What A Year 2020 Has been!

Varada Effort has planned a medical camp in Lhadak in early July 2020 since August 2019. First, I have encountered problems after problems to secure booking for airtickets from December 2019. To me, it was unbelieveable that the tickets are fully booked one year ahead when there is no special event scheduled to Lhadak at that time of the year. After endless tries by the booking agent, we managed to secure 11 tickets near end of February 2020. But soon after, Covid 19 broke out all over! We were bracing ourselves and placing hope against hope that it will blow over come Apri. On the contrary, it has taken a worse turn. Every country was going for a lockdown! All hopes died come later that month and we had to cancel our tickets for the camp as well as cancel all plans for the opening of the prayer hall for Ngari Institute in August. Got a little depressed and was chatting with Geshe Tsewang one night. We were planning to raise prayer flags as one of our usual rituals when we arrive but now that hope was gone. Our Vesak has passed and soon it was going to be Sagadawa!! I casually asked Geshe la if it is possoible to raise the flags on Sagadawa? He said Yes! We have the flags in our store! Wow! What a joy! Immediatelty I went into action and the rest is history so to speak! I have recorded my hectic fight against time in my blog posted in Ngari Foundation's website. Please go to:- https://www.ngarifoundation.org/blog-archive to view the photos and the videos of the day's ceremony.It turned out that it was the most successful one we have done so far with 60 dharchors and 90 luntas all taken up within 10 days. I guess everyone hope that the devas will help us to fight the epidemic so the earth will recover soon! As the mantra goes:- ki ki laso lha gya lo lha gya lo!!! May we win this war together.

Where did the first aid boxes go?

We are grateful that with the help of Voluntary Health Association of Goa that we were able to procure the First Aid Boxes at a much lower rate than we were to purchase them in Singapore. Also we have avoided the interstate taxes due to their NGO status. We have purchased with the money we had 15 big boxes that is sufficient to serve up to 30 pax and the 2 smaller ones for 20 pax.  

We have given Ngari Institute as well as Zanskar hospital, one big and one small box each, and another big box went to Mahabodhi School. The balance of the 12 boxes went to TCV where they will distribute one to their old folks centre and 2 going to Chantang area with the balance of 9 sets going to various houses within TCV compound itself .

Therefore, we managed to let whatever contributions we have raised, to go far and wide. Hopefully with the training we have given to the students, staff and monks, the knowledge of first aid will be inculcated in their mind. In the future in case of emergency they will know what to do to save the injured or sick before they can get help from the local doctors or hospitals.   

The tables have arrived!

After meeting the carpenter while I was in Ngari Institute I was a little concerned if he could get the tables done on time before the winter comes. He was very swift and delivered everything by the end of October which was very good timing, in the sense that the students would have to go into a carpeted room soon as the temperature will drop quite drastically within the next month or so. It will help them to have their own study station to do their home work and reading. All the donors were very happy to see the children sitting properly doing their work on these new tables.

 It's a joy to see them all working in peace

The rest of the  60 tables are all made!

Epilogue

What Gen Yeshi wrote in the facebook is really a great compliment to us. I have organized this trip not knowing what will be the outcome as it was my first time to organize a medical camp. With no previous experience and just relying on my common sense and organizational skill, I was lucky to find the three doctors and several volunteers who were willing to sacrifice not only their time but their money to come for this trip.

We have learned a lot from the 4-day free clinic and also from the afternoon workshop given to the staff and students of TCV. If given another chance in the future, we will be even more efficient to benefit more sentient beings.

