoda as it wasnt too hot and raining a little bit, but this had brought the leeches out in full force and once we reached the top after a 45 min climb we had leeches stuck all over our legs! I thought I wouldn't be so squimish but I was but bless Rob he helped by flicking them off for me - leaving the bites to bleed, but I think thats better than having a leech attached to my leg. The view from the top is meant to be breathtaking - and it certainly was - as we were in a cloud and could hardly see anything around us! We sat at the bottom on the stupa and ate some food we had brought with us before starting the walk down! And what a walk! We were sliding all over the place and I had to hold onto Rob for dear life as I kept falling over. At times this was helpful, but at one point he fell over and took me with him. I think the fact that I fell over on the steps and him on the flat bits meant we were as clumsy as each other. Needless to say reaching the bottom was muchly anticpated as was picking off the new leeches that had found our legs tasty meals. I'm sure one had been waiting in my shoe for me too.
Going back out onto the lake for a bit we had a peaceful paddle around for a while and then made our way to the temple in the middle of the lake. The paddling bit was fun as Rob was sat in the middle and kept standing up which rocked the boat and I kept thinking it was going to tip over, my luck of late I'm actually suprised that it didn't! This had another great view and was very beautiful. We walked back along lakeside in search of some food and stopped at the Be happy resturant for pancakes just as the rain arrived. Walking back up to Bindus was fun as the street had turned into a river and we could splash our way back. By we, I do only mean me, as I think I am the onlt real "child" who enjoys such trivial activities.
Even though we had the boat for the whole day we didnt go back out as the rain was really coming down but had a quiet afternoon reading and things. Off out for tea again which was yummy as always and back for an early night as for school on monday.
Had another great day at school singing and dancing and preparing the children for their exams! On the way back we all met up at paddle nepal as the boys were taking us out on the lake in kayaks and we were teaching them english. Banja was my guide and I feel so sorry for him! I must be the worst person in the world in a kayak and after about 20 mins he stopped me to explain what I should do in case my boat tipped over! Thankfully this didnt happen and I *think* i got a little better as I did manage to get all the way to the otherside of the lake and back - even if my kayak kept tunring round (on its own accord of course...) We managed to get lots of english in - although on the way back it did mainly consist of me saying "sorry" and Banja saying "no problems!" he has offered to take me back out on the lake again and even show me how to tip the boat - in return for teaching him some more english - it should be a laugh anyways! Plus I learnt what has to be my favourite Nepali saying Ke Garne - meaning "what to do" Banja says it all the time and I love the way he says it - like it's lifes little question yet in such a carefree manner.
After school on tuesday I went to Kalpa nas house for tea - it was really lovely as all the teachers were there. The food was yummy as well - we had soup, followed by chowmein then Thali - so much food! I really stuggled as the nepali people have so much food and I really couldnt finish it - but I felt so welcome the teachers really do treat me like a friend and its so lovely!
Sara is fantastic - I teach alongside her and she teaches me Nepali - I also ask her lots of questions and she tells me so much about the Nepali culture and traditions its really inspiring!
Unfortunately the computer doesnt want to recongise my camera today as I have (as always) 100s of pictures to upload - hopefully they'll be here soon!
Much Loves as always
Rachel xxx
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