Today I plan to visit the remaining monasteries. As explained previously, land has been allocated to different countries east and west of the water canal that links Buddha’s birthplace with the World Peace Stuppa. One side is for monasteries that follow one stream of Buddhism while the other side is for followers of the other form of Buddhism. I’m told by other foreigners that Australia is represented here, which surprised me. Maybe we donated a toilet! But I discover that Austria have a Monastry here and assume that’s what they meant. France, Germany, China, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Cambodia, India and of course Nepal have monasteries built or are building them. The completed ones are open for the public to enter and look around. Some offer meditation and one even offers board. Raju explained that I could stay at the Korean monastery if I wanted but they aske you to join them in meditation at 6am and no alcohol allowed! Too difficult for me.
There is a constant stream of people from all parts of the world wandering around. To go anywhere here requires a lot of walking or you can rent cycles, or hire a rickshaw. I choose to walk. It’s hot but a great place to sit for a while is a Thailand construction that is a conference Centre and probably an administration site. It’s open and cool. Also taking advantage of the cool are some stall owners. There is a long line of table stalls satisfying visitor thirst for Buddha things. Pillu has a stall and comes to me for advice. He said hello to me some days ago and remembers me. Without even knowing me he explains that he is in love and wants some advice, thinking my age qualifies me as an expert in these things. How wrong he is. He’s 24 and has fallen in love 20 times already, but his new love is the one he is certain. She visited Lumbini recently and after many beers and weed he spent the night with her. She’s now in Kathmandu but his heart bleeds for her though texts every day. Anyway we chat and he offers to take me around on his motorbike. That night we catch up for beers, many beers, and he tells me about life here and in Nepal. Things here are far more complex than I imagined and what he tells me is very interesting. He explains that the border strike between nepal and India is not India’s doing but Nepals. He is of the Terai people and they are protesting to the Nepalese government by blocking the border and stopping essential fuels, gas and medicines getting into nepal. Recent changes to the constitution is not fair to the terai people. The terais are lowland people and the constitution discriminates against them. The government also under represents them compared to the mountain cultures and they are angry. The constitution and the government doesn’t see them as real Nepalese but imports from India, dispite them being citizens that have been part of Nepal for many generations. This seems to be a common theme amongst under developed countries. The borders are open now but he thinks things will erupt again soon. We also discuss his love life again over too many beers. He’s a character.
UNFINISHED
angusmccoll 