Mission to Bandipur, Nepal;
In June 2010 my colleagues and I set out on a once in a lifetime mission to Bandipur, Nepal; with dental and medical charity, “work the world.” We were there to set up a makeshift dental surgery and to treat the dental needs of the people of Bandipur and its’ surrounding hamlets. Little did I know, that I would be getting much more out of the experience than any of the patients I treated! I fell in love with the place from the moment I arrived. The main streets are completely vehicle free and as such children are liberated to play in them until the moonlight dictates otherwise. The few hotels for tourists and travellers are in keeping with the ecological ethos whilst maintaining exceptional quality and the people of Bandipur could not be more welcoming. No matter what direction you venture in, you always end up at a summit looking out over the most unbelievable views imaginable. If you look out on a clear day you can see the outline of the Himalayas tempting you to embark on an Everest base camp adventure.
The weather, again, is like nowhere else. By day you will be tanning in the hot unpolluted Nepalese sun whilst by night the warm rain falls heavily. Maybe surprisingly, it is equally as enjoyable to stand out in, as it is to watch and listen to the rain as you settle into bed for the night. But when morning comes the rain is gone, the sun is shining and the wetness has brought out the fresh smells of the surrounding landscape; looking greener than ever.
An evening trek up one of the smaller ascents with a few cold refreshments and some portable speakers to watch the sun set really does take your breath away.
One of the most amazing things about this place is that the people of Bandipur have no or very little monetary wealth but they have so much wealth in other aspects of their life and surroundings that the area is teeming with content.
A.Jones.
