Lot of people are asking me nowadays, what
Nepalese people are like, so I thought this is time to share some of my
experiences about this with you. Well, without the intention of generalization,
I can say that for the people I met, I can’t really apply the frame that I had
about them before coming here. Earlier I heard that Nepalese people are very
nice, but after a certain point they keep their distance... Well, contrary to
this in the last few weeks we met quite a few incredible people, who all seem
to be willing to share their culture, their views, their experiences with us
without seeking anything in return.
For example last week it was our Italian
friend’s last day here after seven month. For this occasion our Nepalese friends
organized such a special day that was full of experiences starting from the
momo (traditional Nepalese dish which is a kind of pasta filled with meet/
vegies etc.) to singing ball therapy and tai chi lessons. First, our friend
took us to his brother’s so far experimentary restaurant – since they are
planning to open a special momo place, called momo station, but for that at the
moment they are practising to develop several types of new flavours for both
the momo and the sauce. This way we got to see how the momo is actually made,
and even had a chance to make our on momos while enjoying all this at roof of a
house. But this was just the beginning of the day. Later we had traditional
Nepalese milk tea together (which is very tasty and a lot different from the
English version of the milk tea) after which we had an extremely relaxing
evening at our friend’s house. During this we learnt some singing ball therapy
and tai chi as well. As for the singing ball therapy, just imagine several big
metal balls that can be placed all around the person who is lying on the floor.
When you beat the balls with a stick covered with cotton, the vibration can be
felt all around. Another way to use the balls is hot water therapy, when you
only use one ball that you fill up with little water and use it as for
massaging the body. It’s really-really a great experience that we got to share
thanked to these friends!
Another day, we went for our usual cleaning of
Swayambhu area on Saturday planning on only staying for a few hours. But one
thing that it’s time to learn now is that sometimes there’s no place for plans
and rush here – as our friend said: sometimes we just have to relax, don’t have
to stick to plans and finally just be in the present. So this is how we happened
to stay with them all day long, having several cups of tea, nice conversations
and even learning how to cook dal bhaat (which is an even more important
traditional dish than momo, made of rice and lentils and eaten by the locals
every single day). In the evening we finally took a trip to a hidden Buddhist
monastery, called Tergar Oselling Monastery. This monastery is situated on the
top of a hill from which we could both have a nice view on Swayambunath and
Seto Gumba (the White Temple that we visited on our first weekend). To reach
this place, we had to climb several stairs and climb between houses just to
finally arrive at a place where lots of young monks where doing their evening
practice and assembly among the white walls of the amazing looking monastery.
Getting here, we even got a change to go on the top of the walls of the
monastery and have some tai chi lessons in the light of the sunset.
I think these are all the experiences that we
could never have if we were here just as tourist as if we haven’t met all these
wonderful Nepalese people! :)
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