Nepal Ramro Cha (Nepal is Beautiful) Photography Exhibition & Documentary Screening

Presenting to you what we brought back from the lovely Armala Village, Nepal.

Netra wrote back!

Hi guys!

Remember Netra the small-sized fellow mud-stoves instructor? Well just in case you need to refresh your memory...... there's the picture above. (And yes i do think i look like a giant beside Netra in this picture and the mountains at the background seem to magnify that effect as well.....)

Anyways he emailed me and Yong through his brother, who owns a guesthouse at Pokhara. I was really touched when i read his email and so i thought i'd share his email here...

Hello Young and John, How are you ? I am fine here and I am very happy to have thoese picture which young had send to me throw my brother Narayan e-mail address. I hope you both are fine . From Armala I return to my home after two days and it was nice stay there specially to meet you. Thank you very much for your nice gift to me at that time.Today I come back from Ghorepani trekking and it was very very cold over there. I was about 2876 meeters and it was snowing there, The view from trek was great and beautiful but very cold..

About cooking stove we have now in new village and we have to make there as well.. Many people and village want to make it even in trekking I talked with some people and i found they are intrested but this time I could not show them how to make it because of I was in trekking as porter.

Okey Please ! write me as soon as possible and I will received from by brother......

This e-mail is written by Narayan { Netra brother } And it is written what ever he says to me,

Please ! write e-mails and immidatly I will passs to my brother..

Netra from Nepal

Anyone else wrote or emailed to anyone in Nepal? Pls do share! =)

John

Here's a meme! I still remember, the poon-hillers were coming back from pokhara to kathmandu. And some of us sat in the backseat with Angus' ipod 'blasting' (sortof), and we (or I) were going "I'm used to...." etc etc. So here goes! A meme about all the things I've come to experience and get used to in Nepal! :D

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I'm used to dal bhat.

I'm used to drinking milk tea.

I'm used to waking up to the sight of snow-capped mountains.

I'm used to sleeping in tents in a cocoon of a sleeping bag.

I'm used to everything communal (water bottle, mess tins, utensils, toilet, toiletries, even clothes). We really care and share.

I'm used to cleaning indian pots in the dead cold of the night.

I'm used to nose boogers on little children.

I'm used to squatting in the toilet (never knew I could squat for so long...).

I'm used to hourly bingeing on biscuits (smileys, digestives, marie biscuits, square biscuits... you name it, I've eaten it).

I'm used to shining a torch on the ground.

I'm used to witnessing in solemn silence the kukura katigo ceremony.

I'm used to not having any sensation on my nose.

I'm used to having paint on my fingernails, hair and an entire colour scheme on my hands.

I'm used to icy cold water every morning every night.

I'm used to throwing toilet paper in a trashbag not the toilet.

I'm used to sitting by a campfire every night and staring into the flames.

I'm used to nightly debrief sessions, in order words, excuse-t0-eat-more-junk-food-time.

I'm used to being greeted a million times per day by eternally enthusiastic kids (never felt such popularity before...)

I'm used to climbing a rickety ladder to draw a certain sun and cursing myself for designing this everytime I climb up there and fear for my life.

I'm used to peeling oranges and letting the peel fall at my feet and not pick it up.

I'm used to walking on stony, rocky uneven grounds and roads. And no traffic lights anywhere in sight.

I'm used to bouncy bus rides and the smell of burning rubber.

I'm used to the utterly adorable and charming little boys of the village.

I'm used to the incredible generosity of the womenfolk (who sewed my pants and kept giving me stuff).

I'm used to midnight chats in huddled groups out in the cold.

I'm used to being padded with layers upon layers of clothes.

I'm used to awesome sunsets and sunrises and scenery views which I'll never see in Singapore.

I'm used to not taking a bath for more than a week.

I'm used to surprisingly good and cheap western steaks in Pokhara.

I'm used to figuring out where to place the torchlight in the toilet at night.

I'm used to dancing to Nepali folksong and DIY music around a fire.

I'm used to not sweating. Ever.

I'm used to being almost knocked down by traffic a dozen times.

I'm used to choosing between ma ling pork and ma ling pork for the meat dish for lunch.

I'm used to walking around narrow pathways near sheer cliff drops and not getting heart attacks.

I'm used to cam-whoring with various other whores and the village kid pimps.

I'm used to taking dance lessons from the 'hot' gurung (anil is hot and kat is not!) and wriggly worm.

I'm used to having a great big 'laugh' on the night of Angus' birthday.

I'm used to getting down the bus and taking photos while the guys have to push. I help by staying out of the way!

I'm used to the paper and plastic resources of Delphine!

I'm used to the beat boxing and drumming entertainment by the dogs.

I'm used to being watered and fed by the god-sent welfare crew (usually led by mother goose) sometimes during painting.

I'm used to dicussing cookery in intense chinese.

I'm used to scary stalker nepali boy (Have a break, have a kit....?).

