I was awaken as early as 6m to noises of all kinds: dogs, roosters, children. It was a Sunday, my plan was to just relax and hang out before my Tibetan holistic healing class next week.
After tea, I did a few stretches and cleaned the platform in the yard. Another lovely sunny day, how nice it would be to have lunch in the yard under the Nepali sun! Spring has just arrived, only a few days after the Nepali New Year, flowers start to blossom and birds singing, a special energy of light and rebirth flowing, one can feel the spring in the air!
Parvati came at 10am. We went to next door neighbor who has a small vegetable shack, bought some vegetables and made lunch together. Amandine and Americ got up and were delighted to find out that they are invited for lunch in the yard! Americ put on some nice music from his iPod. I was so glad to find out that it was Leonard Cohen! Montreal connection follows me half way around the world!
After a lovely lunch under the sun, we sat by the table sipping tea and chatted. It is the fifth time Amandine came to Nepal to organize children's art projects. Americ is enjoying his first time Nepali experience. They went to India before coming to Nepal.
I admired the shawl Amandine was wearing that matches her green eyes. She said proudly, “Nepali quality”. Every year she brings some back to Belgium, rolls them and places them on her sofa. I imagine a very cosy living room with warm Nepali shawls.
Later in the afternoon, we took the tuk tuk to town center. Through crowds and constant horn from motor bikes behind us, we walked around Dunbar square, they showed me the temples and markets. Amandine took me to her very shawl vendor. I chose two different in red, Amandine did the negotiation in Nepali. Wrapping the shawl around my shoulders and covering my head, now I feel officially a Nepali woman!
We sat high by a temple and had some Nepali tea - a black tea with milk and sugar. “ah, Nepali life”, while sipping tea, Americ let out a gasp of contentment. I responded, “Nepali life discovered by the French!” Gesturing with his long fingers, Americ continued, you can feel and smell the life here. I was amused by the fact that he is so French. I admire the French who has the quality for joie de vivre, something so embedded in the culture. They understand what makes life lively - genuine people, life untouched by commerce, authenticity in culture, traditions that are passed on from generations to generations, sound of nature, signs of life, simple life in its most authentic form, shapes and colors...
We went to a Nepali concert in the evening at the “comfort zone”. The second level is open to the sky and you can see the moon in the dark blue sky. The music was beautiful. The vocal has an amazing voice that is out of this world... For me, it was magical. Maybe this is part of the magic Giles talked about. Maybe the magic will be revealed to me through people who love Nepal, who appreciate the beauty of a life and tradition that commerce hasn’t contaminated, the peaceful pace, and the integrity of the people. Giles, Nicole, Amandine and Americ, their love for Nepali life opened my eyes to a new world, a world of new discoveries and inspirations...
