A five member’s team of high level dignitaries of Pax Earth Japan (PEJ) led by President Dr. Soko Aoki and accompanied by respected Mr. Masaya Arao (Advisor), and collaborators: Ms. Mineko Ikegami, Mr. Shinichi Tajima and Ms. Kiyoko Tajima visited Nepal from November 3, 2012 to November 6, 2012. The main objective of the visit was to explore Nepal. More importantly, the PEJ team especially respected Mr. Arao was interested to inspect the project sites of Pax Earth located in Kavrepalanchok district of Nepal. Here is a brief report of this visit.
Brief report
On November 3, as per the schedule, a five member’s team of high level dignitaries led by PEJ President Dr. Soko Aoki along with respected Mr. Masaya Arao (Advisor), and collaborators: Ms. Mineko Ikegami, Mr. Shinichi Tajima and Ms. Kiyoko Tajima landed at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Kathmandu at 12:30pm. Each member of PEJ was warmly welcomed with a khadda by Pax Earth Nepal (PEN) President Sujan Koirala, Secretary Binod P. Mainali, Treasurer Bal Gopal Shrestha, Joint Secretary Guna Raj Pyakurel and Member Sudan P. Bhandari at the airport. Ngima Dorji Sherpa (Managing Director of Nepal Myths & Mountain Trails) also joined the PEN team in welcoming the respected dignitaries. Then, they directly went to Radisson Hotel, Lazimpat, Kathmandu where their accommodation was arranged. Mr. Koirala and Mr. Sherpa were with them to assist in accommodation procedure. After the formality, Mr. Sherpa left for an official meeting.
At 3:00pm, Secretary Mr. Mainali arrived at the Radisson Hotel. Then, leaving respected Mr. Arao who was very tired of a long flight for rest at the hotel, Mr. Koirala and Mr. Mainali took Dr. Aoki, Ms. Ikegami, Mr. Tajima and Ms. Tajima to Boudhanath Stupa, the holies Buddhist Stupa in Kathmandu. Boudhanath Stupa is recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. After visiting one of the largest ancient stupas, they could manage to have a cup of tea and left for Pashupatinath temple, the most sacred Hindu temple in Kathmandu. The temple is also listed in UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mr. Shrestha joined with them at the Pashupatinath temple. After spending just above half an hour at the temple, Mr. Koirala and the PEJ dignitaries went to the Radisson Hotel to pick up respected Mr. Arao for the dinner while Mr. Shrestha and Mr. Mainali left for their homes. According to the schedule, Mr. Koirala took them to have a dinner at the restaurant called Mahabir’s Centre for Nepal Connection where they could meet and interact with the Dr. Mahabir Pun (the owner), a Magsaysay awardee in 2007 for connecting his village to the global village through implementing wireless technology.
On November 4, as per the schedule, the Pax Earth members gathered at the Radisson Hotel n the morning. At 9:00am, a nine member’s Pax Earth team (comprised of respected Mr. Arao, Dr. Aoki, Ms. Ikegami, Mr. Tajima and Ms. Tajima from the PEJ and Mr. Koirala, Mr. Mainali, Mr. Shrestha and Mr. Laxman B. Pahari (a Board Member) from the PEN) left for observing the Pax Earth’s educational mission sites (Shree Raktakali Primary School and Shree Kalika Primary School) located in Kavrepalanchok district of Nepal approximately 65km east of Nepal. On the way to Kavrepalanchok, as promised, the PEN members could offer a panoramic view of a beautiful Himalayan range to the PEJ dignitaries. Everyone, especially respected Mr. Arao, enjoyed this majestic view very much.
During the visit, the Pax Earth team not only inspected the school area, school buildings, classrooms, library, toilets and tree plantation area but also interacted with the children and teachers. In addition, the Pax Earth team managed to distribute a small amount of stationery to the 120 poor and needy students of these two primary schools. Hats-off to the spirit of respected Mr. Arao who single handedly distributed the stationery to all the students!
