The day before the quake I took the family to
the tower and Durbur square, now both have gone destroyed, and many
people killed. They are saying 1800 but I know that there will be more
especially if there is another quake. Foreign aid is coming, but
it must be difficult with so many people trying to leave. We have just been told that the airport is closed, so please I did not go out to the
airport this morning to try and get a flight. I just pray that the next quake
does not do any major damage to the airport otherwise we will be stuck
here with no way out until it is repaired. Please pray for all of those
people who are not in safe areas I will keep you posted unless internet
is disconnected
27th April 2015
Thank you from my heart to everyone who has messaged me and emailed. I
apologise if my response has been a little abrupt but you can
understand that all important emails and texts to family are my
priority, as well my clients families who are obviously concerned a
output their safety.
Well you probably been wondering what has
been happening these past few days after the huge quake registering I
was told 8.9 on the r scale. I may have mentioned (please forgive me if I
have repeated myself ) I was in the Kings Palace museum which is a 72
room building with only one way in and one way out! Funny how one enters
a building and does not take notice of hoe to get out. Will this will
never never happsx me again and I hope to you all out there!
One
does not have time to think when an earthquake happens whether 5 or 10
on the scale, it is those seconds between when what is happening to you
and what you do in this situation. Fortunately my brain kicked in and I
grabbed the 5 girls and their mother and headed to a door, we all clung
to each other for safety. It was possibly only 3 minutes boy pt felt
like 3 hours before a security guard came and showed us the way out, I
was the only western person with about 50 Nepalese, they were screaming
but fortunately not stampeding. We made it outside to the grass area and
hit the ground. Then after 15 mins another hit, but I knew we were
safe. It was unusually cold for this time of year, but some did not have
jackets and together with shock and cold you begin to shake. We sat
there for 5 hours then I decided to move us to the Yak and Yeti 5 star
hotel ba 5 minute walk and where I have been staying with my groups for
15 years. We walked down the middle of the road for safety arrived at
the hotel and was provided with a room that has access to the garden,
but I decided the best place to sleep was the garden, I have been there
for 3 nights, met many lovely people. The girls returned to their room
yesterday morning after Shanti and I went to the other hotel to collect
my luggage I did not see a lot of damage on the way. Today I went to the
Australian embassy and again same deprecation not a lot of visual
damage but I can image the structural damage is massive. Today I had my
first shower before that I was too frightened to not only go to the
toilet let alone get my clothes of. Last night we once again slept
outside, there were 3 after shocks one at 6.4 everyone in the Kathmandu
valley were advised to sleep outside layout night and NOT to be in their
homes. Guess what it, it stormed all night with heavy rain, we were
under tent shelter and safe but I could not sleep thinking about
thousands of people sitting in the rain all night without shelter.
This morning I took a taxi to the Australian embassy to register they
had many tents in the garden for those who did not wish to stay in
Thamel. I have not ventured to the other end of Thamel New Road Durbur
square which was worst hit.
We were there the previous day on the
tower which vp collapsed and killed many people, we were in Durbar
Square wether again many were killed and all 17 century temples
destroyed. I have palled up with some journalist who were here not for
the earthquake but a work study and they have ventured out to the most
effected areas of Kathmandu, and have returned with stories that would
shatter anyone.
On a lighter side! I have the Prime Minister of
Bhutan staying in the next room and the other side the Health Minister
of Bhutan on the other side, so feeling safe to sleep in the room
tonight.
28th April 2015
I am so very sad to let all of you that have who joined me on a visit to
TB's home and his Uncle Chabi's home that all has been destroyed 35
houses have been lost. I am not sure how many if any lives have been
lost. Fortunately the quake hit at midday when most are outside the
home, many animals have been killed. Those who have lost homes are
living in make shift tarpaulin covers. I have been told that Saraswati
school has lost one wall and Shree Basari School is in tact. Th
e
primary school next to TBs home has collapsed. TB phoned me today
advising me of the news, he wants to take his family back to the village
asap to rebuild as it will be much safer health wise for his family
than staying in Kathmandu where already fresh water is becoming scarce,
as well as food. At least in the village they have fresh water and less
likely of disease and are able to grow crops for food. It will be hard
work for these people but they are very resilient and they have the
materials to rebuild.