Very grateful to those donors and sponsors for medicine which I never get to meet. Without their kindness and generosity we would not be able to give some much medical help to all those suffering people. This is a summary of what were the various amounts we raised and given away:-

1) From the take up of Dharchor to raise fund for the maintenance of the  

    children in Ngari Institute (after deducting the various expenses)                                                                                                   Rs 245,000/-

2) Offerings from donors from Singapore who are not tour participants

                                                                                                 Rs  15,000/-

3) Donations for the purchase of medicine and first aid boxes

                                                                                                    S $6,740/-

    Less:       

    Total amount spent on the purchase of the medicine and first aid boxes                                                                                                      S $5,060/-

4) Balance of money from the medicine donation given to Ngari Institute

    by Dr Tan                                                                                Rs 25,000/-

5) Balance of money from the medicine donation given to TCV by Dr Loo

                                                                                                     Rs 17,000/-

6) Donations for the purchase of small writing tables for the children in

    Ngari Institute*                                                                        Rs50,000/-  

Therefore the total amount of cash given to Ngari Institute was:-

                                                                                                   Rs 285,000/-  

The equivalent in kind was:-                                                        Rs 50,000/-

 

* A year ago we saw from the photos that Gen yeshi sent us where the children had no proper table to write on during the winter months as the dining hall is too cold for them. So they all squeeze into one carpeted room to stay warm while doing their home work. It bothered us a lot as it was bad posture for the children to bend down to write on the floor. They will have back and neck problem later. So we were searching for some tables that will be light and portable and space saving at the same time. We were hoping to get something like the picture shown below. But cost in Lhadak was too expensive and we have no way to transport them up from the south without incurring much transport costs and taxes. In the end we have decided to ask a carpenter to hand make the tables for us.

Through the generous donation of Ms Sylvia Tan, Ms. May Chua, Ms. Pauline Sng, Ms Angeline Chan, Ms. Joyce Wong, Ms. Buna Tandun, Ms. Chua Sock keng, Mr. Arnold Loke, Ms. Lim Soon Ai, Ms. Tan Soo Hiang & Ms. Lau Sow Keng we managed to raise Rs50,000/- for the Institute to purchase perhaps 50 tables basing on the cost quoted by the carpenter at that time. But now it seems by forgoing the aluminium legs and use a wooden one instead they are able to procure 60 tables instead. So it all ended well and we last heard that 40 pieces were delivered to the Institute and another 20 is in the process of making.

 

A special thanks to Mrs. Shirley Hoe and Geshe Dorji Damdul who have supported the purchase of first aid kits and medicine for Zanskar hospital. 500 bottles of Crocin syrup plus 500 Crocin tablets plus one big and one small first aid kits were delivered to the hospital after much tribulation from many parties concerned.

 The first aid kits

   The Crocin syrup

 

Also Varada Effort has raised Rs 5,300/- from the sale of malas and various items in aid of Spiti Girls' Hostel last year during the Asia Teaching. It was not utilized after all the deductions to various parties were made. This time we have decided to donate the amount to Von Nagri Monastery in Manali for the support of their young monks. It was not a big amount but  nevertheless it is the thought that counts. We try our best to carry on helping all sentient beings when help is needed.  

Road to Home

15 Aug  Last morning in Ngari and we had to Leave Leh by AI 446 at 11:00am. Today is a public holiday in India. The kids left early to take part in Marathon. As the bus was leaving the gate, they stopped and yelled out: "Bye Bye! See you again! We miss you!"

A tinge of sadness came to our hearts. Yes! We do miss them and will miss them for sure. Seeing them growing over the last 4 or 5 years (for my case) you get a sense of attachment to them. We wish them well and grow up to be useful and kind persons. 

                           Bye for now. Hope to see you soon, if not in 2 years' time

 

Meanwhile another rainbow appeared at the back of our guesthouse again. Another auspicious sign for us?

I guess this is the way that someone above shows us the sign of approval

 

The fond memories of this place will stay in most of our mind for a long time. Things like the warm hospitality from everyone....

                             Like a big family                                          

All the cutie pies

 

But most of all; the food that Gen Damchoe and the 2 smiley guys in the kitchen have painstakingly prepared for us every day and night...........

 

Vegetarian pizza, Pasta and special fried potatoes wedges

And....Momo of course!

