We Manifested a Hotel in Pokhara

Life is always full of surprises, It happens that I opened the “Hotel Love and Light” with Amrit.

It was six months before the 7.8 mag earthquake in Nepal.  I was in the Edventure Nepal Children’s Home (ENCH), in Pokhara, Nepal.  At that moment, sitting in a room overlooking the backyard, I was chit-chatting with the ENCH Chairman, Amrit.

I was still living mobile between India and Nepal.  I remembered, I had never told Amrit the following dream, a dream that probably every traveler has had.  So I told him, “I always imagined I’d stay in a place I like and open a guesthouse one day.”  I had dreamt about this so many times since I first quit my job and traveled around the world: the Inca town in Peru; the beach in Argentina where I saw whales migrating; the little Colombian town where I volunteered for a month; the Mexican town where I met encountered indigenous people; the Tibetan colony in Northern India.

Guanajuato in Mexico.  One of the examples of the fairy-tale places I’d love to set up a guesthouse.

This dream had faded as I moved around the globe year after year.  There were too many enchanting little places in the world, how could I just choose just one?  I couldn't do it because I was too greedy.  So how about opening guesthouses in all the places I like?  I couldn’t do that either because I couldn’t be distracted.

So that day at ENCH with Amrit, I was lamenting the fading of my dream.

Most of the time, if other travelers heard me pitying myself like this, they would probably join me, “Yes, me too…”  This is a common dream indeed.  But that day, Amrit’s response was very different from what I expected, “Are you serious?”

He surprised me by asking the question.  I felt that there was more meaning in his words.  I sat straight up on my chair, shot my eyebrows and asked him, “What’s up?”

He said, “I have a friend who is constructing a new building, he wants to rent it out as a hotel.”

“Erm?” I thought, I was merely sharing a dream, it hadn’t been a suggestion.

Amrit was getting excited. With a glint in his eye he asked me, “Would you like to have a look?”

With an open mind, I said, “Why not?”

We went to this construction site of his friend (It was indeed a chaotic construction site with dust rolling around).  Upon seeing the basic foundations of this building, I couldn’t help voicing my thoughts, “If you break this wall, the cafe area would look more spacious.”, “Why don’t you connect these two rooms and make it a dorm?”, “These two rooms can be changed to common bathrooms and toilets.”, “The rooftop could be used as a meditation and yoga room!”

Soon after, I heard all these comments had been accepted by the owner.  And without me noticing, it seemed like I was partnering with Amrit to run this hotel project!

There is a saying in Chinese, “An unintended willow’s seed grows in the shade”.  And this is absolutely true for me.  Although I didn't plan to have a hotel, a hotel had come into reality anyway!

From that time onwards, it required a lot of time to turn this construction site into a proper hotel (especially I had to factor in the Nepalese pace), so I put the dream aside and went to live in India.

I came back three months later to lead the fourth work camp of Edventure Nepal.  I planned to wait until after the end of the fifth workcamp before sitting down and discussing this hotel project in detail with Amrit. 

However, on 25^th April, 2015, a once in a lifetime earthquake struck Nepal.

Nobody expected that the earthquake struck Nepal, and nobody expected that I set up Light On Charity after the earthquake.

 After the earthquake, I started to fund-raise on social networks, delivered relief materials, established a non-profit organization, “Light On” and started school rebuilding…However, in September 2015, a border blockage kicked in Nepal, trebling petrol price.  As a result, our hotel’s construction came to a pause.  So I turned my focus again to the fund-raising activities of Light On.

In March this year, the petrol crisis finally ended and the hotel building resumed.  As I was busy leading “Light On Your Path Journey” in Nepal, I then invited architect friends from Hong Kong to do the interior and exterior design.  At the same time, I also invited like-minded Hong Kong people to invest in this social enterprise hotel project.

From the beginning, ENCH has always relied upon regular or irregular donations.  Three years ago, they started a workcamp project with a Hong Kong charity, but the profits were limited.  Also after the earthquake, the workcamp has been stopped for a year.

In order to support the children all the way to university, ENCH has to have a sustainable income source.  This is the reason why Hotel Love and Light comes in existence.