Tonight we have just felt a slight tremor,
but more now in Bangladesh and Darjeeling area tonight was the first
time that I have shed tears, before all was serial now it is reality.
Leaving for the airport at 7am I feel like I am deserting a sinking
ship, but in my heart I know can help these people more from my home
than being here in Nepal. Maybe some of you may remember when we left
TBs village to go to Pokhara we went via Gorkha that area and Barpak was
the epicentre of the quake and many many people in that area have lost
their life. The Chinese government have been sending in helicopters to
this area not only to rescue but to take bodies to Pasapatinath for
cremation.
There are only 3 people from the hotel sleeping outside tonight and I am one of them. Fresh air is good to heal the soul
29th April 2015
I am so very sad to let all of you that have who joined me on a visit to
TB's home and his Uncle Chabi's home that all has been destroyed 35
houses have been lost. I am not sure how many if any lives have been
lost. Fortunately the quake hit at midday when most are outside the
home, many animals have been killed. Those who have lost homes are
living in make shift tarpaulin covers. I have been told that Saraswati
school has lost one wall and Shree Basari School is in tact. Th
e
primary school next to TBs home has collapsed. TB phoned me today
advising me of the news, he wants to take his family back to the village
asap to rebuild as it will be much safer health wise for his family
than staying in Kathmandu where already fresh water is becoming scarce,
as well as food. At least in the village they have fresh water and less
likely of disease and are able to grow crops for food. It will be hard
work for these people but they are very resilient and they have the
materials to rebuild.
Tonight we have just felt a slight tremor,
but more now in Bangladesh and Darjeeling area tonight was the first
time that I have shed tears, before all was serial now it is reality.
Leaving for the airport at 7am I feel like I am deserting a sinking
ship, but in my heart I know can help these people more from my home
than being here in Nepal. Maybe some of you may remember when we left
TBs village to go to Pokhara we went via Gorkha that area and Barpak was
the epicentre of the quake and many many people in that area have lost
their life. The Chinese government have been sending in helicopters to
this area not only to rescue but to take bodies to Pasapatinath for
cremation.
There are only 3 people from the hotel sleeping outside tonight and I am one of them. Fresh air is good to heal the soul
30th April 2015I think of the people of Nepal everyday and send prayers that
families have survived this terrible disaster. The world is on a mission
to help the people of Nepal to rebuild their country. To those of us
who have had the pleasure of visiting this beautiful country, and
enjoyed a wonderful experience filled with passion, smiling faces, love
and trust. Nepal is without doubt one of the most awe inspiring
countries in the world, it may not look like it now, and people may
think
life is cruel, why us? BUT!
I believe that they have survived a senseless war that separated the
country and its people, it sent young men away to other countries to
work, leaving women children and the elderly to work on the farms.
Families left their village and moved to Kathmandu thinking it was
safe, which on the other hand made Kathmandu a very congested and over
crowded city. Now in the path of this disaster people are returning to
their grass roots their villages and heritage, their families!
To allow Nepal to thrive and prosper and rise above this disaster it
must first rebuild villages! And to do this man power is required, so it
is a positive move that the young men are leaving Kathmandu and
returning home to be with their families. Hopefully it will give them a
purpose in life and unite families and traditions.
O Mani Padme Hum
God Bless you Nepal
31st April 2015
On my return home I will set up a fund raising account for those who
have offered their generous help. I would like you to know that this
money will go direct to the people in the remote villages who need it,
and not any other organisations. The money collected will possibly not
be utilised for maybe up to 6 - 12 months.
In these remote area
villages The people will need to rebuild their homes with the materials
that will be salvaged from the wreckage.
The money will go towa
rds the purchases of goats, buffalo and chickens, as most will have been killed.