A picture with all the residents of the guesthouse before we go

 

We were in time to see the flag raising ceremony at the airport since it was their Independent day

 

We arrived in Deli at 13:25pm.  We went straight to Tibet House to see our beloved teacher Geshe Dorji  We had tea and a good short teaching from him. May we have more chance in the future to come and learn from him.

 A group photo for souvenir

 

We then proceed to have a simple Chinese dinner before we board AI 380 at 23:15pm for home.

 

 Wow! Do we miss Chinese food...even in an Indian restaurant

The Last Day With Ngari family....

14 Aug Though we have been here since the 3rd, but most of us have been so busy with the medical camp and the tours that we did not have a chance to visit the prayer hall that is being constructed on the hill.

 

This morning the committee members had brought us up to the hill and amidst the scaffolding, we got a glimpse of the future prayer hall that is projected to be completed by 2020. A walk through on all the floors being worked on and the Buddha and Boddhisattvas' statues being given the final touches by the artisans from Bhutan.

 

A presentation was done by Geshe Tsewang and Gen Yeshi left many of us yearning to see this building in its full grandeur in 2 years time. Those donors of the 1,000 Buddhas thangka will be looking forward for another  batch of artisans coming from Nepal early next year to start work on them on the walls.

                 The painting on the beams are really colorful and well done

The artisans are working on the main statues on the altar

Boddhisattva is waiting to ascend to the side of the altar

 Meanwhile more artisans are making smaller statues in the monks' hostel

These two are making the petals and clouds to be put on the background

 

After visiting the prayer hall Gen Yeshi also showed us the solitary retreat houses that are being build behind the main prayer hall.

This is really impressive and there will be 10 of this eventually 

 

After that, we went to see our babies....the 10 apples trees that we have planted two years ago. Seems this area is called the Singapore Garden by Gen Yeshi, as most of the trees were planted by various Singapore groups 2 years back in different times, together with the two prominent ones planted by HHDL during his visit here. We were very concerned about our trees and really want to see them fruition one day.

Which one is mine? Must remember our position when we planted the trees

 

After this, we have another Bonus from Gen Yeshi. We went to visit the Kunrik Lhakang where some of the monks came for the puja yesterday. This temple specializes in the Vairochana practice and very skilled in performing pujas for the deceased. We had the merit of seeing them making a mandala when we were there and the abbot spoke good English, so he was able to explain quite a lot about the practice and the deities in the mandala itself. Quite an eye opener for us.

The monks stayed in a mosquito net to work on the mandala so it is kept clean and free of other disturbances 

The name list of the deceased which we presented in the jangwa puja was burned and made into 2 tsa tsa. We have decided to leave them in the mountains and may these souls find peace after this

 

 

It was a morning well spent and after lunch the group went to visit Spituk Monastery where Geshe Tsewang and Gen Yeshi came from. Built during the 11^th century and located 8km from Leh. It is home to a 100 monks today. It has a giant statue of goddess Kali which is shown to the public during the yearly Spituk festival. Though founded by Nyingma. It is taken over by Gelupa in the 15^th century.

They managed to find a practitioner who stays in a small room in the monastery for his own practice. They also realized one can live simply

 

Evening after dinner, it was party time with the kids. We have ordered cake and juice for them as they seldom have the chance to consume these things. It is considered as a treat for them only during special occasions.

 The cake arrived in the morning and it was 35lbs...heavier than some kids there

 The crowd started gathering after their dinner

 It was keen anticipation and everyone is waiting for the yummy treat

 Geshe la found an oracle knife long enough to cut the cake!!

  57 kids, 10 monks, 16 visitors and about 8 workers really eat up most of the cake

Nearing the finale I supposed....

