Prize Day at Little Daffodils

 On the 10^th April we were invited to celebrate Little Daffodil’s Prize day with over 600 community members.  It was a great day filled with dances, speeches and congratulations to the year 10 students who had all passed their SLC certificate. In true Nepali fashion the day over ran by several hours but it was a great event and we were so happy to be part of such a beautiful day!

Prize Day at Little Daffodils

Missing the Sunrise in Pokhara

The first thing I thought while arriving in Pokhara was that I wanted to see the sunset or sunrise over the mountains.  Because the weather was bad at sunset (too many clouds) I couldn’t see the sunset by the lake.  So, I decided to wake up early – very early – to see the sunrise.  I heard from a couple of people that the sun rises at 6am.

Tuesday 14^th was meant to be a sunny day so I woke up at 5.45am.  I arrived at the lake – recognising that I could see a lot, even while the sun wasn’t visible – and sat on the grass.  An Indian man and his family asked me why I was up so early.  I answered that I wanted to see the sunrise.  “Oh, you’re too late!”  Too late? I thought.  I could have slept two more hours and I’m TOO LATE?!

To make things worse, I stepped into buffalo poo while waking home.  Still, I love the sun in Nepal and will have plenty of  chances to see this amazing site!

Love Billie

Missing the Sunrise in Pokhara

Little Daffodil’s New Computer Room!

Last week we had our first construction volunteer Sarah from Lebanon. Sarah was with us for 1 week and came to help us refurbish the computer room at our school Little Daffodils in Pame. It was not an easy task and days were long, hot, and dirty!!

The first day was to prepare the room and there was a lot of scrubbing of the walls, moving the computers out (with the help from the students) and sweeping a very dusty floor! Lucky for us, Sarah was joined by Sanju and Hunter whose project was closed due to a festival and we could finally get some bright yellow paint on the walls. Already the room seemed 100% brighter! We called on Lovisa to help us with the mural design for the room.  Lovisa – an amazing artist - came up with a great fun and educational picture to complete the computer lab.  It was a big group effort to complete the room but we finished off the yellow then painted on the blue boarder and put the final details to the mural. Painting was complete but then came the clean-up. Now painting is always messy and it was a huge clean-up process and even Lekhnath the principal came and lent a hand! 

Little Daffodil’s New Computer Room!

The Local Buses

Getting to project in the mornings can be done in different ways. Some walk, some take the school bus. I myself go by local bus. The local bus can be quite an experience and I must admit I was surprised on my first ride. I might have expected the bus to be just as crowded as it was, with people hanging on the outside, but my expectations did certainly not contain a goat in the back seat. My favourite part of the story though is the argument that arose about how much the goat should pay for his transportation. 

Anyhow, the local buses are usually very busy and as you stand anywhere on the street hoping for the right bus to come along (since they don't have neither bus stops or time tables) your biggest wish is to get a seat. I don't crave a seat as urgently as my fellow volunteer, who at over 180 cm literally doesn't fit in the buses, and therefore needs to spend a good thirty minutes crouching. However, I can almost promise that your journey with the local bus, whether it is crowded with people or goats, is going to be out of the ordinary.

Volunteer Hanna

The Local Buses

Rafting

We had to walk to the local bus stop to catch our bus to 'rafting'. Where and what rafting was going to be like we had no idea. We did not need to worry however as we were delayed by a good hour due to some strike that was apparently taking place in the middle of the road. 

Anyway we arrived at what can only be described as a shed. Here (whilst the rain was tipping down) we were shoved behind a curtain and told to change into a 'one size fits all' wetsuit. One size does not fit all. 
We got in the raft and continued down the mild rapids - praying not to get wet as it was a bit too cold. Lunch was when things started to pick up. The instructors set up a table and then made coleslaw. Like from scratch. And it was AMAZING. It turned out to be one in a long line of incredible meals. After lunch we were bundled back into the raft, floated down for a bit refusing to do any exercise an thankful the rain had finally stopped. When we pulled up at our 'campsite' the jaws hit the floor. Sonam (our trekking guide) had slightly undersold it. Instead of a couple of tents on a beach this was a proper tented paradise. Each little tent/hut had two beds AND A LIGHT there were even hot showers - not that we actually used them, we're far too used to being dirty now.

That evening was sort chilling round a fire, eating a 3-course meal of soup, barbecued chicken and rice and banana fritters (the bananas here are about the size of a big man's thumb and are so sweet and delicious) it made the packed breakfast of old cheese sandwich and boiled eggs seem a distant memory.  We had probably the most chilled evening yet, it was absolutely perfect, only made better by waking up the next morning to see the world’s best view. Breakfast even had 2 courses, and English breakfast muffins with butter, jam and even peanut butter!! We were supposed to be shown around the tiny village but apparently we looked like we were having so much fun sunbathing and playing frisbee they didn't want to move us. A wise move on their part. 

After having to wait most of the morning for other people to arrive from KTM we finally set off on the raft this time without wetsuits but with a lot of suncream. We made the most of the sunny weather by jumping into the water at every opportunity, sometimes by choice sometimes by force. We even got to swim down a couple of the rapids, just floating in our life jackets as the Surrey swept us along. This was fine until Kirstie pushed our guide in just as a massive gust of wind hit and they realised they were heading for a rock. After some more intense rapids we pulled up on a bank just as the rain and wind were picking up.

All bundled in the van we headed for pokhara. Although mostly uneventful, we did have to stop in an umber traffic jam. We filled the 45 mins or so by playing more frisbee and becoming a spectacle worth stopping and watching for the locals. We finally made it to Pokhara safe and sound only about 3 hours late but very hungry and tired.

By Adventure Group Volunteers Emma and Kirstie. 

Rafting

Romy's time in Nepal

Former Volunteer Romy's photos from her trek to Everest Base Camp and her volunteering in Pame.  Thanks for sending in your pics Romy!

Romy's time in Nepal

May's Birthday

You only have birthdays once a year and as you get older you try to forget how many you’ve celebrated.  They never stop being special though and having one here was wonderful.

On my 27^th birthday I woke up here in Nepal to another gloriously beautiful day.  As usual 20 adorably snotty children had to be entertained at the day care.  To hide my rapidly approaching agedness I agreed to dance Gangnam Style with fellow volunteer Lovisa.  I blame her too for the subsequent videos and pictures taken as well.

Later in the afternoon with   I was forced to sit in the corner and turn a blind eye to the frantic and exciting noises of them making me cards.

bunting overhead, made by the kids the night before, I attended Conversation Club.

An amazing cake and a hearty rendition of Happy Birthday later and I can quite confidently say I’ll never forget this birthday.  I also think I’ve never had this many lovingly made cards.

Thanks to everyone who made it special.

Love May 

May's Birthday