20% of Hotel Love and Light’s profits go to ENCH (there are 12 little angels) as operational and educational fund.  We believe, charities cannot only rely on traditional donations anymore, they have to find ways to self-sustain themselves. 

In such way, not only we can give more flexibility into ENCH’s operation, we can also let them to preserve their dignity.

The 12 little angels of ENCH.

Besides, “Hotel Love and Light” also put emphasis on employing disadvantaged Nepalese people and pay them a decent wage.  For example, the first cleaner employed by “Hotel Love and Light” is a single mom who escaped her violent husband with her 4 years old daughter. 

In addition, if the children in Edventure Nepal would like to learn more about tourism industry, this hotel will be a perfect stepping stone for them too.

In the middle of September, the installation of all the furniture and related stuff started.  In early October, I came to Pokhara and started to install all the other hard and software with Amrit.  From choosing cushion materials, buying plants, designing name cards, establishing a website, even about which food we shall provide on our menu etc. 

Installing solar panels on the rooftop.

Choosing flowers from the nursery.

Adding Dhal Bhat (curry vegetable and rice) into our menu.

“An unintended willow’s seed grows into a shade”: this willow tree is called “Hotel Love and Light” (hotelloveandlight.com).  This name originated from a volunteer workcamp I named, “Love and Light Action--to orphans in Nepal”.  This name also reflects our project goal: we hope to bring more love and light into this world.  We believe, we are all the embodiments of love and light.  As such, we all have the capacity to radiate love and light to people around us and to the world.

Hotel Love and Light ‘s cozy Cafe.

We believe, everyone is the embodiments of love and light.

Compared with other hotel in Pokhara, “Hotel Love and Light” social enterprise project would definitely be a piece of good news for visitors, as they can contribute to good causes by staying in this hotel.

Next time, if you come to Pokhara, the city at the foothill of the Himalayas, please visit us.  We also welcome you all to give us any valuable new ideas or potential cooperative opportunities, such as yoga and meditation or to volunteer as a chef in our cafe etc.  Our contact is info@hotelloveandlight.com

Last but not least, the fact that this hotel has come to existence is thanks to many people: the Aona architect team, Charles, Ricky and Yuisze.  Besides, there should be special thanks to Amrit brother-in-law, who acted as our driver, as well as the “porter” for every single day!  Last but not least, I am really grateful that Fiona helped us to collect stuff from Hong Kong, and she also carried the huge framed photos all the way to Nepal!

Nepal One Year On: The Light On Your Path Journey

Me and the local Nepalese volunteers undertaking school rebuilding work (By Hazel Chow)

(Article translated by Elaine Ng)

In February this year, our “Light On”  school rebuilding work finally started. In connection with this, the “Light On Your Path Journey”, in which international volunteers are led to do the rebuilding, also began officially.

The long delay was due to the coming of the rainy season shortly after the 7.8-magnitude huge earthquake in Nepal on 25 April last year, making the laying of foundation impossible. While we planned to start the rebuilding in September, the fuel crisis arose and last for half a year, leading to a surge in the costs of materials and transport.

In January this year, the school located in Gorkha (the epicentre) and which Light On had been planning to rebuild, suddenly received donations from other large international organizations. We therefore transferred the project to another school that was more in need – a secondary school in Lamjung.

This secondary school in Lamjung became a dangerous building after the earthquake (By Hazel Chow).

Meanwhile, the Light On Your Path Journey, taking place in February during the lunar new year, commenced at the same time as the rebuilding work. The first batch of volunteers helped to pull down the school damaged by the earthquake. They also mixed with the children, sharing happy times playing games. They helped the villagers weed the fields as well; and were lucky to have been able to take part in a wedding in the local village and experience Nepalese traditions.

Pulling down the dangerous building (By Hazel Chow).

Volunteers took a break and mixed with the children (By Hazel Chow).

During this time, Light On made an agreement with the school and the Village Development Committee to pay only for the “bricks”, while they will take care of the costs for labour and transport themselves. My many years of volunteering in Nepal has taught me that, “giving” may only create the opposite effect in terms of truly empowering the local people. The best way is to let them make use of their own abilities to obtain what they deserve to have, and to establish their sense of belonging, so that they will treasure what they get.

