Tuesday 30/12/2008

We’re definitely making the most of our time off while it lasts! This morning we were able to sleep in again, though after all the walking we’ve been doing the past few days I think it’s definitely needed. Today we headed off to Nama Buddha, which we found out is 2 bus rides away from Banepa. The first bus we caught from Banepa took us to Punouti, the village which MDAN (the Muscular Dystrophy centre S.W.A.P. funds) is located. Then from Punouti we caught another bus which was meant to take us to the base of the mountain Nama Buddha is on top of. On our second bus Monique befriended an old Nepali man who told her he was also going to Nama Buddha. So we opted to hop off at his stop and follow him to Nama Buddha. Sounds like the perfect plan right? Wrong haha! After following the old man through 2 villages he disappeared. So with my basic, VERY basic Nepalese, I kept asking locals we came across on our path what the way was to Nama Buddha. We came across one man who spoke basic English (4 kms after hoping of the bus mind you), so between his basic English, and my basic Nepali, we had a general understanding that Nama Buddha was right around the corner. After saying goodbye and rounding the corner we discovered 2 things. Firstly the bus we had been on ends around that corner, and secondly we were now standing at the base of the mountain which Nama Buddha is on top of, and might I add that this was no little mountain either! So we decided to take a vote, majority wins, as to whether or not we attempt the mountain. Today we attempted Nama Buddha, but after a 5km walk due to us getting off the bus far too early, we did not make it up the mountain to the monastery haha! Oh well, at least we tried, right?