Going to the Tibetan herbal doctor!

View from my room every evening!

Yesterday I woke up with even worse throat pain than the day before, so I asked whether I could have a day to rest. I felt super guilty but all the monks reassured me that my health is what is most important, so that put me at ease. Paldin took me to the village pharmacy where I bought Strepsils, cough syrup and allergy medication (for the rash). Then I had to do some grocery shopping; toilet paper, class materials, some snacks, and I decided that I might as well go to the shop to upload my latest blog post. I think the shop owners (a husband and wife in their 50s) and I are developing a deep bond even though we can’t say a word to each other. The wife made me spiced tea and just when I started to feel a bit hungry it was as if the husband heard my thoughts because he brought me an apple. After I was done I walked back to the monastery, scarf wrapped tightly around my neck, jacket on. I was really not feeling well; I should’ve probably left grocery shopping till another day, then again, no toilet paper? No thanks.

It was a really hot day so I was sweatin’ it out in my room trying really hard to sleep. I drifted in and out of sleep for the next I don’t know how many hours. Then at around lunch time the monks started visiting me again, asking whether they should bring me some food or something. One yogi, called Urgan, even brought me a new book to read and a picture of Buddha to hang above my bed. I could’ve shed another tear. Then a few hours later my throat became unbearable, the type of pain where even just lying there hurt. So I texted the VIN office and asked whether I could go to the hospital (they had sent a text in the morning telling me that if I needed to go to the hospital I shouldn’t hesitate to ask). We organized that Akkal would come and get me the next day at 7:00 am. Then a couple of minutes after my phone call another group of older monks came and knocked at my door and, as if they had read my mind, offered to take me to the hospital. I decided I should stick with VIN because they had just spent the last half an hour planning for Akkal to take me.

Also to Dr. B, I found the
three sisters method here in
the village!!!

I took some pain killers and had some of the tea that Paldin had brought me; I was feeling a bit better and decided to do some drawing. I’ve been doing a lot more art since I got here (I can hear you saying “I told you so” Dr. B hahaha) mainly portraits of Nepali people. Whenever I’m walking in the village and I see an interesting face I ask whether I can take a picture… old faces are the best with all the wrinkles. I have one picture of a lady who only has one tooth, so great. Anyway, so whilst I was drawing the principal came for a visit. He is always meditating so this was only the second time that I saw him. I apologized for not making it to class and he gave me the same lecture that all the other monks had given me when I’d start apologizing. Then I found out that he also doesn’t talk much to me because he’s insecure about his English. His English is really not that bad so I went on to tell him he was wrong and that he was doing great! His face lit up, which was awesome. He told me to take lots of rest and then he left.

I finished the drawing and did some reading; finished a book! The Buddhist book which my neighbor, a Yogi called Tenzin, had given to me. So I went to go tell him I’d finished the book. He was busy making these weird little pink things out of stuff that looked like playdoh. He explained that he was making offerings for Pooja. I told him that I was going to go to the hospital the next day and of course he responded how he always responds; with a lecture on what would actually be a better idea. Of course I don’t get annoyed with him, that’s just the way that he is (I always call him my advisor, he always laughs when I do). He told me that I should go to a Tibetan herbal doctor called Dr. Chookey. I said that I had already made plans but he said he’d write all the information down just in case.

I went to sleep early, and I swear this is the best sleep I’ve had since I’d gotten here. I don’t know whether it’s because I finally have a curtain in front of my door (Paldin put it up for me), or because the picture of Buddha is above my bed or because I left all the window curtains open because my clothes were drying. Either way, I had a super good night. I woke up today with less pain than the day before but my throat is still killing me. Akkal came to pick me up at exactly 7:00 am and off we were to the hospital. I told him that Tenzin had told me about the Tibetan herbal doctor which was located right by Boudha and asked him for advice. Akkal said that he didn’t know and that he could go there or to the western clinic, he said it was my call. So there I was feeling all sick with this choice on what to do. My thoughts went like this… you know what I’ve been getting this damn throat infection every single year now, and every single year I take antibiotics and it just comes back the next… maybe it’s time I try something new. So I told Akkal that I wanted to go to the Tibetan doctor. I figured, I’m in Nepal, let’s be adventurous.

Breakfast with Akkal

We got to Boudha and I thanked baby Jesus that the piece of paper Tenzin had given me was still in my pocket. After half an hour of searching we found the place! After two flights of stairs we reached the ‘clinic’ only to discover that it opened 1.5 hours later… so I invited Akkal to have breakfast with me at a restaurant close to Boudha. I had Pokora (which I found out is actually called Pokoda… typical) for breakfast, because why not? And Akkal had the Tibetan t-momo (which I have every morning at the monastery). We found out that there was wifi at the restaurant so I went on facebook real quick. Messaged some of my favorite people and then I found out that Allyssa had somehow, accidentally, put the link to my blog on facebook for everyone to see! So much for having this semi-private thing going on, where the only people who have access to it are those that asked for the address… I went with it and made it visible to everyone. So hello new readers!

All the herbal medicine!

One and a half hours had passed and we started making our way back to the doctor. On the way I bought some pants (to replace the ones I lost during the biking incident…). Then we got to the place. We entered the tiny room and then a super sweet old lady came into the room, Doctor Chookey. She looked at me, asked me to write my name and age on a paper and then held my wrist for a couple of minutes. After she let go she started writing in Tibetan like a madman. She went on to explain that I had throat pain and a dry cough. She said that I am sensitive to cream, lemon, soy sauce, alcohol (lol) and fried food (no more Pokoda?!! Or masala Lay’s chips??!). She said that when I take these things I become more prone to infections. We talked some more about where I had come from and about the monastery I’m staying at and she said she helps lots of the monks from the monastery. We took a cute picture together and then she directed us to a dark room where all the herbs were kept. A lady there helped me to get all the different medicines. I have to take a different type of herbal thing (which is a hard ball that I need to chew) every breakfast, lunch and dinner and I also got a special type of herbal tea. I’ll let you know how the medicine tastes tomorrow; I have a feeling it’s not going to be the best thing I’ve ever tasted. I’m going to go rest now!

On an unrelated note, look at this picture of
me and a baby goat having some
serious loving eye contact!

Charlotte x