Gokarna - Kopan - Bodhnath

Hey friends! This weekend, well yesturday I guess since we only get one day off that is considered the 'weekend', I went with Liz and Diebou to Gokarna, Kopan, and Bodhnath. We had to take a bus, then a tuk-tuk (which is a really small transportation device that, like every other transportation device, stuffs bodies into it so you get the pleasure of being up close and personal with a strangers sweaty body or bodies), and then another bus to get to Gokarna. There is a really beautiful temple there that has a lot of history. It was built in 1582 and stands on the bank of te Bagmati River. There are tons of sculpture and reliefs all around the site. We couldn't walk in the temple as it is only for Hindis. After walking around there we hiked to Kopan and went to the Kopan Monastery, which was absolutly breath taking and some of the most amazing architecture and art I have ever seen. We met fellow volunteers Mira and Tara there, had lunch, and walked all around the Monastery, the stupa, and the area there. We were allowed to enter the Monastery. On Saturday's they open it up to Westerners from 3:00 - 4:00 - so we had great timing. It was spectacular! Right when you enter, you are looking at a 20 - 25 foot gold statue of Buddha. On either side, there are about 5 other statues of different Buddha's that descended in height from the center out. They were all gold and incredibly detailed. There was painting of raidient colors all over the walls and ceilings, of Bhudda and also flowers, and magnificent shapes. Of course, there was no photography allowed. I left my camera at home today, but I will really try to download some pictures, as even the outside was amazing as well as the stupa behind the Monastery. It was so peaceful, and so refreshing. I was just trying to fill my lungs with as much fresh and clean air as possible before going to Kathmandu. And relish in the fact that there were no rancid smells that I could not escape.
After Kopan we hiked to Bodhnath where there is a Stupa that is said to be one of the oldest in Nepal, and some believe there is a bone of Buddha that is buried within the stupa. There were hundreds, it seemed, of people - from Buddhist monks to beggars - milliing around, all walking clockwise, holding their prayer beads and chanting their prayers.
In both this stupa and at the Kopan monastary, the feeling of energy was so potent and peaceful. It was radiating through out the space, therefore creating peace within the people, and myself.
What a great experience. Again, "oh, what a feeling...what a lovely little feeling." Thanks Clinton Fearon