Wednesday 25 February 2015

Finishing after 1st Tibetan Medical Camp & Exhibition STORY OF A NATION February 13, 2015 at Sylviander House


The doctors have completed the consultations, patients have left with their medicines – the medical camp is over! 


After a delated lunch of 14 people, the tibetan team has to pack all remaining medicines, while Eswar happily rests for awhile. Far more patients have come this time than 2 months ago at Ernakulam. An exact number he will get to know later, roughly he counted around 150 patients.  


Sonam is busy with the final calculations … 


The big desk was shifted outside to the west verandah, then after all Dr.Dorjee Rapten puzzles the remaining bundles in their suit cases not to waste any space. 


After tea and snacks we make a farewell picture – together with our cat boy Simba and cat girl Moojoo. Only Dr. Phuntsok Dhondup is missing on the photo … 


Late afternoon, 2 auto rikshaws arrive in time. The heavy luggage has to be loaded in to the auto rikshaws … 


Elias, our friendly driver, has organized the needed transportations for the past days. Together with a fellow he will bring the tibetan team to the railway station of Alappuzha … 


Last words are changed … 


 good-bye begins … 


… Pinnekanam! 


We will see us again after 2 months … 


… when Dr.Dorjee Rapten will come with another team to Sylviander House for the next Wellbeing Tibetan Medical Camp in April … 


What‘s about me? complaints Elias. He too wants to be on the picture … 


Only six people are left … 


After our dinner, we are going to clear the exhibition in the museum. 
To remove the framed photographs of the exhibition from the walls was easy and fast done. 


But to put them back to their covers, in which Eswar and Sethu had brought them, posed a challenge. 


It seemes, either the covers had shrinked during the last days or the frames had grown by the many eyes seeing the exhibition … 


Everybody‘s hands are needed to manage this difficult puzzle. 
Finally some new covers for the biggest photographs have to be produced. 
That‘s why it is getting late, that‘s why this evening will be no film show.  We are tired and need sleep. 


Next morning after an early wake up, having a fast breakfast in a hurry in the kitchen, Tsundue digs a small Cashew plant and a young Punna plant from our garden. 


Alexander had told him, that some hundred years ago buddhist monks had lived in this area and used the oil from the seeds of the Punna Trees for their lamps, appreciating the golden light, this oil creates. 


Tsundue will take these plants to a tibetan refugee camp in Karnataka – I hope they will grow nicely in their new place … 


And possibly one day, the oil of Punna Trees will spark lamps again somewhere spreading a golden light … 


(Photos by Sylvie Bantle, Alexander Devasia, Sethu Das)

1 comment:

  1. Loved the photo story. Should say I was looking forward anxiously for each in the series. Enjoyed reliving the experience.. looking forward...

    ReplyDelete