13 Aug Today we are slowing down after all the travelling for the last two days.

After breakfast, 10 monks from Ngari Institute and the nearby Kunrik Lhakang , came to conduct a Medicine Buddha puja plus Jangwa for us upon our request to Geshe Tsewang. We intend to heal not only the sick and living but also the dead before we come home. Since this is according to our Lunar Calendar the beginning of the 7th month where Ulambana rituals are being held, we have decided to benefit our dearly beloved departed friends and relatives and also all those lost soul who have tragically passed away around the mountain area. 

 All the offering items, tormas etc. are being laid out by the monks

 Starting of the puja

We sincerely pray that all the departed will be able to take rebirth soon

 

After the puja was over, we decided to take it easy and go to town. Gen Yeshi again gave us two more bonus before we reach the market. We first went to Samkya Monastery which was the famous Bakula Rinpoche's monastery. Unfortunately the monks went for some conference or meeting that morning and so the place was empty except for one attendant there. It was a pity as Rinpoche's private residence was just next door. So we could only soaked in the tranquil atmosphere of this monastery in the town area.

 We could not even go into the hall as it was locked

 

Then we had another bonus from Gen Yeshi again as we travelled across the road. We managed to visit this little crystal museum where we can see lots of the semi-precious stones that are found in Lhadak.

 It was quite an eye opening find even this museum is so tiny

I can say that Lhadak is treasure everywhere

We proceeded to Shanti Stupa built by Japanese monk Nakamura for world peace.  There is Buddha’s relic kept inside this stupa. After having circumambulated the stupa we went on to do Singaporean's favorite activity.......SHOPPING!!!

The stall owner who remembered us two years ago, spending one afternoon there to buy up most of his stock was more than happy to see us. 

 Seeing some old friends made this shop owner very happy

All look exhausted but very satisfied. We told the shop owner we will meet again

We are going to see another incredible sight......

12 Aug After settling one night in Nubra Valley which is relatively lower than most part (approximately 2000+ m above the sea), we have more mountains to go after breakfast...... Today we are driving up 4,350 m high to Tso Panggong. This high altitude salt water lake is 134km long, extending from India to China, where 60% of its area belongs to Tibet. The broadest width of the lake is 5 km and since this  being a sensitive area, we need to apply for special permit to enter here.

We get to see species of unusual animals and migratory birds ( we did not see any bird though) particular to this place. This time we tried the other mountain pass, Changla Pass which is lower, after we have "conquered" the highest pass yesterday.

But it proved that it was not an easy feat. It was worse in some ways that we went rocking and rolling the entire day on this pass where there is no specific route that we can see. The driver has to be very skilled and good in sense of direction because wifi is not assessable here so there is no GPS to guide us at all. We had drive on top of stones and pebbles and river streams many a times. But it was an adventure for all! We do not get to experience this in may places that we have visited.

 The route to the lake is not all tarred so it was rather savage still

 Sometimes our cars need to go over mountain streams that appeared out of nowhere

 We have never seen a marmot let alone two before, which is unique to this area

Your producer of Pashmina is in front of us!!

After about 5 hours of travelling, we at long last saw the beautiful "lady" in front of us! The water was so beautiful in all shades of blue against the sunlight. The clouds also form a fantastic backdrop against the mountains.

      You can tell they are Singaporeans on the yaks because one is using selfie  

There is no end in sight for the lake

A good time was had by all

We must not forget our 2 Lhadaki beauties from our group in ceremonial costumes

On our way back our driver was sharp eyes enough to point to us the family of deer on the cliff

 

We arrived back in Saboo in early evening and I think most of us had a real good bone shake throughout the day that after dinner everyone just wanted to go to bed.

Except for Gen Yeshi and me! We stayed up till 10 plus to translate the hundred over names of deceased to be announced in the Jangwa puja tomorrow morning, which Geshe Tsewang has so compassionately arranged for us.  

But meanwhile, an auspicious sign appeared in the evening before dinner and we were lucky enough to catch this!

 What a beautiful pair of double rainbow that came up form the mountain behind