Happy and fulfilled!

Well, being back to Kathmandu after three and a half weeks in Dhawa feels like I arrived in a cosmopolitan city. The trip was long and tedious. It took 11 hours on a bus to cover 140kms, the first few hours in a primitive -so called- road and then on the ‘highway’. After driving one hour, a bus in front of us was broken down blocking the rocky tiny road. We had to wait 3 hours to fix it so we could pass and continue. The travelling conditions were appalling. Packed at the last seat next to a window I was covered by a mix of dust and sweat. Reaching the paved road and it took just 30 mins for our tyre to go flat! Another hour wait on the road side, we made a trip of 7 hours 11. Typical Nepal! Nobody seemed to bother though, nor did I. I’m getting use to the lifestyle. I even helped on changing the tyre!

Flat tyre bus

Stop for servicing

Back in Dhawa, the solar installations are completed and fully operational. I am so happy and delighted that everything worked out at the end! Both buildings are now interconnected, all lights and sockets in place, two lights on a tree on the village’s main square as well as electricity line to the local tailor and the shop. A big hole in the ground on the back of the school accommodated the earthing rod. The mobile charging mania started with many people asking to use the electricity in the school. Mobile phones in the village are almost all made in China with the battery lasting only an hour or two… After the initial trial period, the school will start charging a fee (10 Rupees) so it can generate some money for maintenance too. They were all so happy, students and villagers.

Dhawa_Installing electric poles

Dhawa_Setting the wire

Dhawa_Earthing rod

Dhawa_Poles installations team

Dhawa_Justin n Dita (Learning Planet) Nektarios (ENVIRON Foundation)

Dhawa_Daal bhat lunchtime

Dhawa_Local villa

Dhawa_Local woman

Dhawa_School committee members

On Friday, there was a leaving ceremony. The children, as well as ourselves, danced, sang songs and attended performances. The program included red paint on the forehead (again) and flowers on the neck. It was soooo emotional. Lots of people from the village, students and people from the school building committee, the women committee, teachers and the solar technicians danced and had great great fun! Lots of speeches too, I even gave a short speech in Nepali I had prepared… I received presents and took a lot of photographs and videos. All this time, I made friends and lived their lifestyle. The children were all soooo amazing! I was so sad leaving them but I tried to explain them I had to go back were I belong and promised them I will never forget them and one day I will go back to meet them again. I will keep helping the school from wherever I am. It was an unforgettable experience that I will remember all my life and here I would like to express my gratitude to ENVIRON for giving me this opportunity. It will stay deep inside me and definitely will help me to look things positive, give me hope and be a better man. My days in Dhawa, living and working with these indigenous people, were the strongest experience of my life, till the next one…

Dhawa_Local women

Dhawa_Ceremony rehearsals short video

Dhawa_And the party begins...

Dhawa_On a dancing mood

Dhawa_Happy and fulfilled

Dhawa_Shanti, Sunita n Kamala (teachers)

Dhawa_Susila (Giri's wife, middle) and the women's committee

Dhawa_After party tea at school

Dhawa_Sachin, my best Dhawian friend

Dhawa-Fully litted and plastered classroom (painting to be done next week)

Now back in Kathmandu, I am getting prepared for my trip in Tibet. I think I need some holidays after 25 days without a day off! And what holidays! Tomorrow, I leave Kathmandu behind to drive to the Tibetan border. It will take 6-7 days in the Tibetan plateau, driving through high altitude passes with amazing mountain views and lakes. I heard it’s something like a high altitude dessert! On the way, I will visit Tibetan settlements, monasteries and villages reaching Lhasa and staying there for the last 2-3 days. I will take a flight from there back to Kathmandu. I can’t wait the moment I will see the Potala palace, a monumental size fort, palace and temple, all in one, residency of Dalai Lama till 1959 when Chinese invaded Tibet. I dream that moment months now! Lhasa is a prohibited city for foreigners. I will need to have a guide and I wont be able to hang around on my own otherwise I will get fined!! The Chinese cultural genocide of Tibet is happening and Tibetans in the city are now outnumbered by Han Chinese. I will try to be cautious and not give any cause for troubles. As Dalai Lama says, I will go and see, experience it with my own eyes, and then go out and tell the world. Free Tibet!

Tashi delek (Tibetan greet=blessings and good luck)

Nektarios~