I'm used to words like "shit-stirrer" (Naresh's fave), "chootia" and "let's bounce!"

I'm used to joining an orderly girls' toilet queue every night before sleeping.

I'm used to lazing in the "tee tee's" tent and doing nothing but lie down and eat biscuits.

I'm used to playing frissbee in a circle.

I'm used to midnight soccer on a stone field and unusually bright moonlight.

I'm used to hard, but very fragile tiny square breads in the morning for breakfast.

I'm used to having deep intense gossip sessions while painting side by side with people.

I'm used to papad!

I'm used to not knowing any Nepali words to say for weeks except for "namaste!" and dhanyabad!"

I'm used to the extremely strong and bone-crushing handshake grip of the villagers (they don't know their strength man!)

I'm used to bargaining for every single purchase I make (so tiring!).

I'm used to crammed taxi rides and bus breakdowns and flat tyres and 'Nepali Time'.

I'm used to insane driving and complete disregard for traffic rules. What rules???

I'm used to living alongside goats and buffaloes (without getting pushed off the cliff, phew!).

I'm used to having a pouch eternally strapped on.

I'm used to keeping duct tape with me for a few days....(hahaha).

I'm used to forming human chains to transport bags and boxes up and down and up and down buses.

I'm used to living out of a huge backpack.

I'm used to hearing peoples' stories and their lives and their likes and wants and loves =D

I'm used to discussing the perennial question of "Who's your top 2?! Who's your top 2?!"

I'm used to seeing shooting stars at night.

I'm used to misplacing my stuff in the logs room, in the tents, in everywhere.

I'm used to unglam camera shots and the perfectionist's pursuit of a less "aunty" look. (hehehe)

I'm used to absolutely zero privacy and being walked in when I'm using the toilet even when the sign says "ockupied!"

I'm used to stepping on shit and touching shit and getting shit splattered on my face.

I'm used to not being able to smell how bad the toilet really is.

I'm used to the Indiana Jones song being whistled in perfect harmony.

I'm used to the sudden disappearance of many guys due to smoke break behind the toilets.

I'm used to "stanchart" and a puffed up pillow that is sheiting in SIX layers and angus in short sleeves at night.

I'm used to zhengling's completely crushed haitai biscuits added to milo. And how that was heaven.

I'm used to thash getting more 'tarzan' (or moses) as each day passes.

I'm used to the sound of bernard's electric shaver outside my tent (and I know he's awake).

I'm used to eating continental breakfasts at the hotels.

I'm used to John's player talk. Haha!

I'm used to not having rain. Ever.

I'm used to laughing and joking and gossiping with everyone.

I'm used to singing disney songs in the all-girls' choir.

I'm used to having time pass so beautifully slow....

I'm used to being given flower garlands by the adults and hand-made bouquets by the charming little Nepali boys.

I'm used to taking all the awesome experiences that we had there for granted, while I was there, and still was able to soak it all in. And now that I'm back home, I realise what I'm missing.

I'm used to the life of Project Namaste 2.





I'm used to Nepal. =)


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And what do I still think of Anil??

"Nepali!"

Haha...



- Huiling, still wishing she was back there -

"So...how was Nepal?"

Welcome back everyone! Its been a roller coaster month for all of us, and all too soon we're back in sunny Singapore.

These days, the title of this post is the often heard question from friends. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to tell you more about the whole experience, but I guess I do it best in pictures and words. So here goes, a recount of our journey in retrospect.


DAY 1

By 7am, the bulk of us had assembled and Changi, raring to go.....the sheer number of boxes that we had to transport was mind boggling....we literally had to form a human conveyor belt all the way to the check in counter!


As the aircraft gradually ascend into the clouds, and the tiny speck known as home disappeared from the horizon, what we had been dreaming about and striving for in the past few months was about to become reality. Prophetically, an article on Nepal was featured in the Live! section of ST that very day.


After being cooped up in a tiny plane for five hours,we arrived at Thribuvan International airport and were reunited with the advance party!


That was not the end of the journey, but the beginning another 6 hour long bus ride to Pokhara. Thankfully, we stopped for dinner along the the way at Hamlet court, made friends and even had time for an impromptu game of cricket with Nobin and his siblings!

More soon.... Joan :)

Pre-Namaste Medical Checkup

13th November:

This marked a monumental event for some of us. Why? Because some of us had to take up to 4 injections at one shot! haha. And there were of course the few of us whose kryptonite is the deadly syringe!!!!!!! I kid u not! Here are some of our suspects:

1) The hairy giant Thash - could he be the gentle giant?

2) The lady with an eye for the camera Hweifen - could she, outwardly strong be scared of a

little something?

3) Our very own mountain terrorist Anil Motay?

4) Or could ZL have been putting up a stellar Golden Globe award for acting all scared but in

fact....... she is sado-masochistic in nature?

