Kathmandu and surroundings

Hello everybody

For some time we could escape from the busy streets of kathmandu and found an oasis of rest in Kopan Monastery, the top of a hillock, with an indistinct view on the city below. Here, together with a lot of other travellers, we learned more about Buddhism. It continues to captivate us how this way of life has an impact on the population here: their friendliness, openness, rest and happiness.
Kopan is a large modern convent: a garden with a lot of stupa´s, fountains, trails, undulate lawns, a lot of pots with red flowers. There are several temples and dwellings, even a shop, a pub and a library. This convent is hospitable , 700 monks and nuns live here, a large group cooks and maids works there. Western and oriental travellers are coming and going. Just like us they are curious to that mysterious treasure: Buddhist wisdom. 
As we didn’t want to miss the children for too long we only followed 5 days of 10 days’ intensive introduction. From 6 a.m. till 10 p.m. we followed meditations, discussions, teachings. An Australian Buddhist non with a princess voice accompanied the meditations and a Swedish non with a very clear spirit and juicy style for narrating, instructed us in Buddhist doctrine. In addition, in a typical way we received teaching by a wise lama with a contagious laughter. These people did their extreme best to explain the philosophy and the teaching of Buddha and to give answers to our naive questions. 
It seems like something from another time. It has something magically and unusual, sitting on cushions in an exotic colourful temple and listening to the most divergent subjects and stories:
- the life of Buddha
- explanation concerning art symbols in temples
- Buddhist philosophy, a way to look at things in a different way in order to find more happiness and wisdom- the impact of negative emotions on our suffering, of positive emotions on our well-being
- the importance of meditation- crystal clear nature of our spirit
- the subtle body
- body and mind 
- illusions, death, sleep, the dream
...
In fact it can all be reduced to the search of happiness that is not temporary and can only be obtained by sharing it.
A small impression:
In de morning a faint misty light comes up from the hills around the monastery. Bells tingle in the distant Shiva temples. We drink milk tea while monks are singing their first prayers. We become aware of our thoughts but let them pass away. The sun comes up, it will be a nice day.

It were five days of rest, nice food, warm company and deep impressions. 

We are now back with the kids in Kathmandu. Playing, cuddling, taking three kids at the same time on our lap and making trips because it is holiday time. The photographs show our first trip to a botanical garden and our impressions of Kopan. Thanks to the generous friends who gave financial support for the orphanage. We bought a lot of things such as kitchen and toilet ustensils, a lot of rice and peas, fruit, fruit juices, books, a palisade on the roof where the children can play. A large part of the money went to the operation of kul Bahadur (brain abscess), he is well repairing.