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Good to Know

If you have more questions please leave a comment below, we will answer it on this page!

How to get there?
For the large summer course in 2010, a shuttle service will not be provided. Everyone is encouraged to come by car (either your own or a rental car from the Athens airport — a link will be provided in the near future). Directions are explained in detail at this site.

How can I get involved?
Please visit the following page to find out where your help is needed: Get involved. We set up a special human resources team to assist you with getting involved.

Can I bring and use my mobile at Berchen Ling?
The entire communication system as well as live streaming is connected via the mobile network. But in the mountains, the network is not very stable. So, during the large summer course in 2010, please turn off your mobile phone and only use it in really urgent cases. Furthermore, charging your mobile phone batteries will not be possible on site!

Can I cook for myself at Berchen Ling?
Open fires are prohibited because of the danger of forest and bush fires. The area is very dry, and forest fires occur every year on the Peloponnesian peninsula. Food will be provided for you during the course (the course fees include three meals a day).

Can I bring my children to Berchen Ling?
Normally, we do offer a childcare during the summer courses, but this will not be possible during the summer course in 2010. Please also remember that the weather is very hot and dry at this time, and KBL is situated in a mountainous region.

Is it true that one should bring really warm clothes up to KBL?
Yes, that is really the case. KBL is located at an altitude of 1200 m above the sea and especially the nights can be shivering cold even in june, july and august. Warm hat or cap, warm pullover and jacket as well as strong shoes should be a must to come along with you to Berchen Ling. But in daytimes it can be really hot, so please take a hat and creme with you for sunprotection.

How is the water situation?
We do have enough but limited water. This means that we can and will manage the course for all necessary needs. However your help in not wasting water is more needed this year than ever! Therfor no shower will be available. Nobody will die of thirst and hunger – the washing-technique during the big course will be simple but efficient.

If you have more questions please leave a comment below, we will answer it on this page!

Comments

Comment from mira
Time May 8, 2010 at 8:05 pm

the address of Athens center is different on English and polish site

Comment from KBL Team
Time May 9, 2010 at 11:44 am

Dear friends,

for changes in shedule, adresses and any other news, always see the English site please: http://www.berchenling.org

Comment from Pito
Time May 10, 2010 at 10:16 am

Should we bring our own plates, mugs, knife, fork, spoon, etc.?

Comment from KBL Team
Time May 11, 2010 at 10:09 am

Dear friends,

if you will come only to the Stupa and Mahamudra course, you won’t need any plates, forks etc. We will offer plastic dishes and cutlery, because there won’t be enough water to clean normal dishes.

If you will come to join the preparation and the downsizing of the course, please bring your own dishes and cutlery.

Comment from antonella maione
Time May 20, 2010 at 2:19 pm

Hi friends!!!! I would like to ask you some questions about the Stupa inauguration from 21 to 23 august:I want to know if it will be possible the registration only for the events and lectures without food and accomodation. how much it will be? Tanks a lot. Antonella – Bari – Italy

Comment from KBL Team
Time May 23, 2010 at 11:18 am

Dear friends,

the price will be EUR 40 for each day during the seven course days. This price basically covers the costs for the infrastructure like toilets, tents, electricity and many other things that we need for the course and the inauguration. Since staying over night does not create any additional costs, that will basically provided for free. Also the food will be provided as part of being on site. The price is the same EUR 40 per day regardless regardless of whether people stay on site or somewhere else.

Please be aware, that you can NOT cook for yourself, because open fire is prohibited at KBL and there is no electricity available on site.

Comment from Markus
Time June 1, 2010 at 10:00 am

Hi there!

I’m going to stay for serveral weeks because of the course preperation. Therefor I would like to know which possibilities there are at KBL for washing clothes.

Thanks!

Comment from KBL Team
Time June 1, 2010 at 10:04 am

Dear friends,

normaly, it is not possible to wash your clothes at KBL. But in Xylokastro, down at the sea, there should be some self-service laundry. So, please try to bring enough clothes for the whole time.

