Political change stirring the air....

So, it's a really interesting time right now in Nepal. After the elections at the end of April, the Maoist party hold somewhere around 264 seats out of 600 in parliament. The majority of people residing in the city of Kathmandu for the most part are not maoist supporters. For years the maoist party have been trying to get into Kathmandu and influence the city, and after the recent elections, they're in. As I've realized however, not eneryone is for the maoists. A businessman from Kwortishor was kidnapped and killed 4 days ago by maoists and his body was dumped in the local river (at least that is the speculation) ...and this is a bad no-no....(as the Hindu religion says that Hindus must be burned and offered with full rites before dumping the ashes into the holy river that flows into and becomes the Ganges river in India. ) Anyway, the family of the dead man and locals are PISSED OFF and have been demanding the body to be handed over. The Maoists are denying the claims of killing this man. So, what had been going on for the past few days is the creation of a major roadblock into a part of Kathmandu by the family and locals of the dead businessman. Traffic is bad and lots of buses and taxis can't or just won't go near there. Today there is a major strike against the maoists and the killing. All schools, buses, businesses, and airports, and etc...are at a halt. It is going to be interesting to see what happenes. Today I'm not working at the school because it's closed. Anyway, I have also been informed that there is some rioting going on. So, Nepal's military is still runned by the prime minister. On the 28th the government is supposed to hand over office to the maoists. It will be interesting to see how things turn out. There is definitey a political change in the air.
That's all for now.
As for me, I am doing great. I love the Nepali kids that I am teaching. They are so bright. Yesterday was a nepali holiday which celebrated the birth of Buddah. I went with my friend Ari to Bouddahnath (a major Buddhist Stupa) and celebrated the day by making the many clockwise walkabouts around the stupa (with its many prayer flags) and turning many tibetan wheels and chanting. We lit candles with many other Nepalis and the millions of candles illuminated the whole temple and stupa. It is incredible to see and you could feel the spiritual love in the air. There were many monks chanting, some throat singing, and many Hindus as well singing and paying their respects. Millions of people were walking the clockwise round-a-bout all day. It was beautiful. I wish you could've all seen it.
Anyway, my plan have changed a bit and I decided to extend my flight departure date to June 10. My last two weeks here will be spent travelling north west towards Pokhara and then trekking for 10 days into the Annapurna range. I plan to visit a few Gurang villages (of Tibetan decent) and just check out the amazing, majestic, and infamous Himalayas. It should be fun and I am really excited about it.
I have to go now I'm afraid that a poweroutage is going to happen. It happen everyday from a few hours. Anyway, take care all!
Namaste and que te vaya bien!!
much love,
maumau
:)