Lucky to be surrounded (close and far) by people who have hearts of gold and goodness to share. People who always see the bright side or at least learn from every hardship. To those who always see the cloud even when it's only in the forecasts or keep feeling sorry for themselves, as if the world owes anything to them, I hope one day you learn to see how blessed you also are.


Sortuda por estar rodeada (longe e perto) de pessoas com corações de ouro e cheios de bondade para partilhar. Gente que sempre vê o lado positivo ou pelo menos aprende com cada dificuldade. 'Aqueles que v'em sempre uma nuvem mesmo que esteja apenas nas previsões, ou que se sentem sempre uns desgraçados, espero que um dia aprendam a ver o quão abençoados são também.

Rain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OzrUs08-SWs&noredirect=1

I wonder what you feel when you listen to this and you don't understand the lyrics. Understanding the language, the context, the winter, the images it portrays... is a bit too much.
So intense, beautiful and painful.

Pokhara, Nepal

the Pokharan sky is tumbling down right now. true tropical downpour.

the last time I felt this earthly smell I was living in the Amazonian jungle. My feet would always be red as it rained every day and the ground was red like fire. that’s where the painted toe nails came from, so despite being muddy most of the time, my feet would always have gloriously colourful toe nails. I still haven’t abandoned the habit of painting my toenails.

the white dust is now being washed off the surfaces, highlighting the vibrant colours that cote each and every object in this country. not that I know the entire country. i spent some days in Kathmandu, having borrowed a rikshaw and taken the “driver” for a ride between Thamel and Kathmandu Durbar Square. At first he was scared, hopping off the rikshaw every time I rode close to a bicycle, motorbike, cow, passer-by, van or taxi. As you can imagine, the road was hectic and very busy, with moving people and objects in every possible direction, so the man eventually calmed down and I think he actually enjoyed the ride.

Anyhow, Nepal is not Kathmandu, so I moved east on a local tourist bus. Headed to beautiful Pokhara and went on a 3 day road trip with Johnny, a real star-boi. If I was a sensible person, I would not have gone, as both him and his best friend told me it was a trip they loved doing, but it was seriously hard core, due to the roads/trails. but sensible is not who I am, rather sensitive to great opportunities and therefore I had to seize the moment and hop onto the bike!

It was my first trip on a bike and wow, how impressive! The sceneries were fascinating at every turn. The time coincided with a big Hindu festival in Muktinath, so the road was quite busy with buses, jeeps and motorbikes, not to mention the poor trekkers. Two days later, I still have a bit of a cough, from all the dust; I cannot imagine what it feels like to be walking up a steep hill while you eat dust… I was literally chewing dust even though I had a scarf tightly wrapped around my head and a helmet too.

but then the view is so awe inspiring, one can only smile at it and be amazed at the power of nature.

at the end of the first night we stopped in Lete and bathed in the hot springs. not as picturesque as I would have imagined it, as the natural springs have now been surrounded by grey cement and stone, but really felt great on the tired body. I also loved the fact that most of the people using the baths were local. They are holy springs, by the way.

And with holy thoughts I leave you, in search of some veggie momos for lunch!

Here's a random bunch of photos. More when I get home.

One love

 

some lovin' & cuddlin'

it's cool down here, didi (sistah)

lots of suspended bridges

fishing by the bridge

World Peace Pagoda

snow... brr

the red beauty that took us

random gorgeous village

me and my PIC, as happy as dusty, back home and safe!

X Marks the Spot

And the spot is definitely Kopinang. The most amazing village I have been to in Guyana. Why?

An Orange is an Orange and an orange is Orange

Oranges and tangerines are actually orange and as juicy as drinking juice right out of the fruit itself. This as opposed to the green and dry fruits we get around the rest of the country.

Initiative

People are getting out there and working hard for the improvement of their lives. I saw an active PTA (Parent/Teacher Association) fixing the school's roof and building extra latrines around the school, with money they had fundraised and/or invested themselves.

The School Feeding Programme is a World Bank funded project that provides a hot meal a day for every child in the hinterland schools which applied for this programme. It's more of a match funding project and the WB is preparing to pull out next year from reports I heard. Does this mean children will stop getting a hot meal every day? Yes, in most cases, I'm afraid. Certainly not the case at Kopinang Primary School. The committee has everything sorted out or underway.

Some good old play a day keeps the doctor away

Kopinang Creek aka the shower aka the playground

Ignoring the fact that I was fascinated by the idea of having a toilet, a shower and a kitchen with running water, I was so delighted by the rocky creek just below the house, that I ended up never using the shower.

Every morning I'd go for a bath in the creek and most of the days children would be swimming, paddling up and downstream in their miniature canoes, before heading out to school.

One of the many things I've learned in this wonderful country is how important it is to slow down. Back at home, children are rushed out of bed early in the morning after a late night watching TV, playing video games or facebooking, whereas here (and mainly in remote areas, due to the non existence of electricity) children go to bed early, which means they get up naturally with the sunrise and end up having time to play, bathe and have fun before going to school.

If at home I used to try to beat my "up and out" record, having made it in 30 minutes, minimum time (this is from the moment the alarm rings to the moment you put your foot out of the door), here in Guyana it takes me about three hours. Yeah, not one, not two, but three!

How shocked are you, dear friends from home? And I suppose you're wondering what on Earth might I do during that time. Easy: I go for a jog or a walk, have a shower, do my laundry, eat a slow breakfast and read for fun.

So, here's to slowing down and savouring each moment!

View From the Classroom

Kopinang Primary School

The Kopinang Airstrip

Our Transpee

72 steps to Ms Daisy's house - it's just like being in a fairy tale!

Pretty church!

Is this a cute bridge or what?

W is for Washing Line

This was my washing line in Kopinang, North Pakaraimas, Potaro/Siparuni. Living and loving in Guyana for two years has made me a very resourceful woman, and that gives me points in the marriage market, doesn’t it, CB?

S is for sundays

Sundays are normally slower anywhere in the world,  aren't they? Well in Mahdia things never get too slow, thanks to the  flow of miners who've just done a wash down and are looking for places  to spend their money.

A  good Sunday normally involves crepes with melted cheese shared with the  neighbours for breakfast and a cricket match in the afternoon.

The weather has been extremely dry here and therefore the water tanks are almost empty so we’ve struggled a bit with water.

Nonetheless, a powerful cloud landed right above Campbelltown (Amerindian village in Mahdia) in the early afternoon, as everyone was getting ready for the cricket match. So… we sat, drank some cool beers and waited, while the kids played football in the cool rain. Nothing like a Sunday lime!

The shower was strong and fast, so the match still took place. I tried out some batting before the game… and ouch how heavy was that bat?! Especially after having made 3 cakes for a birthday boy. Girly arms I have! *shrugs shoulders*

 Is there anything as glorious and contagious as a child’s laughter?  (unless it’s excessive hyperactivity!) I love my Mahdian babies!

 

Sun coming down... let's hide from the mosquitoes!

a is for annoyed :(

annoyed. had a pretty sweet post. lost it as well as all the time spent uploading.
boo.
red face.