Festival Time and Monkey Temple

Things have been very busy here getting ready for exams at school and for the Dashain Festival. This festival is the biggest of the Hindu faith in Nepal. It last 10 days and everyday is a different festival within Dashain. I have been invited to visit a village about 100km from Kathamandu on the weekend, I will be the first white person to visit this village so they are really excited to have me. I will be treated like a god, Nepali god, but a god nonetheless. It will be nice to get out of the city. Life here is simple and wonderful. After the festival I will resume teaching duties. Here are some pictures of the last little while.

Need you opinions.

I am faced with a situation that requires your help. Here in Nepal it is not customary to hug each other. I started hugging the kids from the orphanage about one week ago when I say goodbye. At first they were very stiff but now they are more relaxed. While speaking to the VSN coordinator last night he advised me that hugging is not their custom and I should cease. My dilemma is that these children do not receive any type of physical contact or affection. The only physical contact they are familiar with is punishment, as hitting is acceptable as punishment. I strongly believe that I should continue hugging them as it is my custom and my way of showing them that I care about them.
Please let me know your thoughts about this I would appreciate your feedback.
Should I continue? or should I stop?

Dokshinkali Temple and Monastery Tour

Today VSN took the volunteers out for a sightseeing tour. We went high into the mountains to see the famous and most holy Dokshinkali Temple and visited two local monasteries. The trip was of course very interesting. Winding mountain roads barely able to fit one vehicle never oncoming traffic. Sheer drops and blind corners. I cannot figure out how it works, the traffic, it is pure chaos but it does work and everyone seems to get to and from without major injury or frustration. Attached are some pictures of the day. Enjoy!

Carmen from Holland, Sylvia from Belgium, Mariye and Nicole from Holland, Kornel from Hungary, Lisa from the UK, me and Yongbin from China.

Prayer Flags\

Flora and Fauna

no not the conjoined twins from the Adams Family

Yesterday was a day off for the volunteers, the students had an exam preparation day so they did not go to school. I along with Kornel from Hungary and Carmen and Nicole from Holland went into the city for some food and relaxation. We ate at a wonderful Italian restaurant, I had a green salad for the first time in 3 weeks it was heavenly! Then pizza with bacon, cheese and spinach, gnocchi with cream sauce and cappuccino. It was a great meal for under $10. We then walked to a beautiful garden called the "Garden of Dreams". It was built in 1920 for the King. We spent the afternoon there, lying in the grass and relaxing. Here are some pictures.