Okay, you’ll just have to settle for the pictures of the Maoist demonstrations.  I guess everything went okay with the elections.  Here is what I saw when we were driving down the street.

Okay, no matter how hard I try, the toilet picture and ’skinny Barb’ just won’t work.  You’ll have to wait and see for yourself.  Oh, I bet you’re just holding your breath…

Okay, here’s my skinny picture and my toilet picture.  One has nothing to do with the other.  Well…..I did have that GI problem.  So, maybe….

Okay, here’s a new one.  Rinpoche’s sister was at Boudha (30 min walk from monestary) and there was some commotion.  She asked what had happened and a man told her that the driver of a water truck had run over someone.  The person wasn’t dead - but the water truck driver backed up over him again to make sure he was dead.

She asked the man, what evil person would do that?  He said the law in Nepal only calls for a payment of 17,000 rupees (about $300 us) for killing someone.  However, if the person survives, you have to pay all medical bills, or take care of him for the rest of his life.  So, in Nepal, its better to finish em off.  Really, this is true.

The Nepalese are gearing up for their elections.  They were supposed to be held last year, but didn’t.  The Maoists are trying to take over in Nepal.  So there is a huge deal about this election.  The Maoists actually kidnapped a couple of american tourists a few years ago because of a comment Pres. Bush said about them being terrorists.  It all seems very strange!  The papers have articles about this person being beaten and that person’s car being burned up.  They also pay young people for votes here.

Rinpoche and his family will be gone for a few days so it will be quiet.  There is a phowa going on today in the temple most of the day.  One of the monks’ family members recently died and this is a way to pray for her and to help her onto her next life. 

 Hope everyone is well.  Oh,  yes, the picture.  The power goes out everytime I try to post it!  Also, the one of me in the toilet.  Yes, they only call them ‘toilets’ here.  They don’t try to be politically correct.  You know, how could they, with spitting an everything all the time.  I love it!

Nothing new here.  My day consists of getting up at 7:30 am and meditating until 9:00 am.  Then I do exercises that go along with Buddhist prayers for 30 min to 45 min.  Then wash up (the water is finally a little warmer - it is solar powered and the temperature has been around 70 for many days now.)  I usually take a walk and spend some time outside in the garden or at the pavillion.  Life is very calm here.  I don’t talk very much because no one speaks English.  Well only Rinpoche, his sister and his two daughters.

Good Friday is actually called Holi Day here.  The girls were talking about throwing water balloons at the monks.  I told them that wasn’t very nice.  They just laughed, “It’s HOLI Day.”  That’s what we do.  On Holi Day everyone (I mean everyone.) throws water balloons and red paint is everywhere.  They say tourists are especially vulnerable, so I stayed in!  I did walk outside the gate and there were 6 or so teenagers all wet and covered in red paint.  I quickly went back in. 

The girls got home from school and quickly started filling balloons and chasing the monks.  It was so funny because there is usually very little interaction between them. So it was special for them all.  Everyone was giggling and running.  One of the rules is ‘you can’t cry’.  I got hit once in the arm.

Okay, so I’m posting the picture.  I don’t believe I have lost that much.  I found chocolate!  There is a small store in a monestary next door.  They have chocolate!  Of course the same monk is always at the desk so I feel silly going everyday for my fix.  I went today and thought, okay, I bought 2 yesterday.  How can I possibly buy more?  Then I thought, I can buy a decoy item like I did last time.  Really, what we’ll do for chocolate.  I bought batteries too, but I think he noticed the candybars. 

They have a tv hooked up in the monestary.  They don’t watch it much, but when the girls get to, they watch power rangers.  I know what I’ll be doing this weekend.  I’m ’usually’ the bad guy!  The little one really got scared of me last time and hit me with a stick! 

I try to stay on top of what is happening in China/Tibet.  People here LOVE America!  They say we are the most powerful country and are very kind to people in need, like the Tibetans.  A few years ago, America offered to bring some of the Tibetan Regugees that are in Nepal over to America, but the Nepal Government said no.  Apparently they get some kind of aid for having refugees in their country.  They also get cheap labor.   

Gotta get going, Power Rangers are calling…