Comment from Snezhana
Time June 11, 2010 at 1:52 pm

Hi dear friends,
my question is about vignette in Greece and how much it is?Thanks for great great work you do!
Snezhana-Slovenija -Idrija :)

Comment from KBL Team
Time June 11, 2010 at 5:10 pm

Hi Friends,

the toll in Greece differs depending which route you take. So there is no common answer, sorry…

Comment from Robert
Time June 15, 2010 at 2:41 am

Dear Dharma Friends,

I would like to get more information on timetables of buses and trains going back to Athens…

Comment from KBL Team
Time June 15, 2010 at 2:49 pm

Dear Friends,

the trains from Athens Airport to Kiato (where we can pick you up) and backwards driving from 5:30 in the morning until 22:30 in the evening every hour… unfortunally in the internet there is no timetable available.

Comment from Karin
Time June 16, 2010 at 10:54 am

Hi, is it true that we can also sleep in the meditation tent during the hole summer course? Would be helpful, so I dont have to bring my tent.

Comment from KBL Team
Time June 17, 2010 at 2:40 pm

Hi Friends,

you can not sleep in the Gompa tent. Everybody has to bring his or her own tent, please.

Comment from John
Time June 17, 2010 at 3:19 pm

Hi Friends,

do we have internet access in KBL?

Comment from KBL Team
Time June 17, 2010 at 3:24 pm

Dear Friends,

the internet access in KBL is only for the team to do the necessary communication concerning the course etc. So there is NO internet access available on site, also neither in the preparation phase nor during the course. But you will find some internet cafes in Xylokastro, down at the sea.

Please remember: During the course there is also no possibility to charge mobile phones. So please switch it off, because the net is very instable and we need it for the team communication.

Comment from Hans
Time June 17, 2010 at 4:05 pm

Do I have to bring my own radio for the tranlsation during the course or can I rent one on site?

Comment from KBL Team
Time June 17, 2010 at 4:06 pm

Dear Friends,

please bring your own radios to receive the translations. We are not able to offer them. Thanks

Comment from Micaela
Time June 18, 2010 at 11:06 am

Hi everyone,
please can you give more informations about the rental car situation?
I like to rent a car early via Internet (now).
Is there may be somebody searching for special conditions for us?
Or is it possible to walk from Xylokastro to KBL?

Comment from KBL Team
Time June 19, 2010 at 2:54 pm

Hello Friends,

there are several rental car stations at Athens Airport. Best is, if you talk to your friends, who already have been at KBL. There won’t be any special rates.

Comment from Marwin
Time June 25, 2010 at 10:31 pm

Dear Dharma-Friends,
do you know the ‘taxi-situation’ (or cap) in Xylocastro ?
What does it coast to get to KBL from Xylocastro and where do we find the best offering?

Thanks for your advice.
Marwin

Comment from KBL Team
Time June 25, 2010 at 10:34 pm

Dear Friends,

actually, you can take a taxi from Xylokastro to Jellini (written Gellini) and then ask the taxi driver to go a bit further, as long as the asphalt street longs. Then you have to work around 500 m to the site. The price should be between 40 and 50€, the driver should switch the taximeter on.

Comment from ITALIA ALONZO
Time June 25, 2010 at 10:35 pm

Hello, I dont have car. Will arrive Athena august 20 al 18:20 pm. Can I call you to transportation to the stupa the same day??

Comment from KBL Team
Time June 27, 2010 at 7:59 pm

Dear Friends,

you can find all information concerning your trip to KBL here. There won’t be a regular shuttle service.

Comment from Natasha Athens
Time July 6, 2010 at 6:28 pm

Dear friends, please, don’t try to walk\go by bycicle or motorbyke to KBL! in some areas there are huge dogs guarding the sheeps, it is for your security.

Comment from KBL Team
Time July 6, 2010 at 7:56 pm

Actually, the dogs aren’t a real problem. Many people allready came by motorcycle. Just don’t stop in front of the dogs, just go ahead. They will move aside.

Comment from Bernd S.
Time July 24, 2010 at 7:38 pm

Hello Friends,
can you give me the Koordinates of KBL to find the place in google maps, for preperation the Travelling .
many thanks
Bernd

Comment from KBL Team
Time July 24, 2010 at 8:15 pm

Hi friends,

have a look at http://www.berchenling.org/the-site/how-to-get-there/ please – there you’ll find the google maps. Thanx

Comment from Vera
Time July 25, 2010 at 9:36 pm

Hi,
at what time does the program start on 21th?
At morning or evening?
Thanks, Vera

Comment from KBL Team
Time July 25, 2010 at 10:00 pm

Dear Friends,

the programme at August 21 will probably start at 10 am.

