In Nepal the Sabbath day is Saturday. This is usually the only day off that most Nepalis will get. They work the other 6 days of the week. It is also their day of worship so the temples, shrines, and stupas are crowded with people.
get jar k750iA friend of mine named David and I decided that this Saturday would be our day of escape also. For those of you that know me, you know that I am not what you would call a city slicker. I am more of a country boy than anything and being surrounded by thousands of people, vehicles, and stores is my worst nightmare. I need space, quiet, and an escape from the pollution, so we decided to mount our trusty steeds, (mountain bikes), and ride off into the country.
You still have to wear a pollution mask to get out of the city, but once you are out the clouds and sky come into focus and the brown haze is left behind. You can breath fresh air again and enjoy the day exploring the villages around the city.
We rode to a village called Gadavari. It is located just south of Kathmandu. Once we got to Gadavari we turned down a dirt road and traveled to a remote little village that is not even on the map. The people there looked at us like we were extra terrestrials, and I guess to them we were, but the kids flocked to us. Before long we were surrounded by children wanting to see our bikes and practice the few words they knew in English. They wanted to know where we were going and why we were there. We tried to explain that we were from Kathmandu and we were just out enjoying the hillside but our limited ability to speak Nepali just left them confused.
We rode through terraced hillsides and saw parrots in the trees when we passed through. The people were extremely nice and welcoming to us. This is the Nepal that you read about. This is why Nepal has a reputation for their hospitality. We rode past dozens of shrines and stupas that were filled with people paying their respect to the local dieties. Every block, corner, big tree, or landmark has its own diety and they are feared by the people. We saw a Tibetan Buddhist wedding and a large congregation listening to a sermon by a Buddhist monk.
At the end of our day we had to head back to the city. Back to the pollution. Back to the fighting and the tension. Back to our home. I love the hillsides but they suffer from the worst forms of poverty. It is like stepping back 150 years. People live in mud huts and walk to the nearest creek to get water. Women spin wool and thresh wheat so that they can eat. Men are farmers and shepherds.
At the end of the day I am again thankful for what I have. Running water (most days), Electricity (most days), food, and a concrete roof. I am still spoiled compared to how many of the villagers live.
