This morning after breakfast, it was time to see more of the Peace Park. Some of the constructed temples are fantastic in the style of their respective countries, eg Vietnam, China, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Nepal and there are notable buildings from Austria, Germany and France. Some are under construction, eg Thailand, Cambodia and Indonesia. You get to appreciate the spread of Buddhism across Asia (and beyond) from it's very beginnings with Buddha's birth here in cen...

I have travelled three hours on the bus with Ramesh to visit the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautam, better known throughout the world as Buddha. Today is also the Holi festival of colours which is a very popular annual event in the calendar for people of the Terai. We see a number of groups on the street with many colours of powder in their hair, on their face and all over their clothes. It looks a great fun day! Lumbini is only a short distance to the border with ...

Today in this area, the date is 22nd March 2071. It is the official start of the Holi holiday and the school will be closed for four days. I went up with Ramesh (yes, you guessed it, on the back of his motorbike!) to his school Bhimsen which is the third best school in the whole of Nepal. A brand new building of 34 rooms in under construction. It is financed by the Indian Embassy as there are a number if children from ex Indian army officers living here. I had an...

I have had one of those days which just warm your heart. Two and half hours further west into Nepal, I travelled on the school bus with the deaf children from the school and their teachers Today is sports day for the deaf and blind children in the whole district of Nawalparasi and the bus is full to overflowing. As we approach the venue, the area becomes even more rural with people living off the land with their animals in houses made of mud and leaves. I am soon...

I had a shock when I went to the outside toilet this morning and saw a mongoose looking at me. They kill the snakes apparently so that's alright then! Sometimes I have to pinch myself to remind me where I am! I walked up to the school and watched the assembly on the school field where they do physical exercises and sing the national anthem. I visited the deaf unit which has 34 students and the children are boarders as they come different parts of this rural area....