The Nepalese Adventure: Days 19 and 20
Day 20 - Friday
- I’m alive!
- But it was close.
- Without (ever) wanting to appear to show any sexual discrimination, I am sure that one particular demographic of blog readers (which shall remain undefined) will think that I was exaggerating my critical condition, whilst the men will understand what I was going through!
- Yesterday I was reminded somewhat of when you go into Ikea and you see their automated robots testing the kitchen drawers opening and closing 10,000 times or the simulation of sitting on their sofas to the same degree. (If you've no idea what i'm talking about, look here:
- But, all in all, yesterday was a write off. Stayed in my room all day (other than for door testing). Had some water but no food. For sure, lying on concrete for that long is not conducive to rapid recovery!
- School remained closed and there was no computer Lab session for the kids.
- Hindou brought me a fresh bottle of water and two cups of tea around 9pm and then I spent a long long night fighting for survival.
- Realising my mortality, a (marginally) interesting fact: Average life expectancy in Nepal is 69.5, marginally higher than India where it’s 68. By comparison, in the UK its 81, Japan: 83.6 and even the tubbies in the US live to 79. In 1960 the life expectancy in the UK was about 71.
- Today, however, I forced myself to get up. Despite saying I only wanted a tiny bit of breakfast, I was served a full plate of curried chick peas and 3 large vegetable (of some sort) Bhajis. One of the things you learn really quickly here is how to manage your food as all servings are colossal. I was asked before I came if I was worried about the food quantities (too little). I wasn’t and there certainly wasn’t any need to be if I was. However, you cannot leave food as that’s too wasteful. Instead, BEFORE you start eating, you have to offload from your plate, onto a clean plate, the food you don’t think you’ll eat. (Please interpret the word “clean” as you like. There is no detergent involved in any washing up – only cold water). Then eat all the remainder, taking back some of the offloaded food if you want more. Once you have started eating any food on your plate, all that is on there is considered “tainted”.
- Opened the school at 10:00 for Computer Lab class. Class ran for 2 hours which was just long enough for me to download one of the 2 new mouse software packages suggested by Richard. 2 hours for a single 1Mb file! Did I mention this is a country where you have to learn patience?
- Mid-way through computer class there was a power cut so I took Reika’s suggestion and taught the kids the Hokey Cokey. Wrote the key words on the blackboard so they knew what to sing. Yep, definitely a hit. And whilst i'm here in Nepal discovering myself and the meaning of life, Im thinking maybe that really is what its all about - "The Hokey Cokey"!
- After class had a little managed lunch (Dahl Bhat) and then sat down in the restaurant to try and blog about having done nothing!
- Around 3, feeling much better, I decided to walk up the hill, from the peak of which I'm told it is possible to see the Himalaya. NB: No 's' on the end! Hindu said that it took her about 2 hours to get there with plenty of stops and at a very casual pace. Mmmm, a bit more than I was expecting for a "walk" but would give it a go.
- I forgot my hat
- I forgot about Hindou's tendency to exaggerate
- I forgot about Nepali time
This was no hill. Quite frankly, it might have been Everest itsef! I'm not unaccustomed to walking, though on the South West Coastal Path its up and down, up and down with sometimes a bit of flat. And of course, I have a cute view just in front of me to look at whilst we walk, This "hill" was up and up and up and up.
150 Namaste's, two and a half hours and after several false summits later, I stopped for a rest trying to decide if I should turn back. I did not want to be on that path in the dark and it gets dark very fast here.
That's when I had a vision. Casually coming round the bend were two lads with a grocery bag, inside of which were 2 large bottles of beer. They stopped to chat. One of them had very limited English but whilst enthusiastically shaking my hands repeated over and over his one sentence "I not like English". I assume that's not actually what he meant (though clearly he doesn't like the English enough to give a desperate Englishman his beer). My focus was more on the condensation that I could see on the beer bottles! Getting out my phrase book and with near perfect Nepalese (accompanied by a few miming actions) I asked them how far to top. To see Himalaya. After some debate between them it was agreed that it was either 10 or 20 minutes,1) I forgot about Nepali time (again)!
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| Starting to lose the light |
Whilst I didn't meet my objective (first time in 28 years guys!) the views were absolutely incredible. I cannot describe here how it looked or how it felt being there and looking out over such a beautiful vista. Couple of photos here but nothing can do justice to the real thing, that feeling and the sweetness of the clean air.
And why didn't I make it to the top? I've analysed closely and narrowed down the possibilities to 2:
- Suggested time scales to achieve summit were inaccurate
- I wasn't at peak physical fitness following my time at death's door yesterday
I wasn't totally sure I was always going the right way but didn't ask anyone for directionsI'm generally overweight & unfit
Phew! Well at least it wasn't my fault. As i said, the views were worth effort:
Tomorrow I will get up early and get the bus (2 hours) to the town of Battar.
a) To do some school related chores
Comments
Karen, did I steal the mattress? For the answer to that and so much more, you'll need to wait for the next episode of....... "The Nepalese Adventure". No spoilers - even for family!