NEPAL 6. THE ROAD TO POKHARA

Thursday April 17, 2014 NEPAL

"Namaste" (Hello)

Last weekend we took a few days off and went up country with our friends to Pokhara.

According to Wikipedia "Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City (Nepali: पोखरा उप-महानगरपालिका Pokhara Upa-Mahanagarpalika) is the second largest city of Nepal with an area of 55.22 km2 and a population of 264,991 inhabitants, excluding over 740,000 inhabitants within the suburb of the city. The city is located approximaely 200 km west of the country's capital, Kathmandu. Pokhara is the most popular tourist destination in Nepal. Three out of the ten highest mountains in the world — Dhaulagiri, Annapurna I and Manaslu — are within 30 miles (linear distance) of the city, so that the northern skyline of the city offers a very close view of the Himalayas. Due to its proximity to the Annapurna mountain range, the city is also a base for trekker."

Ok. Too much information...

Our transport, rather fancy...

The typical transport.

The two lane road winds it's way up through the hills, sometimes sealed, often not. Although the road has a reputation for accidents, we felt fairly safe as we headed up the hill. Going to pokhara you are generally on the mountain side of the road, not the cliff edge. So what could possibly go wrong?

Ok, not sure why this guy is on the wrong side of the road (although never part of the British Empire, Nepalis drive on the left, unless they don't feel like it). Better to fall into the ditch than into the valley on the other side I guess.

Yep... This one went over the edge.

And so did this one.

Tea break with a view on during th 6 hour journey.

And once we arrived around 3pm, lunch with our friends, Lokendra and Nirjala from Nepal Bethel and Steve and Ane from Australasia Bethel.

Nepali curry.

Nepali "momo", dumplings.

Our $20 hotel room. "HOTEL GRAND HOLIDAY"

 

With a view of the lake to the south and to the nort...

No view of the mountains today due to cloud....

Lloydnalex

 

Posted with Blogsy

NEPAL 5. AN INVITATION TO A VERY SPECIAL EVENT, 2071

Monday April 14 2014, Memorial Day, NEPAL

Or Nepali New Year's Day, 2071...

As we mentioned in a previous blog, many things seem to be early in Nepal. We'll, the Nepali Calendar is no exception. It is approximately 56 years and 8½ months ahead of the Gregorian calendar (A.D). No joke... Nepalese New Year falls in the middle of April. This year it coincides with April 14. Unlike Gregorian months, the lengths of Nepali months are not predetermined, and change from year to year, varying from 29 days to 32 days. Nepali calendar is a Bikram Sambat calendar and it is also called Nepali Patro, it is specially use in Nepal and India. Countries like Indonesia, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Malaysia also use Bikram Sambat calendar......

So what does it mean? It means that April 14, 2014 on our calendar is 2071 in Nepal. It's a Nepali holiday and many people are out in the streets, a little more colourful than usual.

Whatever the date, this is a very special day for us.

With just under 2000 publishers in Nepal, we wondered, "how many would be in attendance at the Memorial of Christ's death? The Sister above is one of many who have been busy handing out invitations.

Alex went out in the morning to distribute invitations. To get to the group she took a "micro" from this inauspicious bus stop.

The lane down to the Kingdom Hall.

This Sister is one of the local pioneers.

A Hindu temple near a KH.

A watcher.

This is our host at Bethel. Saroj with the daughter of a Bible student.

Neighbourhood kids

 

Our new friends at Bethel, Angeli and Saroj, all dressed up and heading for the Memorial.

 

And us, walking the dusty roads to the bus.

This is public transport, Kathmandu style. A mini-van called a "Micro". It's a step up from the 3 wheeler "Tempo" but still squeezey... We counted 25 including the driver.

The lane to the KH and our friends are all dressed up.

 

Angeli and Alex.

The family. Angeli and Saroj with Angeli's father, sister's study, sister and mother.

Mother and daughter from Minnesota USA who have moved here with their husbands to share in the harvest. Obviously getting into the spirit with those saris.

 

So many Japanese sisters too.

It may not look like it but these are American brothers...

 

The study came to the Memorial.

 

A young blind brother who used to go to the churches that lyingly promised him they could heal him. He now sees with spiritual eyes and looks forward to the paradise.

Alex, Lloyd, Alex, and Susanna

Just a few of the Sisters after the memorial.

And the brothers.

This congregation has about 75 publishers, but there were 190 in attendance.

It turns out this year there was 1000 more at the memorial than ever before.

6500+ came to share in this very special event. So glad that we could be here to experience it. No doubt you had a great Memorial too, wherever you are.

If your looking for a country that needs some help, Nepal might be just the place. The activity is booming and the Bible studies are waiting for you to come over.

Lloydnalex

 

Posted with Blogsy

NEPAL 4. SATURDAY IN KATHMANDU

Saturday April 12 2014, NEPAL

Saturday here is like any Sunday at home. Field in the morning and meeting on the afternoon.

We met this friendly older chap on the street infont of our building.

Meeting for service at a sisters home.

No ties required.

The group walks to the territory.

Some kids we met along the way.

And here comes our ride home. A Nepali "Tempo" is the equivalent of the Philippine Jeepne, a very small bus.

 

The meeting.

Suman, our friend from Bethel, conducting the WTS.

After the meeting we took a small taxi to a restaurant. Suman in the front.

And 'only' 4 us in the back with Chea and Shon, our new friends who are visiting from Japan branch. (Sorry about the spelling, we have no idea...)

Quite squeezy.

Tirtha and Keiko at an Italian restaurant.

And Steve and Ane from Australia branch.

Unfortunately, this is the only photo we got of the rest of the friends at the restaurant who included one American couple and Andrea, the Canadian sister we met the day before...

Lloydnalex

 

Posted with Blogsy