The team surprised her with a BIG birthday car, balloons, flowers, and cake! In the end, the balloons were let go free up high in the sky… I will let the pictures do the talking here And Dana… MANY Happy returns :* We love you loads xoxo

CAKE TIME… two cakes from November Bakery and a Macaroon tower from Laduree

Balloons Time!! Up high… in the sky

To Mt. Everset

The Protégés viewed the highest summit on earth, Mt. Everest, and eight other summits. Students noted how they preferred the holy mount to Mt. Everest in terms of how impressive it looked. Each Protégés, including the mentors, had the opportunity to view the mounts from the captains cabin for a short while to fulfill the experience. The entire ride around the summits was surreal, breathtaking and an experience to remember.

Mt. Everest

View from Captains cabin

Shortly after, the Protégés headed out for more sight seeing to a Buddhist temple that had monkeys all around. Few of  the monkeys attacked protege Hanan Al Sarraf amongst all students. The tour guide then explained that they attack women because they assume they have fruits in their bags. After walking around the temple, everyone headed to the bus when they saw a rubber snake and all sort of devilish ideas was rushing to their heads. Poor counselor Sharifa was their victim!

To the temple!

At the temple

Before heading back to the hotel they all stopped by an orphanage to give all the junk food mentor Ahmed Al Majed took from the proteges to the orphans.

Protege Reem Al Fahad

All food goes to the orphanage..

It was time for The Protégés to head back home. They stopped shortly for a transit at Dubai International Airport.
Hilariously, Everyone ran to McDonalds once they saw it! As they were not allowed to have any of junk food during their trip.

Protege Badria Al Bader at the airport

During the transit mentor Yarub Burhamah read along the Protégés Shell Silverstein’s poems. Each student used drama props to read his or her chosen Silverstein poem analyzing the meaning behind it. After, the protégés were asked to build a flying object from different tools he provided. The objective of the activity was to show students that they can be creative and not necessarily build the obvious-an airplane.

Mentor Yarub's airport session

Creating a flying object

Afterwards, Everyone headed to the plane to head back to Kuwait. A trip of a life time, Nepal what a wonder!!!

Mentor Yarub Burhama continued his ‘out of the box’ session reading “Hope for the flowers” by Trina Paulus. The story revolves around tons of caterpillars that fight to reach the top while most of them do not know what are they fighting for. The story mostly focused on the importance of defining one’s own goals or dreams in life, and not following other’s. Mentor Burhama engaged the proteges in some activities before reading the story to proof the point.

By then, the weather kept getting better and the clouds kept getting lower till it reached the level where everyone was seated! Yup amazing!

After getting back to the hotel and freshening up, there was a band playing at the lobby where the students joined and played along and went to a market where they enjoyed their times there, from electricity shutting off to laughters and smiles.

 I can definitely say the proteges are having the time of their lives learning from a whole new experience.

With a half-hour airplane trip from Pokhara to Kathmandu. The proteges then checked back into the Hyyat Regency hotel.

Heading back to Kathmandu

They were kindly given an hour to prepare their belongings and rest before the next trip. While in the hotel, the proteges witnessed the preparations of a wealthy family wedding at the hotel. Afterwards, they went to a temple thats a fifteen minute walk from the Hyyat Regency.

Hotel view

Mentor Shamlan with Arby; the famous tour guide

On the way to the temple..

At the temple the proteges learned about the diversity of religions in Nepal and the history of each, it was beautiful how most of them simply calls for peace. Therefore, the proteges toured around the temple and were able to shop at the small, numerous boutiques around it. Within two hours the proteges returned back to the hotel to rest and pack the souvenirs they have bought.

At the temple

The proteges were to meet again at the lobby. As the proteges left the hotel, they found out that the wedding rituals began. One of those rituals was dancing outside with a band of five and drums. When the groom arrived at the premises, the proteges left for their next destination.

