STREET FESTIVAL

Lakeside is the area along the lake which caters for the tourist trade. It has the most motels, guest-houses, cafes and shops selling tourist goods and adventure treks. Between the 28th December and 1st January the main street is blocked off to traffic for a street festival. Shops and cafes extend out into the roadway, a music shell is set up in the park, there are many stalls and a parade of sorts, there are demonstrations of dancing and martial arts. There is even a stall by the Michael Jackson memorial fan club.


On Monday night we took the kids from the orphanage down to the festival. First we took them to see the music in the park, then posed with the local police (who were everywhere, including some in riot gear and armed with rifles) then for a walk along the main street. We stopped and bought the kids, Chandra and Joti an ice-cream, for some this was the first time they had ever tasted ice-cream, something we take for granted. They were so amazed and excited by such a simple thing that some of the volunteers had tears in their eyes. At the end of the street we went to the motel where we were staying and the kids watched TV, another treat for them.


Tuesday was 'parents' day' at school. We took the kids and arrived at about 10.45. Teachers in matching uniforms met us at the gate, bowing to us. Students in Nepal scout uniforms ushered us to our seats. One teacher told us it would start in half an hour. Another that it would start at 1 o'clock. There were lots of students there sitting in the sun and every so often they would bring around pitchers of water for the kids to take a mouthful. There were a few parents, more kept wandering in, but others left. At about 12 they started some speeches.......each lasted at least half an hour........but nobody seemed to be listening anyway. Some official guests arrived and were introduced. There was a march past by the scouts, more official guests arrived, some prizes were given out and then some dance items. It was still going at 3.30 when I had to leave to go back to the monastery, and Amanda tells me it was still going an hour later when Joti came and got the kids.