Completing mission of the day, the Pax Earth team arrived in Kathmandu at 7:00pm. The team directly went to the Lal Durbar Restaurant at Hotel Yak & Yeti where the PEN Board has hosted a dinner in the honour of respected Mr. Arao, Dr. Aoki and respected collaborators. PEN Vice President Mr. Shreebatsa Basnyat, Joint Secretary Mr. Guna Raj Pyakurel and Joint Treasurer Dipendra Dangol also joined the dinner. The PEJ dignitaries were offered a set of exquisite Nepali cuisine. The PEJ dignitaries could also enjoy a Nepali cultural show. As per the request of the PEN members, respected Mr. Arao participated in a Nepali cultural dance with Pax Earth members. It was one of the rare historic moments.
On November 5, Joint Secretary Mr. Pyakurel took respected Mr. Arao, Ms. Ikegami, Mr. Tajima and Ms. Tajima for the sightseeing to two World Heritage Sites: Patan Durbar Square and Bhaktapur Durbar Square in the morning while Dr. Aoki was assisted by Mr. Koirala in some of his business meetings. Patan Durbar Square is situated at the centre of Lalitpur city. In Lalitpur, they could observe Krishna temple, Bhimsen temple, Golden temple and few others. Located in Bhaktapur district, Bhaktapur Durbar Square lies 13km east of Kathmandu. In Bhatkapur, they could observe 55-Window Palace, Nyatopola Temple, Bhairav Nath Temple, Golden Gate, Lion’s Gate and few others.
In the afternoon, they all gathered at the Radisson Hotel. At 2:00pm respected Mr. Arao and Dr. Aoki had a courtesy visit to Nepal Scouts NHQ where they could meet Mr. Shree Ram Lamichhane, the Chief Commissioner of Nepal Scouts. While they were at the meeting, PEN Board Member Mr. Pahari assisted Ms. Ikegami, Mr. Tajima and Ms. Tajima in their shopping in Thamel. At 4:00pm, the PEJ dignitaries assembled at the Radisson Hotel. Then, as per the request of President Mr. Koirala, the PEJ dignitaries managed to visit his home located in Kapan. They could interact with his family members besides having a cup of tea. After this visit, they went to have a dinner at China Town Chinese Restaurant & Bar, one of the oldest Chinese restaurants in Kathmandu, located in Lazimpat just outside of the Radisson Hotel. Respected Mr. Arao, Dr. Aoki, Ms. Ikegami, Mr. Tajima, Ms. Tajima, Mr. Koirala, Mr. Pahari and Ms. Haruka Katarao (a friend of Dr. Aoki) joined the dinner and enjoyed the variety of Chinese dishes.
On November 6, PEN President Mr. Koirala, Treasurer Mr. Shrestha and Member Mr. Sachin Koirala went to the Radisson Hotel in the morning. They assisted the PEJ dignitaries in their last moment shopping. After the shopping, all went to have a cup of tea at a Japanese restaurant. As they were running out of time, they went to the Tribhuvan International Airport directly from that restaurant as the PEJ dignitaries had already checked out from the hotel. PEN Secretary Mr. Mainali, Joint Secretary Mr. Pyakurel, Member Mr. Debraj Ghimire also joined their friends at the airport and bid farewell to the respected PEJ dignitaries at 12:00pm.
In this way, the short and sweet visit of the high level PEJ dignitaries ended. The whole visit was coordinated by PEN President Mr. Koirala.
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PEN is indebted to PEJ Advisor respected Mr. Masaya Arao for managing his time to visit Nepal. Pax Earth is honoured to have him as our guardian. PEN is equally thankful to PEJ President Dr. Soko Aoki for convincing respected Mr. Arao and collaborators to visit Nepal as well as managing his own time despite his pretty busy schedule. PEN is also grateful to respected collaborators Ms. Mineko Ikegami, Mr. Shinichi Tajima and Ms. Kiyoko Tajima for managing their time to visit Nepal and the project sites in Kavrepalanchok. PEN heartily thanks President Mr. Sujan Koirala for effectively managing this high level visit program. In addition, each member of PEN who contributed (directly or indirectly) in managing this visit deserves a special thank.
Reported by PEN Secretariat!!!