The money will also go towards materials for building anyone's home
that cannot be salvaged. Nepalese are a very strong and resilient race
of people, they are skilled tradesmen, and even if they don't have those
skills they learn very quickly.
The village people are strong, but now there are only women, children
and elderly living in these villages as all the younger generation have
left and gone to the city. As I write this the younger generation are
now trying to return to their villages which is a good thing as more
manpower in the village will help restore their lives. There is
continuous fresh water in remote villages as well crops which may be
lost but can be replanted it will all take time. Manpower and money.
What they need now urgently is recovery teams to help dig out the dead,
they need tents or tarpaulins to be dropped in by helicopters, rice and
lentils, and they can survive in those conditions for weeks to months.
Let's pray that help arrives soon
1st May 2015 In contact with Nepal every day and I am so thrilled to report that
thanks to Red Cross Nepal today the villages of Baseri, Budduthum,
Darje, Majuwa have to each home rice, soya beans, salt oil, blankets and
some plastic tents. The received as well from the Government 7,000
rupees equivalent to approx Aust $110 per household. Although they still
require more tents and tarpaulins, they are very happy people and thank
the Red Cross and the Government of Nepal.
On behalf of my f
undraising
campaign we will be sending over our first relief funds of Aust$3000
on Monday to 3 villagers that require Extra tents and tarpaulins, the
people are being extremely pro active by building temporary buildings to
store anything valuable to survive as well protecting the timber from
rotting during the coming monsoon.
I beg those Nepalese who read my post to approach the Government for your 7,000 rupees please do not be frightened to ask.
Thanks to Roland Hunter from Phase, Helen Jean, Robin Boustead, Sita
Gurung, Kul Gurung today together we have all made a difference to these
wonderful people Just a quick update from Darje, Baseri, Mujuwa, Budduthum. The locals
have been pro active in making temporary shelters. They have had a
committee meeting with 92 house holders and have all agreed that their
need is rice lentils, salt oil rather than tents and tarpaulins, so
there for The funds of Aust$3000 that has been transferred will be used
for this purpose. Future fundraising will go towards the restoration of
schools and homes after monsoon.
2nd May 2015 Last night I was present to speak at a fundraising event put on by friends who trekked with me in Nepal.
The Shack is a not for profit Folk/acoustic music club which runs on the
first Saturday of each month at The Tramshed Arts and Community Centre,
Pittwater Rd Narrabeen. Each month we put on a variety of acts form singer
songwriters to blues, roots, traditional folk and cabaret. The Shack is a
revival of the original Shack which ran in Narrabeen during the 1960's and
early seventies and was a very special part of the then thriving Sydney folk
scene. We started the new Shack in 2006 and it has been running ever since
providing a good listening venue for many artists and great entertainment
for an appreciative audience.The Shack, in alliance with Humph Hall and
Fairlight Folk has also been running a weekend annual music festival since
2011 providing a great variety of local, national and international acts.
This year it will be held from 9th to 11th October at Collaroy Beach.
Websites for the Shack and the music festival are shackfolk.com and
northernbeachesmusicfestival.org
In 2012, Paul and I had a wonderful trip to Nepal, led by Lyn and we fell in
love with the country, its beautiful culture, scenery and people. We were
devastated to hear of the tragedy and we decided that this month's Shack was
an excellent opportunity to raise some funds for Lyn to make good use of in
Nepal. We were so happy to see Lyn alive and well but know she is grieving
for the people of her beloved Nepal. It was great for her to have an
opportunity to speak to the audience about her recent terrifying experience
and hear first hand a bit about the damage and devastation she witnessed.
The audience rallied and we raised $825. We wish Lyn luck in doing whatever
she can to help the people of Nepal and know that by giving directly to her
it will be used where it is needed.
Rhonda Mawer, Paul Robertson and the Shack Committee
Northern
beaches music festival is Sydney's finest lakeside folk festival, 2 - 4
May 2014, boasting in some of Australia's most beautiful landscapes.
northernbeachesmusicfestival.org