One Summer after I retired I spent a Month in Nepal. I volunteered to do this and I spent a week in Ottawa learning how to teach English, (at a Grade one level). I knew I would be going to a small Village.
Despite my protests the Canadian Government had their Travel Agent send me Air Canada to Toronto. Then we connected on BA to London and then to Kathmandu, (the Capital City of Nepal), with a stop is Saudi Arabia. I could leave the Plane because I had an Israel stamp in my Passport. It was so hot I almost fainted.
I landed in Kathmandu 30 hours after I had left Edmonton. There was an Agent from the Canadian Government to me our group and take us to the Train Station, (each of us would be teaching in a different Village).
NEPAL:
This Country is has Parliamentary Democracy and is a mostly made up of high Mountains. The official language is Nepali and the currency is the Nepali Rupee. You can’t use any other money here so I suggest you exchange what you need from a Foreign Exchange that will give you a receipt. If they won’t give you a receipt you will be charged more so find another place.
If you are in Kathmandu some People speak English buy in the Village you won’t find many who do. most People don’t speak English.
The Population is over 24 million People, (Bhotias, Gurungs, Indians, Limbus, Magars, Newars, Rais, Sherpas Tamangs and Tibetans). Hindu’s make up the largest Religious group, (over 90%), and there are a few Buddhists and Muslim.
When you arrive in Nepal you will need a Passport with a Visa Stamp in it. The Canadian Government paid my for my Visa, ($35.00 CAD).
If you plan to go Trekking you will need to have a permit that you must buy from the Department of Immigration, (in Katmandu).
DHULIKEL:
The Train I was on was very crowed. It was not air-conditioned and I was lucky to have a seat by the window which I opened. The Countryside was so wonderful as we went north up the Himalaya.
I got off the Train at Dhulikel. This is a small Town 20 miles from Kathmandu. The altitude here was 6000 feet and I could hardly breath, (I didn’t know then but I do know that at this altitude your body starts eating itself).
A Sherpa Guide met me and I followed him up a Mountain to a very small Mountain Village. It was after noon and it was very hot. Thank goodness I had a bottle of water with me.
We ended up at a Village that had no name, (or at least I never learned what it was called). There were 50 Families who lived there. I live with one of them.
I carried my one suitcase up the Mountain and the Guide carried two huge tanks of bottled water. When I arrived they served me some porridge with some green tea.
They took me to my room and right after I unpacked the sun went down and the room went dark. I slid along the wall to try and find a light switch but there wasn’t any. I went downstairs to find a some one to tell me where it was but they had all gone to bed.
I went back to my room and turn on a flashlight so I could undress and get into bed. I did bring a battery Radio, (with a lot of extra batteries), so I turned on the Radio and that’s when I found out the first War in Iraq had started!
Every morning I ate Gruel, (a porridge).
For lunch I went back to the House and ate cooked vegetables and rice.
The evening meal was a soup made from some type of meat and cooked vegetables. The traditional Bread was very crusty and it was the best thing I ate in the village.
The next morning before I went to the School I tried to find a telephone. There were no phones in the Village so I couldn’t phone the Canadian Embassy and my Family.
I went to the School and found 30 cute Children eager to learn English.
Every day was the same I got up and had breakfast, taught at the School until noon, when Home for lunch, then went back to teach until 4 p.m., when home had dinner and went to bed before the sun went down. I listened to the my Radio for an hour and that is how I heard what was happening in Iraq.
On the last day of School each Child could read and write some English. They got together and painted me a picture of them self. I have the painting in my bedroom and I treasure it.
KATMANDU:
A Sherpa Guide came to get me and took me down the Mountain to take the Train from Dhulikel to Katmandu.
When I arrived at the Train Station a different Canadian Government Person met me. She told we that because of the War I would have to stay in Katmandu until they could find me a way to get out of Nepal.
She took me to the Radisson Hotel. I ate all my meals at the Hotel because the Canadian Government was paying for the Hotel and all my meals.
I only stayed in Katmandu for two days on my return. Visitors, (other than People from India), have to pay for their Hotel and Tours in either the United States Dollar or the U.K. Pound.
The City is surrounded by very tall Himalaya Mountains. I was surprised to see how big this City was. There are some big Avenues and a lot of very small Streets.
I took a one day tour of the City and saw the Royal Chitwan National Park and the Gaida Wild Life Camp that is inside the Park. I saw the Gaur Deer, the Sloth Bear, a few one horned Rhinoceros and a Ghaial Crocodile.
We visited the Temple of Bodhanth, the Stupa, (is the eyes of the Budda), that legends say is on the Prayer wheel where you got to pray for your sins.
At the Pashupatinath Temple we saw some very erotic wood carvings.
We walked through the ancient Royal Place and through the Gardens. and the tour ended a Durbar Square, (it’s in the middle of the City).
The Hotel had a Folklore Show one evening so I went to see that. The Show was called Yakshagana, (it means the Music of celestial beings). There were 15 People who performed music, dance and short skits.
WHAT I BOUGHT:
T-shirts for everyone in my Family.
I bought two brass Statues, (of a Man and a Woman), of the Dancers I saw at the Yakshagana Show.
BEWARE:
Most of the People who live here are very poor and they will steal anything they can. It’s a good idea to keep your valuables out of sight.
The water is not fit to drink.
WHAT TO BRING:
A battery Radio with a lot of extra batteries.
A Camera with a lot of Film because this is a picture perfect Country.
In the summer it is very warm here and when the sun goes down it gets very chilly so bring a sweater or a light jacket.
A Sleeping Bag if you aren’t staying in a Hotel.
Casual Clothing.
Good waking Shoes.
GETTING HOME:
Guess who went to Moscow?
MY CONCLUSION:
Nepal was a great Country to see once. If you have the time and the money and want to see a beautiful Country you will love Nepal.
To be continued.....
Comments are always welcome.
©LL2003