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The Answer My Friend Is Blowing In The Wind

January 7, 2014 By Monica Stone 8 Comments

This past year I took a trip to Nepal. I haven’t written about it in detail, but I will soon since there were so many themes, lessons, and crazy things that happened. For one, my friend and I were invited into two extravagant Bollywood weddings. That’s random, right? Thinking about it seems so surreal, and I get overwhelmed in an amazing way. I experienced so many incredible things, and look forward to writing about them all one day. This is just the first in a series of posts!

Some things to mention are:

Traveled for 36 hours, and transferred airports in London (I like to say I went into the future since the time zone is 12 hours ahead).

I lived in a monastery

Hung out with monks and learned some Tibetan

Got lost in the town of Bhaktapur after our cab driver left us stranded

Received blessings by monks

Had to sleep with a mosquito net

Made amazing friends from all over the world

Learned how to bargain shop

Walked side by side with monkeys

Went on an exhausting yet empowering mountain bike ride

I climbed A LOT of stairs

I learned aspects about myself that I didn’t even know existed

Oh, and I became un-vegan when I learned I was eating paneer instead of tofu. Yikes! I guess it was time.

And, a lot more that you’ll hear about later….

Oh, did I mention that this was my first trip out of USA?

IMG_4684

I was going through my pictures the other day, which stirred up some emotions and brought back so many wonderful memories from the trip! I noticed a few patterns or themes that occurred with my pictures, and one big one was  hanging prayer flags. 

Prayer flags were hung all over and in abundance. You would never see just one string if prayer flags, but several hung and tied together moving effortlessly in the breeze. It was just one of the most beautiful sights ever. Many areas of Nepal were dirty, dusty, and very polluted, and polluted to the point where people were wearing masks for protection. The air quality was one of the hardest things for me to deal with when I was there. It really exhausted and drained every part of my being. The first thing I was excited to do when arriving back in the US was breathe in the fresh air. I started thinking about it two days before I left Nepal. I could not wait to breathe fresh air again, and I had so much gratitude for the luxury of air conditioning, drinking water, good plumbing, and fresh air. Compassion and gratitude took on new meanings for me. 

mask

Prayer flags are hung and bless every area of Nepal, and you’ll see from the photos below that they make even the most desolate or impoverished areas look gorgeous. Everything was so breathtaking, and I couldn’t stop taking pictures. I have so many photos all over with prayer flags hanging in the background, but I picked a few of my favorites.

I remember that there were times I just put the camera down and just had to stare in awe and take in the scenery. It would bring me to tears, and I close my eyes sometimes and try to bring myself back to those experiences.

I  purchased a ton of flags when I was in Nepal, and gave them away as gifts, but also hung them around my apartment.

Here are some of my favorite photos of prayer flags from the trip, and I should also mention that there are no filters or edits with these:

this view bouddha flags2 flags flasgo lots o flags more flags pfalgs prayer flags22 prayer flags222 prayer flags

I stupa flags2 Flags schoolgirls

I mean COME ON! Does it get more beautiful that that!

What do you think? Want some prayer flags to bless your home or business, or to give away as a gift?

Try these:

1. 2.  3.

Link to this page to see more great options: Tibetan Prayer Flags

Some Great Books on Prayer Flags and Nepal if you’re interested in :
1. Prayer Flags: Blessings on the breeze (Book-in-a-Box)
2. Tibetan Prayer Flags: Send Your Blessings on the Breeze with Other
3. The Tibetan Prayer Flag Pack: Wind-Blown Prayers for Peace, Enlightenment, and Spirituality (Wisdom Packs)
4. Colors of Nepal: Kathmandu, Boudha, Bakthapur, Patan, Pharpin

You can find these and tons of other cool stuff here!

Feel free to bookmark this so you can refer to it later! Please also share and pin & thanks!

Do you have awesome prayer flag pictures, or have you blessed your home or place of business with some prayer flags? Upload a pic to the comments and share so we can see! 

Filed Under: Daily Life Tagged With: Buddhism, Kathmandu, Monks, Nepal, Prayer Flags, Tibet

Monica Stone

About Monica Stone

Monica is a lover of all things yoga, a vegetarian, an avid tea drinker, and never gets sick of soup and noodle dishes. She teaches yoga, practices daily, and runs a Spiritual Book Club in Orlando, FL. She likes to challenge the strict rules of yoga, and makes it accessible for everyone - especially people who suffer from daily life and work stress.

« Reflections on Love & Intimacy: A Letter From Govinda Kai
5 Yoga Essentials: A Starter Kit for The Beginner Yogi »

Hi! I’m Monica

Monica StoneWell hello there! I'm Monica. I'm a yoga & meditation teacher (and junkie). I teach yoga practices that are quick and effective for the busy person who just needs a few minutes of quiet time in their day. Click around and you'll find quick meditation tips for calming the mind to simple stretches to relieve stress and tension. If you are sick of being intimidated by yoga or just confused by all of the different styles out there - then this page is for you. Yoga helps me daily & I know it will help you too! I'll show you how! Welcome to The Yogi Movement :)

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Testimonials

  • Jaime ShearerJaime ShearerYoga Student Since 2012

    Monica is dedicated to her own practice and the true path of yoga - the one of personal experience - which makes her an outstanding teacher. She is warm and easy to talk with, and she allows the student to have their own experience on the mat. She explains postures and breath in ways that are understandable so that the student "gets it." She makes yoga real and tangible in ways that truly serve the student. Work with Monica. You'll be glad you did.

  • Jacob AbercrombieJacob AbercrombieYoga Student Since 2011

    have always wanted to try yoga, but was always nervous. Monica took that fear away and made me feel like i was the only one in class with a room full of strangers. She is able to work with multiple students during the same move and still make it a personalized class for one.

  • Serena JonesSerena JonesYoga Student Since 2010

    Monica has been a highly influential teacher to me. She creates a safe environment for learning and practice. I have always felt grounded in her classes, and she pushes me beyond my own expectations. She inspires and motivates! I can't imagine my life without sharing a path with her!

  • Angela OrofinoAngela OrofinoYoga Student Since 2011

    Monica is a caring, wise, thoughtful, and talented yoga instructor. She has an in-depth knowledge of the philosophy and spirituality of Ashtanga yoga. My previous yoga experience had mostly just been at my local gym. Luckily, last year I found Monica. She has been guiding my practice at least once a week since then. As a newcomer to Ashtanga yoga, Monica made me feel comfortable and had the patience to teach me the basics. She also encouraged me to start an at home practice so that I was able to obtain a deeper understanding of Ashtanga. Monica is always encouraging and lets me know in subtle ways when she feels that I am ready to move deeper into my practice. I feel that the growth in my practice over the last year has been tremendous. Not only do I notice the change in me but others around me do as well. I am so grateful to have found Monica!

  • Sasha TamarSasha TamarYoga Student Since 2012

    I’ve come across many a yoga instructor over the years, but Monica stands out as genuinely amiable, as she glows with an infectious inner light, and highly devoted to and passionate about her practice. Her dedication to Ashtanga as a lifestyle is very clear, and creates for a contagious motivating force. Every time I’ve practiced with her, she eagerly transmits her devotion and passion of Ashtanga and meditation to everyone in class; she makes the most fledgling beginner feel at home, and simultaneously challenges the more advanced students. While I only practice Ashtanga with her, I know she provides therapeutic yoga sessions as well as meditation. And, if her methods of guiding students out of the Ashtanga vigor into the more meditative savasana are indicative of her meditational techniques, I’d recommend her to anyone

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