Far away from city life, staying high on hills, excited by great views of ranges of snow-capped mountain peaks, I had a very special Christmas day in Nepal at Nagarkot, with two friends, A. and Y.
Yesterday we met three travellers from China, while wandering in Bhaktapur square. We were a little bit disppointed to know from them that the weather there was so hazy and it was not likely to see the sunrise and snow mountains very well. But still we left for there around noon time even though we loved this old town in Kathmandu valley, Bhaktapur so much. It was almost immediate when we entered it and grew even more in the morning haze, walking though narrow alleys, appreciating fine carvings on those century- old houses and the life seeminly unaffected at all by time and modern world.
After about twenty minutes' walk out of its eastern city gate and one hour's local bus ride, we then walked about another twenty minutes before we shouted excitedly on the half way by the grand view of snow mountain. Yes, on the half way before we arrived at our Unkai resort, the one with unblocked great view of the terraces and mountains.Those white snow capped mountain peaks up high in the distance, blue mountains in the middle and those hills with green pine forests and terrance seem to divide the sky into three levels.
We had some pretty quiet and dark (no electricity) Christmas Eve and we woke ourselves up early in the morning for the sunrise.We didn't expect much though. And together with us, another Japanese young man were all there on its open platform waiting and praying ...
In the beginning, it was a small cresent moon but quickly, pink glow filled half of its eastern sky. When the sky became brighter and brighter, we hurried to press our camera shutters again and again. We were very lucky really. We did see the gold glow on its highest mountain peak and other three. All lasted about 5-10 minutes after a full morning sun rose. And another 10 minutes, heavy haze blew around into the valley and covered everything.
This year our Christmas seemed a little quiet, no parties to go and no shopping for gifts. And three of us didn't exchange any gifts but, seeing the sunrise and snow mountains, is of course the best gift we can have for today, really.
Dec 25, 2008
Dec 8, 2008
growing pains
My sister has been very busy attending trade fairs for agricultural produces, so the last week, I took the job of babysitting my five year old nephew, with help of his grandparents.
We don't meet very often and the last time I've seen him was almost six months ago. This little boy has grown taller and bigger, and more mature, very childish mature of course. He has some toys at my place and excitedly he picked out all of his collections, like guns and cars and others. hHis favourite game is still driving all vehicles, in his own way, sure of all differences and skills. He invents some new ones, like flying trains, human digging vehicle etc.
But surprisingly I noticed he's grown beyond that. Now he is now liking to check all maps and computer games. And our favorite game together is to open google maps and check cities we know, like Shanghai, Beijing and Hangzhou, how we can drive between our neighbourhood to all train stations and bus stations.After a while, we like to dig bombs on windows game.
Children grow at such a surprsing race, beyond our or at least my expectation. My parents always murmur that now it's not easy to fool him any more. (So sometimes they become pretty violent to force him, especially when this little boy doesn't listen, or refuses to eat, as well when he doesn't behave up to their standards. Although sometimes I think my parents' behavior code relly restraining, for example, no jumping on sofa, no running around without slippers on, etc.
Growing up is really incredible thing, and compared to that, I always think ok, his growing up meanwhile mirrors my aging. And maybe that's the possible reason why my parents feel and thus act more strongly about that?
We don't meet very often and the last time I've seen him was almost six months ago. This little boy has grown taller and bigger, and more mature, very childish mature of course. He has some toys at my place and excitedly he picked out all of his collections, like guns and cars and others. hHis favourite game is still driving all vehicles, in his own way, sure of all differences and skills. He invents some new ones, like flying trains, human digging vehicle etc.
But surprisingly I noticed he's grown beyond that. Now he is now liking to check all maps and computer games. And our favorite game together is to open google maps and check cities we know, like Shanghai, Beijing and Hangzhou, how we can drive between our neighbourhood to all train stations and bus stations.After a while, we like to dig bombs on windows game.
Children grow at such a surprsing race, beyond our or at least my expectation. My parents always murmur that now it's not easy to fool him any more. (So sometimes they become pretty violent to force him, especially when this little boy doesn't listen, or refuses to eat, as well when he doesn't behave up to their standards. Although sometimes I think my parents' behavior code relly restraining, for example, no jumping on sofa, no running around without slippers on, etc.
Growing up is really incredible thing, and compared to that, I always think ok, his growing up meanwhile mirrors my aging. And maybe that's the possible reason why my parents feel and thus act more strongly about that?
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