Rigul, Sunday August 5th

So, we left Kandze at 5 a.m. as planned. The car was big enough for
all of us and our luggage. The only thing is that we forgot the
vegetables and fruits we bought at the market the day before.
It was 7.30 a.m. when we reached Manigango where we stopped for
breakfast. Then, drive was alright until we passed Dzogchen where the
road starts to deteriorate and we had three hours of very bad road
before we reached Rigul. We thought that the driver would be very
upset but he actually asked if he should come for our return trip to
Kandze. He will come on thursday evening and we will leave on friday
morning.

In Rigul, we were welcomed at the new school by all the children. I'm
really impressed with the new school building. They did it so well.
They had just started the construction when I was there last year and
now it's completed. I'm really happy about it, I think that the money
we sent was really well used.

The old monastery has been renovated and the new one is now finished
and was inaugurated a few weeks ago. They also started the building
of a new temple for the Shedra (monastic college) with concrete
foundation.

We were offered a huge amount of drinks, snacks and candies in the
school master's room and witness the children's dinner. Since last
year the Rigul Foundation sponsors two meals a day for the school
children and staff.

Another good news is that Palyang, one of the two school's cooks and
a close relative of Ringu Tulku, has a two month old daughter. I'm
really happy for her as she lost a newborn about 15 months ago.

I was so happy about all this but, unfortunately, I also learned
something very sad! Tsering Lhamo one of my nun friends from Yanchen
Gar died a few months ago and it just breaks my heart!

Later in the evening, we moved to the new clinic that is now
completed, that is where we are going to stay with Ani Choden and Dr.
Chuga.

Zoe showed signs of altitude sickness (headache and nausea) and I
gave her some Diamox. I hope that she'll feel better soon.