At first, both the school and the villagers expressed concerns. I understood that it was because they were used to being dependent. I was not worried but felt assured – I knew that they would come up with a solution.

Just as expected, our paying only for the “bricks” unleashed their potential. Not only did the villagers secured free big lorries to transport the materials, they also mobilized the villagers of the entire village to make time to be volunteers. In April, when we ran the second “Light On Your Path Journey”, the volunteers and the women of the village “hammered stones” together. Not only did the women not complain about the hard work, they enjoyed it and livened things up, mixing with the volunteers.

The Light On Your Path Journey

American volunteers “hammering stones” with the women.

Hong Kong volunteers using a shovel to flatten the rubble at the original site of the school.

Volunteers of “Light On Your Path Journey” and the local women volunteers.

“The Light On Your Path Journey” emphasized on personal internalization – we hope to make use of rebuilding Nepal and immersing in Nepalese lives to let participants attain real internal happiness.

I myself am a volunteer of “The Light On Your Path Journey” project, with no income, and sometimes even had to contribute. “Why do something for no money?” I do something wholeheartedly because just doing it makes me happy! And when I saw the smiling faces of the school children and villagers, and the exchange of love between the volunteers and the villagers, I deeply felt the values behind doing this.

(Remember to turn on the subtitle function in youtube to get the English subtitles)

Leeon, Volunteer of “The Light On Your Path Journey” in April, shared on Facebook:

“It rained in Nepal; tried wearing the specially made raincoat and it felt interesting. The weather changed quite a lot in the village, perhaps because of the high altitude. The rain was often heavy, and then it hailed, the hailstones hitting the bed in the middle of the night. According to the customs, if someone worked the day after hailing, the whole village would lose the god’s blessings. So, we could not return to the school for the rebuilding work the next day, but went to the villagers’ homes to plant corn.

I felt better and better in Lamjung. I really liked the villagers caring for each other here, and even the loud coughs of the man across at 5a.m. each morning. I also liked the sheep, the cows, the chickens, the dogs, the cats, the flies at lunchtime, the mosquitoes in the toilet of the house at noon, the trails, the horrifying shortcuts, the dim lights in the house, or even the nights without electricity, watching the stars at night in the village with everyone else – all these I liked.

Actually, when I came here to be a volunteer, I did not think of helping others, but believed that coming here would be eye-opening. I tried to have an open mind, and did not bring any presents (you all, on the other hand, became my dears). I did not have any particular expectations, and only thought of figuring out each step after having booked the flights. I had neither plans nor preparations, and it felt silly. There was a small accident on the way, and was a bit disappointed at myself, but I trusted that the difficulties made me learn to persevere. Luckily I got to know friends who always cared about child education and school rebuilding, and so I went to the village.

What I encountered today made me learn so much – I have learnt to appreciate, to encourage, to put aside my ego, and to regain love.”

What is “The Light On Your Path Journey” all about? Please watch this short video:

What if you only had 100 days to live?

One person’s sunset is another person’s dawn, depending on where you live.

(Translated by Rice, proof-read and edited by Mitch Silver)

I am not sure why I have often been reflecting on what ‘death’ means these days. I strongly believe that ‘death’ is just the endof one page of learning and the start of another. it is similar to  the excitement that we feel when we finish college and are ready to set foot into society. However, when I reflect on ‘death; again, I discover that I am still terrorized by the pain and the non-predictability of that very moment.

I am not sure about why but I watched a very old film ‘what dreams may come’, starring the late, Robin Williams. The world after ‘death’ is vividly depicted in it. In fact, ‘death’ is just another dimension where we realize our thoughts. Through this movie, we understand the meaning of ‘the truth is what your thoughts are’ and at the same time, it enables us to realize that in fact the world after ‘death’ is not that horrifying.

After that, I interviewed a dying teenager in Nepal. A Nepalese from Hong Kong had told me there was a young man diagnosed with a cancer that can only be cured by undergoing bone marrow transplantation otherwise; he could only live for 100 days more.

