Goodbye Buddha!

(I actually wrote this last night but the internet was so spotty I couldn't add the pictures or publish it!)
I just got out of a jacuzzi bathtub at the Norling Hotel and Resort on the outskirts of Khatmandu. . . surrounded by beautiful grounds. .flowers, ponds with water lilies, stone paths, a beautiful swimming pool (which I swam in yesterday evening).  I feel a profound sense of gratitude and completion.  The pilgrimage is officially over and it definitely was a great success.  At 11am today, "our bus" picked up most of the pilgrims who were going off on the next leg of their journey- some are staying a few more days, some traveling to other places and some on their way home tonight.  Anahata and I waved goodbye as they drove off- we all waved until we couldn't see each other anymore- yelling out "I love you!!!".  What a beautiful journey!  Yes, there were amazing sights, temples, holy places, etc.  But what really made the trip was the people . . .first the pilgrims, an incredible heart centered group, and then all the people we met along the way- especially our local guides, Passang, Andrea and Pabitra.  My favorite moments/visits were with the children we met- especially at Bright Nepal, a hostel that Anahata started with Pabitra, a Nepali who runs it- AMAZING WOMAN!!  There are 13 girls in the hostel who are cared for by Pabitra and a house mother- including being given the opportunity to go to school.  They are all from villages in Nepal with no family that can properly take care of them for one reason or another (many of them have only one parent or just a relative alive)- who also would not have had the chance at an education- prime targets for the sex trade.  When we visited them, they put on a concert for us, performing songs and dances and then we all sang and danced together. . it was beautiful.  We got to eat cake with them and then yesterday they came and visited us where we were eating lunch to say goodbye.  A couple days ago Pabitra informed me that one of the girls (7years old) just came a week ago and they were told she needed a new name (hard to explain why here) and she had been contemplating naming her Angela after meeting me and finally decided on the name.  So, I got to connect with her yesterday - she is adorable- and the whole experience inspired me to create a project to find "god parents" in the West for each of the girls as a way of supporting the program and creating more deep and meaningful relationships with these girls.  I would of course be Angela's god mother!!!  More on that as the project progresses- first step is to get permission from Pabitra on what it would look like more specifically.  I'm really excited about continuing my relationship with this organization- it is so "right" for me!

The view from Hotel Mandala where we stayed most of the time while in Nepal

The girls from Bright Nepal saying goodbye on the rooftop restaurant we had lunch at on Sat.

"My" 7 year old Nepali namesake, Angela.   I will be a supporter of Bright Nepal and Angela for the rest of my life!

Leaving the Boudha stupa courtyard where people do kora (our hotel was near here)

The morning of departure at the resort we spent our last night at.  We ate breakfast and then sang songs together.  It was incredibly sweet.

These pilgrims last journey in "our" bus.. . off to other adventures!  What an incredibly loving and beautiful group.  Many tears were shed as we departed.

There are so gaps in my accounting of this pilgrimage- just too much and no time.  So I'm sure that over the next few months I will share more especially as I am able to process and integrate so many wonderful and moving experiences.  This has of course been a life changing journey.  But for now I'm focused on my departure today and arrival in Europe to see my son, brother and his family.  Another adventure awaits as always!!

Goodnight Buddha!