Safe Arrival in Nepal!

My heart was in a very complicated stage of emotions as I got up at 7am this morning. Why you might ask? Well, it is due to the fact that I was about to get on a plane and fly to Nepal to do disaster relief work for two months. Don't get me wrong, I was super excited and have been looking forward to going ever since the earthquake happened a little over a month ago. I have been waiting for my name to be called from the cohort list. The reason why I was all caught up in mixed emotions was the fact that ever since August last year, I have not left Taiwan yet. I have never ever physically been in Taiwan for this long of a period ever since I was 8 years old. Also, this has been the longest time since I have NOT been on a plane. I have been so used to traveling every 3 to 6 months. What an odd feeling I was having....

Thanks to my aunt, who brought me to the Taoyuan Tzu Chi Jing Si Hall this morning. The 8th Nepal Disaster Relief Cohort all met together at 9am to join in on the video conference between Nepal and the Abode. It went super well and we all got the blessing from Dharma Master Cheng Yen. After the video conference, we all quickly gathered our things and started to head on the tour bus to head to the airport. We ate our lunch bentos on the bus and I just kept on looking out the window....as if trying to find something among all the passing cars on the freeway....

We all got to the airport and formed a very uniformed line of volunteers and carts carrying luggage. Thanks to Cathay Pacific Airlines, all the volunteers and luggage checked-in smoothly. We all went through security separately and eventually made our way to the boarding gate. There was a brief introduction of each volunteer,  letting the team know that we were going to be a total of 22 volunteers this time. Then onto the first plane we went!!!! 

Taoyuan (Taiwan)à Hong Kong à Dhaka (Bangladesh)à Kathmandu (Nepal)

We ended up stopping for about one hour in Dhaka, where we had to remain on the plane the whole time. It was nice to be able to get out of my assigned seat and walk around a bit. It was quite cute seeing all the flight attendants and the captain/co-captains all sitting in first class, just chilling while we wait for the gas tank to be filled. 

After a whole day of traveling/flying, we finally got to Nepal!!!!! (The whole time I was on the plane, I had to keep telling myself that I was not flying to Paris, but Nepal. Haha! My mind was having a hard time believing myself....)

I was the first one to exit the plane, so I picked a good spot to wait for everyone to come meet me. While I was waiting, I saw a group of Tzu Chi volunteers on the other side of the glass, the group that was heading back to Taiwan tonight from Nepal. What are the odds???? Such insane timing! It was so heartwarming seeing everyone's faces and bittersweet as well, since they were all leaving us to go back. The moment was captured on film, us all waving goodbye and touching both sides of the glass windows, good memories to have. 

As the group all met up, we all headed to the Visa Application Counter. It took a while to get everyone's Visas in order, but it was still fairly smooth. I was just so happy to know that they took Euros, as well, not just US dollars. The guy at the counter was so nice to me, he even told me that if I just went ahead and got the 3 months Visa instead of getting a 30 day and then renewing it, I would save 30 USD. Super nice guy!!! Super grateful! 

We were very lucky that all of our luggage came and all the medical supplies made it, as well. Before heading to our hotel, many of us went and used the airport bathrooms, and boy did I crack up when I saw what was written on the doors. Each toilet stall door had "Foreigners" marked on the doors. They were all modern day toilets and just something about the scene made me laugh wholeheartedly. It was such a wonderful way to start my journey! Yes I am a foreigner, using a foreigner's toilet! Haha.  

We met up with the local drivers and on the way to the hotel I saw about 20 people sleeping on the ground in an open store front. Outside were many rats and dogs running all over the place. It was a sight not too surprising and a little bit too familiar for my part. Yes, they were too afraid to sleep in closed off quarters after the earthquake....the scene quickly shifted my mind back to Haiti.....

We got to the Yak and Yeti Hotel around 11pm Nepal time and it was such a fancy place. It used to be an old palace, hundreds of years ago.  I got my room card and headed off to my room. This is going to be my home for the next two months. Super excited for what tomorrow has to offer!

Getting up at 5:20am. 

Namaste! ("The Spirit within me salutes the spirit in you")