Comment from Roman
Time July 29, 2010 at 1:20 pm

hello friends!)) I wonder what is the exact distancz between Athens-Xylocastro and Xylocastro-KBL? On map it’s said about 147 km, is it true for what part of the journey?

BR, Roman, Moscow

Comment from KBL Team
Time July 29, 2010 at 8:14 pm

Dear friends,

the 147 km is from Athens Airport to Xylokastro. You will need 1.5 up to 2 hours for this way, depending on traffic volume. From Xylokastro to KBL its somethin glike 35 km, but if you don’t know the way, it will take you one more hour. The streets are partly in very bad conditions and often very tight. So drive carefully, please.

Comment from Jan
Time August 1, 2010 at 7:07 pm

Many greetings to KBL! I’d like to bring my camera and take some photos during the preparation works and the inauguration itself. Does the restriction on charging the phones apply to cameras as well? Will there be any chance to charge some equipment or no chance at all? Thanks a lot.

Comment from KBL Team
Time August 1, 2010 at 7:50 pm

Sorry friends,

there won’t be any chance to charge any electrical device during the inauguration and course 2010.

Comment from Snezhana
Time August 11, 2010 at 12:36 am

Hello dear friends actually I wonder how is the distance between KBL and the two hotels you’ve recommended?Thanks for helping us …. best wishes.
Snezhana

Comment from KBL Team
Time August 11, 2010 at 1:09 pm

Hi Friends,

here you can see the route at Google maps. You will need 30 to 45 minutes for the whole way.

Comment from Stephanie
Time August 12, 2010 at 9:07 am

Dear friends, I have a question concerning nutrition.
I have a disease and I treat it with a special diet – without vegetable oil containing ?-6-fats (that means: every “normal” vegetable fat, olive oil…..etc).
It´s not possible for me to stop the diet for some days or a week. I can eat butter and I could bring one bottle of a special vegetable oil without ?-6-fat. I could make my own lunch and dinner if it´s possible in your kitchen… Maybe there will some persons who need a gluten-free diet. Maybe it´s possible to cook this small amount of food with butter – so these people and I could eat together??
If it´s needed to bring my own food is it possible to keep it cool at your place?
I just want to know what it possible at KBL concerning food and what should I bring or do to make it happen?
Thank you very much!

Comment from KBL Team
Time August 12, 2010 at 2:04 pm

Dear Stephanie,

sorry, but there won’t be any chance to do it like this. We are just too many people and the conditions a very rough…

Comment from Helena
Time August 16, 2010 at 12:26 am

Dear KBL friends, thank you for patience in replying all this questions and for preparing very detailed website:)

Comment from KD
Time August 16, 2010 at 6:08 pm

What does “shivering cold” mean translated to celcius?
Looking forward to seeing you all very soon

Comment from KBL Team
Time August 16, 2010 at 8:02 pm

Something around 8 to 10 degrees by night…

Comment from Susanne
Time August 17, 2010 at 12:44 pm

Can you tell me the “real” costs for a taxi from Ano Trikala to Yelini, distance is approximately 14 km?

Comment from KBL Team
Time August 17, 2010 at 1:07 pm

Sorry, no idea. Whay from Trikala to Yelini? Both villages are in different directions from KBL…

Comment from Miriam
Time August 17, 2010 at 2:43 pm

Hi friends, is there any possibility to eat something, when i’m allergic of a lot of fruits, vegetables, spicery, nuts and flavour enhacer? perhaps rice or bap, that would be enough.
thanks, miriam

Comment from KBL Team
Time August 18, 2010 at 2:01 pm

Hi Miriam,

let’s see what is possible. We’ll do the best.

Comment from Mario
Time August 19, 2010 at 3:16 am

Hi Friends,

When you mention in the “directions” page that “we give you a call” when arriving to Xylokastro, which number should we dial?

I arrive to Athens the 23rd just before noon so probably I will be in Xylokastro around 14:00hrs, and I really wonder what will happen then…

Thanks so much on course preparation and taking the time to answer.

Mario (Mexico)

Comment from KBL Team
Time August 20, 2010 at 10:51 am

You will find the number here: http://www.berchenling.org/the-site/how-to-get-there/ – it is actually: 0030 – 694 6080 969

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