I tried to imagine what I would feel if I were this 22- year old who was going to enter college but now only had 100 days left. Before I can get a clue of this, I have visited this boy, Rudra and during the interview time, his smile has left me the deepest impression.

Rudra is smiling all the time. 

He told me he had chronic diarrhea last September and at the same time, he had fevers and had blood in his stool. After diagnosis, he was confirmed to have aplastic anemia. In other words, his bone marrow had lost the ability to produce new blood. This is a rare hereditary disease and the only way to cure him is for him to have a bone marrow transplant.

His parents are poor farmers. He and his elder brother were taken care of since they were young by a kind-hearted Nepalese who paid their school fees. After learning the expense needed for the operation, he soughthelp from the Kulung Community (a small tribal group of Nepal) and they immediately set up a committee named ‘Saving Rudra Campaign’ with the hopes of raising sufficient funds. Up till now, they have raised 2.4 million rupees, ie 180,000 HKD.

When Rudra was talking to me, he was always wearing a smile and I could not help asking, ‘Rudra, how do you feel now?’ He said,’ I am feeling optimistic,’ he talked with a smile, ‘originally I was desperate but after they set up the committee, I feel very happy when seeing there are so many people supporting me.’ 

                                          

I was so surprised by his reaction and thought, ‘ I don’t think any teenager in the same situation can still smile and talk as if everything were alright I cannot feel any fear of ‘death’ from him’

I continued my questions and asked him what he would like to do after his recovery. Rudra who was studying Sociology and Journalism thought for a while and answered, ‘ I had been volunteering in orphanages in the past 4 years and I hope I can keep doing it in order to help those kids a little.’

Rudra who is a shy and introverted teenager touched me when he smiled with his sincerity and warmth.  

I asked the committee of ‘Saving Rudra Committee’ , ‘ how much we still need to raise in order to have the enough amount for operation?’ They answered, ‘ if the bone marrow of his brother can be transplanted into his body, we just need to raise 2 million rupees more (around 150,000 HKD); however, if his brother’s is not compatible, then we need to raise 7.6 million rupees more( around 600,000 HKD).

I was astounded since 600,000 HKD is not a small amount.

Several days after, Rudra told me the report of his brother was out and his bone marrow is not compatible to Rudra’s so he needs to find another person to donate the bone marrow. I was a little bit speechless when I had learnt the fact since the right bone marrow cannot be found within a short period of time, even if we have money.

I recalled the interview that we had, he gave me a hug before we departed. I still can feel the warmth until now. It is hard to imagine this body will be icy after 100 days if no suitable bone marrow can be found at the end.

There is a foreign friend who said.’ I am thinking if so much money is needed to save a person, should we use this amount to save more lives?’ I totally understand what he means but I believe every life is precious and it is hard to estimate whether saving more lives is more important than saving one. What I can do is to attract the necessary attention and help that he needs.

Then, when I was with my friend in Bhaktapur(An old town near Kulung Community), something unexpected happened. Something dropped on my left arm from above and it immediately fell to the ground. Before I realized what had happened, I saw a blue cat was lying on the floor, with its body twisting and blood was flowing out from his nostrils and mouth. I was astounded at that moment and wondered if I could take it to the vet but others said there were no vets around. I moved it to the sides of the road but it kept vomiting blood. My friend asked me to leave and said I could do nothing for it. I chose to stay stubbornly and shed my tears on its body. I was thinking, ‘at least I can stay with it until the very last moment of its life.’

I was too focused on the cat and did not notice that my friend was taking a photo of me. 

At last, the little cat stopped struggling and I accepted the fact that it had died and left there.

There are times when we have no control over life and death. I also think ‘living’ does not necessarily mean being happy and ‘dying’ is not equivalent to sadness. I guess we can only try our best to live our life and live everyday as it were our last. At the same time, we should enrich our life through different kinds of experience. In this way, no matter whether we can live for 100 days or 200 days more, we can still have no regrets when we ‘graduate’ from the last phrase of our life.

I only hope to spread the story of Rudra to you and if you know doctors or other personnel who can give him assistance, or if you hope to raise money for him, please contact him directly. (FB page: Saving Rudra Campaign) or us (Light On). You can also spread the story for the sake of getting more opinion and attention to this issue.