The Kiewa Valley primary school teacher, who has a keen sense of adventure, says she likes to do something meaningful during her breaks and her last trip was a perfect combination of volunteering and holidaying, Sue Wallace reports foe weeklytimesnow.com.au.
"My friend, Erin, a documentary maker, and I spent time helping at Meg´s Children´s Home, an orphanage in Kathmandu which has links with Albury-Wodonga," Krystle says.
"Then we went to the Royal Chitwan National Park and had some amazing experiences with elephants."
The entire trip was just two weeks. On arriving in Kathmandu, Krystle found she adapted quickly to her new world, catching rickshaws around the city, enjoying the standard breakfast of tea and coconut biscuits and dining out at night on the staple dish of dal bhat -- which she describes as rice, veggies and lentil soup mixed together.
She worked at the orphanage for 10 days and spent the last couple of days traveling.
Krystle, 26, admits the experience was a massive culture shock, but limited electricity, no hot water and unfamiliar food did not deter her from having a wonderful holiday.
"I got used to having electricity on for only four to six hours each day, but I didn´t get used to cold showers and the food," she says.
Before leaving, Krystle´s Year 5 and 6 pupils wrote letters to the orphanage children, while family and friends sent donations with the two women.
"We had enough money to pay for the students´ school fees for six months and purchase supplies for the orphanage," Krystle says.
"The children were so sweet and so grateful for everything we gave them and did with them -- they expected nothing and gave so much in return."
The Nepali students were on holidays when Krystle and Erin arrived, so the pair ran holiday activities such as painting, card making and games.
"We threw a party on the last night as a thank you and played games such as pass the parcel, pin the tail on the elephant, egg and spoon races and three-legged races and they just loved it," Krystle says.
Meg´s Children´s Home was established by Trish Ryan, of Bowna, just northeast of Albury, in memory of her daughter, Meg, who died in 2003.
Trish was volunteering in Nepal and saw a need for an orphanage offering care to children in need.
The orphanage caters for up to 25 children and is run by Bikash, 27, a Nepali citizen who is the legal guardian of the children and has devoted the last six years of his life to their welfare.
There are also two house mothers, Nanda Shahi and Bibechana Bayalkoti.
"Rather than just be a tourist and take so much for granted, I want to give something back," Krystle says.
"I think a lot of people want to volunteer like I did, but just don´t know how to go about it."
Before leaving, Krystle and Erin had a couple of days to see more of Nepal.
"It is such a beautiful country. We had just enough time to visit Chitwan National Park, where we got to see wild rhinos and bathe elephants in crocodile-infested waters," she says.
The two-week adventure cost Krystle about $2000, including flights.
"Overall, it was a fantastic experience. I think about Nepal and the home every day, and have just booked flights to go back later in the year."
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