Our Nepal Top Ten

Our last entry from Nepal - WOW!

Well as promised, here is our Nepal Top Ten:

10. FOOD - although there have been some less than ideal experiences, we have enjoyed trying all kinds of new stuff - lentil pancakes, momos (Tibetan dumplings), juju dhau (king of curds - sort of yogurt), lassi (sort of milkshake), pakuda, yak cheese balls, etc .... lots of interesting tastes (even a nibble of water buffalo...)



9. LAKES AND RIVERS - from the beautiful and serene Phewa Tal lake we boated on in Pokhara, to the smelly and garbage choked Bagmati holy river in Pashupatinath, water plays a vital role in the rituals, customs and life in Nepal. Don't think we'll ever forget the burning remains of cremations being swept into the holy river ....

8. CHAOS - now a lot of the time, this was not a favorite thing. However, once you get used to it, it sort of feels OK. The constant traffic noise, temple bells, children playing, chanting, monkey screams, Om Mane Padme Hum from the CD stores, and the continual refrain of the one Nepali folk song we now know by heart (think of Disney's "It's a small world" Nepali style). It's noisy, congested and crazy here - and overwhelmingly so; but it wouldn't be Nepal without it either.

7. COLORS - everywhere - prayer flags in red, blue, green and yellow, saris all the colors of the rainbow, homes in lime green, bright blue, pink, gaudy temples and gods of all colors, brightly decorated trucks, and the ever present red tika paste on temples, faces, streets, statues and even animals (we've seen tika'd dogs, cows and and even a holy tortoise!)

6. ARCHITECTURE - from wonderful crumbling temples to old stye Newari homes (reminiscent of English tudor style homes) , everywhere we've been has Architecture (with a capital A) that is uniquely Nepali.

5. COWS - nowhere else do cows have the right of way - they lay down in shop entrances, wander across busy roads bringing traffic to a halt, step into restaurants to sniff the rubbish bins, and generally go wherever they want to. It is still a fascinating sight to see people stepping off the pavement (sidewalk) to let the cow pass, and to see trucks and cars swerving around the napping cow in the middle of the roundabout.... of course if you kill a cow, it would mean jail time or possibly an on-the-spot lynching! Cows are holy, and they seem to know it!

4. WILDLIFE - despite the pollution, poverty and crowds, the animals are brilliant - we've seen rhinos, monkeys, languars, peacocks, elephants, crocodiles, gharials, mongeese, deer, lizards and lots and lots of birds ..... plus dogs and flies and cows.....

3. HIMALAYAS - seemingly ever present - suddenly the smog and clouds clear, and you realize you are surronded by massive white peaks ... in the town, on the bus, on the plane .... oh and we got to fly past Mount Everest (so you can't beat that!)

2. LIVING RELIGION - it's everywhere and ever-present. Temples pop up all over, and we still have not managed to get to grips with more than 10% of the different gods and goddesses. Statues and lingams crop up so often you have to be careful not to trip - plus many of them are very old (6th century on...). And there are gods for everything - from removal of obstacles and destruction of life to small pox and toothache. Morning devotionals where worshippers can be seen offering rice, tika and money, to the bells, the devotional singing and chanting ..... PHEW! Overload!!

1. PEOPLE - what brilliant, funny and friendly people - their kindness, their patience and gentleness with rude or stupid tourists, and their pride in their country. The best thing has been the people we have met - both locals and other volunteers. And we have been fortunate to call many of them friends. We have been inspired at their motivation and determination, humbled by their spirituality, and spoilt by their attentiveness and service. Fabulous!!

That's all for now! Next stop Hong Kong.

Namaste!

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"Reality is merely an illusion, albeit a very persistent one." (Albert Einstein)