Today was Mentor Shamlan Al Bahar’s birthday. So the proteges brought in a cake and some candles to celebrate his birthday. When they finished eating and celebrating, the proteges returned to the hotel. Most of the proteges agreed that this was one of the best days of their lives and guaranteed they would never forget.

The wedding

Healthy breakfast

The proteges were very excited to the idea of reaching the peak of a mountain!!While hiking some proteges got tired and exhausted and others stopped for a short break but soon enough everyone got back on track!

Hiking

Half way through !

As they were getting closer they saw how bad and tiring the lives of the Nepalese people; small houses, kids with torn clothes. But despite all the obstacles they might face everyday, the proteges saw something fascinating. They saw an old woman carrying heavy weight behind her back all by herself; ironically that old woman smiled at the proteges and there was not even a single drop of sweat on her forehead. This simple scene touched them deeply. The message of her simple smile without any exchange of words was understood; life is beautiful and no matter how much and how big your problems seem to be, it is not worth your sadness nor your madness. “This positive energy of hers illuminated and gave us the positive energy and that extra boost that was needed to reach the peak” said protege Yaqoub Al Nafisi.

"Smile..."

Moreover, The Proteges were mostly surprised by the Nepalese people, because there were the ones who admired the beautiful scenery and no matter how many times they saw the same view their eyes were glowing every time.

“Our jaws dropped and we almost drooled when we reached the top. Deep inside I was asking myself could heaven be any better?” states one of the proteges. It was naturally breathtaking and exquisite landscape scenery. The proteges have also learned a lesson, to reach your target the hard way is the best so that you would actually appreciate it. If they have landed at the top of the mountain by a helicopter they wouldn’t have appreciated the scenery as much as they did when they cooled down and laid on the grass.

Protege Abdulwahab Buhaimed mesmerized by the view

Others took pictures of the temple that was there. Mentor Ahmed Al Majed went back down to bring up those who wanted to rest so they would join for the session Mentor Yarub Burhama prepared.  Yup a session on top of a mountain, surely none of the proteges ever imagined that !!

At the top of the mountain

Temple

Mentor Burhama started his ‘thinking out of the box’ session by reading some Jubran Khalil Jubran’s literature asking the proteges what do they think the poet meant and discussing the brilliant writings of Jubran. Then, He showed them a book of an american artisit, Norman Rockwell, who draws real life pictures creatively asking each student to choose a picture they like and state why. Last part of the session was a book by Shel Silverstein, The giving tree. The proteges read and acted the book which basically emphasized the importance of giving.

Proteges Reem Al Fahad & Fatma Al Omar

After getting down from the mountain. The proteges went to visit a Tibetan refugee camp where they had the chance to meet some hard working refugees. They also went to see and buy some of the hand-woven carpets and bags, and how it was made. It was amazing how they lived in harmony and how they created a home for their selves.

Protege Sara Al Qabandi

The day ended with a soccer match, stunned with mentor Shamlan Al Bahar’s tricks! But of course the winning team was mentor Ahmed Al Majed’s team.

End of the day..

Health inspection

:(

Yeti Airlines

In Pokhara The Protégés directly went to The Fulbari Resort & Spa. Mesmerized by the view, they spent hours exploring the hotel’s enormous gardens, the serene rivers, and the magnificence of the Himalayas rising behind them to create an ambience of peace and magic.

Protege Abdullah Khaja with the famous tour guide

The breathtaking view!

After a quick rest and a (healthy) snack, The Protégés left to a bazaar-like street where they were divided amongst the mentors and started to roam the streets. After a couple of hours or so of discovering the beautiful cow-filled streets of Pokhara, it started to rain and the entire group met up in a café (god bless Wi-Fi

In the café, The Protégés ate and drank Nepali Tea, which surprisingly tastes a lot like a spicy Chai Latte. Later, The Protégés went back to the hotel and carried on the rest of the night with an indulging game of charades and another game which tested their general information conducted by the mentors. All worn-out and exhausted, they went to catch some shut-eye, not knowing about the adventures that follow