Wanders of Monlam Journey Some tid-bits, some stories and mostly a way for us to stay connected...

Why is it that everyone thinks I’m 26? Do I act so young, talk so young, have a young gait? Or is it just my “good genes”, my diligent facial routine and my positive attitude? It is a complex topic.! Ah, I have finally arrived in Nepal! I am staying in the eastern part of Kathmandu, 6km from the main touristy area Thamel in the Tibetan Area called Bodhnath. Also known as Boudha, it is home to one of the worlds largest Stupas. (bell shaped complex designed to hold relics of the Buddha and also representative of Buddhist Philosophy. It is best to do a google search if you want a more accurate definition. Please look at the pictures in the gallery under Bodhnath) According to Lonely Planet, it is “one of the few places in the world where Tibetan culture is accessible, vibrant and unfettered”Do another google search on Bodhnath Stupa and see how special this place really is.. I think I read somewhere that it was built in 600AD. So far I can say that I am thrilled to be out of India. Maybe it is just my own mind (isn’t that always the case) but the vibe, the feeling is different here and more my scene. What I love most about traveling is just plain diving into the sights, sounds and smells of the exotic. The sensory overload and having that feeling of being totally engaged. Nothing more exhilarating and intoxicating in my opinion. This city is full of a rich cultural heritage that I have just stumbled upon. Best yet, I have 4 months to explore! (well not really as I only have one day off per week, but more or less I have time) It feels more cosmopolitan than the cities I visited in India and although it is dirty and there is trash everywhere, it is less dirty. And imagine no cows roaming the streets shitting, sleeping and wandering about! Small narrow streets filled with hotels and guest houses, bookshops, temples, monasteries, boutiques, cafes, Tibetan jewelry shops, thangha shops, art galleries, coffee houses, internet cafes, markets, convienience stores, pashmina and silk shops, camera, watch and eyeglass shops, street food vendors, clothing shops, music and video and cell phone stores and restaurants all clustered together! Old and new and modern and medieval mixed with westerners, tibetans and nepalese. I decided to stay in an upscale hotel for the night, relax, eat good food and go shopping to prepare for Monastery living. It is very cold here. Tonight it was in the 30’s and I have a feeling it is going to be even colder at Pullahari. I splurged and bought an Egyptian cotton towel, a pashmina (see picture), some ayurvedic facial products and my guilty pleasure, a blow dryer. ( I broke down and can’t seem to grasp non-attachment when it comes to my hair!) I was thinking that if any of you want me to do some shopping for you, send me your wish list. The way it would work for me is if you tell me what you want, I will send you pictures (jewelry,pashmina,thankas anything Tibetan) and then purchase and post off to you. Time is flying by. On my last day in India I left the group of 4 I had traveled to Sarnath with, to go explore the Nitty gritty of the oldest city in the world Varanasi. I traveled by auto rickshaw from Sarnath with 2 surgical masks on (one over the other) to protect what little breathing room I have left in these congested lungs of mine! Still sick and although my energy has returned I am still having trouble breathing.I hired a diver for the day to take me to all the important sites and to get a feel in just the one day I had of the old city on the Ganges. The Ganges is low right now being the dry season, but there is enough water for locals and pilgrims to bathe,wash laundry,swim in sub degree temperatures and gaze. I leave in a few hours to begin what I came here to do, I will be in touch! Laura