Our investigation led to quite surprising discoveries that unfolded....

Behind that macho pose........ yes he stood firm. Braved the needles with just a trickle of tear.

Hweifen asking for 2 extra shots! what can I say?
Dude, I cant help save your skin or pride. The face says it all.... Waahaha

ZL biting her lips in anticipation of her worst nightmare?

>>> Her perpetual pose after the injections

The verdict is out! You make your own decision as to who survived the ordeal!

Famous quote 1 (made when this pic was taken): "I can feel the holes in my body" Can u guess who made that comment?

Famous quote 2 but not in the picture: "Kil is pronounced as 'Kli'". Ahem Kelly, can we still trust you to lead the English team? Wahhaa

Just after all of us took the injections. In great spirit, we all posed with Kelly's famous walk out of the injection room pose which actually sparked off the idea of taking photos and blogging. Thanks Kelly! Trivia question: Can you spot the deviant character in the picture? We could only wonder why.................................................. Haha.

Anil going for his third helping of free samples. No wonder he considers himself Singaporean.

Hey guys, beyond all the jokes, I think it was a really fun "outing" for all of us. So thank you all for the experience =)

Pulau Ubin

Hey guys! The long awaited entry about our Ubin trip (the weekend of 20th and 21st October - if u guys look back in future and thinking “when ah?”) is finally here! I’m sure all of us had loads of fun while there – good company, fun activities and but of course not forgetting the booze which all you drunkards cant live without – Yishu I’m sure you have something to say about gin! =)

Its obvious who's most excited in this pic. Arriving happy (not knowing what's in store)

On reaching Ubin, the first thing that was utmost apparent was the battle that we would have with the mosquitoes. Bags down and up came our barriers and armaments of mosquito repellent sprays and coils. Of course who could forget our leading warrior, Shei Ting, who was the first to arm herself with a hanging mosquito coil. *By doing so she gained 20 close friends immediately who flocked to seek refuge with her*

After settling down, we kick-started our trip with skits from the respective teams we were broken into. From the mini-skits presented, we uncovered a character not known (then) for his “talent” – up stepped our very popular cook , Yishu, who took on the role of a contestant in a pageant. He gave us a stellar performance, with his hard pumping hand dance moves that we would never forget. And together with his famous tag-line “I go GYM”, it would most surely go down as one of the classic moments of Project Namaste II. Damn it was unfortunate no one recorded it on video. Simply a classic. Haha.

Shei Ting happily rolling over as "Jill"

In Huiling, we have 1 certified first aider! Her, together with the medic team, organized a rather comprehensive and interactive first aid workshop for the team.

<<< Paresh, dont get so comfy.

>>> Bro, you are getting out of hand man. Now you're lying down and even got Huiling as a masseur to service you.

Negative example of how not to use a bicycle

Motay caught in action

The famous Yishu dance hand movement

Project Namaste II: October 20th 2007

For the evening, about half of us went back to our shack to prepare dinner (our first attempt at simulating our cooking team) and the rest headed over to the beach for some sports. It was quite an eye-opener for a number of us who were part of the dinner team as we learned how to chop a frozen chicken. (Thanks Louise for helping out. On a side note, they had originally wanted to practice killing a live chicken but they couldn’t get a live chicken in mainland Singapore and it would have costs $10,000 to kill 1 in Pulau Ubin). Most of us tried our hand either at opening up the frozen chicken or chopping them up. Even our girls were adventurous enough to have a go at them!! Well done girls.

Finally managed to open the chicken after ages.

<<<>

>>> Joan I heard about the "bruises" that you gave the guys in your attempts to kick the ball. Angus just before he got "lobanged" by Kat.

Facial tanning gone wrong !!!

Still trying to figure out how that piece of rag on The Destroyer's head is supposed to represent a wolf.

Late night was when the party started for the guys. Beer bottles, gin and whisky were quickly whipped out. As Paresh would so testify “Booze is the best ice-breaker” and so it did. One embarrassing tale after another was made known. But the spotlight was again on Yishu – he who thanks to his buddy, John, simply stoned after drinking some beer and then gin. It was hilarious to see how he sat on the chair… dazed even when we asked him questions. Poor guy was knocked out as soon as he hit his sleeping bag.

Despite all the fun and games as mentioned, this trip was also a very fruitful one in terms of getting serious work done. The facilitation sessions made us come to consolidate our common visions better, fostered stronger relationships, understand what we need to do as a team and listed down some possible problems the team might face. We also managed to work on the teaching charts that we would be using for the kids in Nepal.

Mostly fun and games but hey, we still got some work done

Finalists of beach hunks competition?

Goodbye Ubin

Combined meeting

Mid-term break proved to be no break at all for the Namaste team. In fact, we've had to step up a gear with the expedition drawing ever nearer. Despite the tight schedules and really heavy workload that all of us have, they did not dampen our spirits during our second combined meeting/teaching session.