ARE YOU LOOKING FOR THE KING?????

DO YOU WANT TO MEET THE PRESIDENT?

What is in a day is how it is perceived.

Since the murder of the King of Nepal around the year 2000 the people have been wondering “Who is in charge here?” And, wasn't there a murder of another King about 2000 years ago?----well that's another story. The coincidence of typing the number 2000 in reference to a king just struck me today.

Well, of course, there is no longer a

King here, but I did see the President of Nepal, Dr.  Ram Baran Yadav, elected in July 2008, is the first and current President of Nepal, on Friday. (see him in back of photo-- he's in white with gray hair) His visit to west-central Nepal was his first. All the Habitat volunteers worked like crazy all morning to try & finish our houses, clean up our work sites, then were taken by bus to a large park on the shore of Begnas Lake. Family Partners (new residents of the houses we were building), community leaders, citizens, and many others crowded into the park for the Closing Celebration of Habitat for Humanity. People milled around for about an hour before the festivities of music, dancing and speeches commenced.

typical mode of transportation if you don't have a motorbike

Homeland security guard

During that time, I took pictures of kids, moms, the lake, boats, and the one swimmer in the lake. (Not much for security, or was he the security?) I talked to a few businessmen & officials of the local Lekhnath Municipality, who had lots of questions about owning a business in the USA. These important members of the community who spoke beautiful English, introduced me to their kids and grand kids who were nearby. When I asked the kids who was their President , they were a bit unsure of his name. When I asked them about my President in the USA, they were still unsure until I said Obama. Then the kids recognized the name, smiled & repeated the name Obama with enthusiasm. One bright little boy even told me that Obama lives in that White House. Several young, women in matching saris who shared that they were studying as junior engineers at a local college.

This woman asked me with gestures to please take her photo.

Gals who said they are Junior engineer students

Local Buffalo

The family we build our house for. 2 girls, 2 sons (Eldest one not shown) Closing ceremony.

 

There was much excitement around the arrival of the President via helicopter across the lake, the crowd moved into get closer. The security guards tried to keep folks at bay, did a good job yet still allowed me to take their pictures. After the formalities, the President was escorted past the village center up the mountain to see a couple Habitat Houses—about a 2 mile distance. All of us were expected to meet at our houses after the formalities; but lots of security cars & buses embellished the already incredible meeting of buses and motorcycles on the narrow mountain road made the ride back uphill nearly impossible. So, I walked up the paved road & met, kids, a very large monkey, goats, other volunteers and a group of mountain women along the way.

The Lekhnath area where we build houses is called the “Garden of Seven Lakes”. Yes, Tom, I did inquire about the fishing but was told that mostly catfish in the lakes & trout found further up in the hillside streams. However, trout need to dart the soapy water from mountain folks' washing & residue from burning trash.

All fascinating, friendly people. A lovely day.

Saturday I returned to Katmandu via Buddha Airlines flight # 6, which was over an hour late departing Pokhara. The luggage scanner machine was out of commission so several airport employees set about 20 bags on a table at a time, asked us to stand near our bag, then superficially inspected each. I wonder if each municipality has to support their own equipment? If so, how could the town of Pokhara afford it? I wonder if the President knows about this problem. Bags were loaded to go somewhere, paper E tickets produced, and we took off; arrived in time for lunch. It is noisier, more polluted & crowded but cooler in Katmandu than Pokhara as the elevation is about 1800 feet higher.

After lunch, a group of us visited the Hanauman-dhoka Durbar, a palace built by King Harayan Shah in 1770. A beautiful place full of both Buddha & Hindu temples, shops, street vendors galore, and the Taleju Temple dedicated to female royal deity. Inner & outer courts have diminished since the great earthquake of 1934.

That reminds me to mention.

The bamboo houses we built were modeled after older country homes in the area. This time, the plan included having the bamboo treated with Borax which is very plentiful here, to prevent it from rotting or being eaten by local critters. Presumably our new houses should last more than 25 years. Time will tell. Habitat plans to build another 5,000 houses all over Nepal within the next few years. If you are interested in such an experience, ask me about it when I return to the USA.

If the opportunity arose, I would return to Nepal. The need is immense in so many areas and the people are very sweet. Next time I will bring loads of pens and pencils for the children.

A plastic surgeon from Birmingham, UK, was traveling with his 15 year-old daughter. They came as the surgeon had visited with a colleague in a clinic in Pokhara on treating cleft palates.  His colleague had come to Nepal 15 years ago to help out & stayed. The latter's children were born and raised in Nepal. The doctor I met was now working on a new burn treatments center Kathmandu.

Our accommodations were most pleasant. Process of the lights all go out every evening for about ½ a minute no matter where you are in the city. I guess the sketchy infrastructure inhibits more development toward clean air, safer streets, and issues of health & poverty. The garden dining and hot showers are lovely.

Internet time is closing soon, so I will close.

We Check out Sunday & off to Hong Kong where I will meet Tom. Yeah!! Chloe, my roommate leaves for Boston today as well. She has been terrific. OK, Kim, I will be a visitor in your lovely home in Hong Kong with a bit of dirty laundry. You said it is OK so here I come.

Until Later …..........