Join our Service Journey to Nepal
October 3-17th 2020

Registration and details here:
https://behealthyinc.org/nepal-service-journey/

Holly Steflik holly.steflik@gmail.com (919) 619-0165
Janet Galipo janet@janetgalipo.com (305) 538-8998

This Medical Service trip offers the opportunity for BodyTalk practitioners, doctors, nurses, acupuncturists, herbalists, chiropractors, massage/manual therapists, and other holistic practitioners to experience Nepal and be of service to children, families, monks, nuns, and the elderly. We are very happy to be able to work with the local population to provide free, high-quality healthcare and at the same time introduce our participants to the richness of Nepalese culture. We also welcome non-medical support volunteers to assist with the clinics.

We strongly believe that natural medicine and its techniques are effective for all populations and especially for areas where native healing traditions exist. During this health services trip, we will be offering hands off and hands on healing techniques, acupuncture with and without needles, moxibustion session, and medicinal herbs brought from the U.S.

Day 1: October 3, Saturday: Arrival in Kathmandu. We will gather in the lobby of our hotel, the Butsugen Guest House at 4 p.m. for welcome meeting and orientation. We will then head out to Boudha Stupa for an evening walk. Buddhists and Hindus alike revere this temple complex and devotees can be seen circumambulating the stupa at all times. Dinner after walk.

Day 2: October 4, Sunday: Today we will visit Patan, located to the south of Kathmandu. It is believed to be one of the oldest known Buddhist cities in the world. Patan Durbar Square, the “King’s Square,” is adorned with temples, statues and fantastic local culture. Nepal is famous for its Buddhist metal artists, who create some of the finest statuary in the world. We will explore King’s Square, have lunch in the elegant Museum Restaurant, and walk to the Golden Temple, that was built in the 12th century by King Bhaskar Verma. After that we will return to our hotel and rest up before dinner. You may also use this as a free day to rest up.

Day 3: October 5 Monday: Drive to Chailsa (Day long trip by Jeep) This Tibetan Refugee Settlement is situated in Solu Khambu, which is in Northwestern Nepal. It is approximately 8,000 feet above sea level. Similar to other Tibetan refugee settlements in Nepal, Chailsa has established a cooperative society consisting of a monastery, a school, an opera center, a market, an apple orchard and a handicraft center. While there, we will visit the Delekling Tibetan settlement, Tsepri Lopon Monastery and nearby villages.

Days 4 and 5: October 6-7 , Tuesday - Wednesday: Clinic Days in Chailsa treating 100-200 hundred monks and village families.

Day 6: October 8 Thursday: Drive to Thupten Choeling (2 hrs drive). Go to Thupten Choeling Monastery. Here we will have a 1/2 day clinic in Thupten Choeling.

Day 7: October 9 Friday: Full day clinic in Thupten Choeling

Day 8: October 10 Saturday: Practitioners rest day, sight-seeing, and drive to Phablu, Numbur Lodge in the Mount Everest region of Nepal. Experience the mountains with the unique Sherpa people and culture of Nepal.

Day 9: October 11 Sunday: After breakfast, drive to Pharphing (long drive). Pharphing lies on the Southern side of the Katmandu valley. It is a thriving Newari town with many Buddhist monasteries that have sprung up since the Tibetan refugees entered Nepal after 1959. Beautiful monasteries surround the area including a 100-foot golden statue of Padmasambava.

Day 10: October 12 Monday: All day clinic in Pharping treating several hundred monks.

Day 11: October 13 Tuesday: Free day in Pharping to sight-see, get massages. Outside of the town, there are 3 very important pilgrimage sites: a sacred Varjrayogini temple, a cave where Padma sambava meditated, leaving his footprints in stone and a self-arising Goddess Tara in a cave complex. Drive back to Boudha Stupa and stay at Butsugen.

Days 12 and 13th: October 14-15 Wednesday-Thursday: One of the largest Stupas in the world, Boudanauth stupa is home to Nepalese Hindu worshipers and to monks and nuns of all 5 schools of Tibetan Buddhism. The atmosphere is deeply spiritual and practitioners from all over the world can be seen circumnavigating the Stupa both day and night. Our 2-day clinic will be held at a community center where we will be treating hundreds of families, children, the elderly, monks and nuns.

Day 14: October 16 Friday: Practitioners rest day, sight-seeing and shopping. For those interested in exquisite handmade goods at amazing prices, shopping in Katmandu City is a must! From gold and silver jewelry, fine fabrics, antique statues, amazing chai teas, incense and so much more, you can stock up on wonderful gifts for family and friends. A beautiful way to remember your Nepal pilgrimage.

Trip ends Trip ends Saturday October 17th after breakfast.