Bhaktapur

Had a lovely day today.I didn't realise how much I was missing green spaces and quietness.

Bhaktapur is an amazing place.It is also quiet and rubbish free.Our guide Ram was born there and still lives there so he was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.I have changed my slideshow to images of Bhaktapur.I have to admit that I spent some money today.I bought my Christmas cards which are all made locally by women to enable them to send their children to school.Needless to say I didn't barter the price.I also bought a Bhuddist Thangka Mandala painting.It was painted in a Bhuddist monastery and took about 55 days to paint.It is very intricate and colourful and the money went to support the Thangka teaching school.I saw them at the Stupa in Kathmandu my first day here and was going to wait for James to come out before I bought one but I liked this one too much and they are unique.

I had a very long talk with Ram and Kausalya about money and its relative value and how uncomfortable I feel out here at appearing to have so much.(The average wage out here is roughly NR15,000 about £120 a month)We talked about the relative cost of things here and at home and they were shocked at how much we pay.Using Ram to interpret Kausalya then told me that in Nepal true wealth is not measured in money but by a true and gererous heart and that in Nepal I am considered truely wealthy.I was very touched but I think it reflects the values of the majority of Nepali people.