Modern life in Nepal

Nepal is one of the poorest countries on the planet. Apart from the magnificent Himalayas they have few resources of any worth. They have little hydro electricity despite having some of the best flowing water from their mountains. They have to purchase energy from India at the cheapest rate - a kind of "off peak" rate , giving 2 slots of 10am to 2pm and 10pm 'til 2am. I found it hard to get used to. Kathmandu is very overpopulated, due to Communist uprisings and their seizing land from outlying villages unlawfully. This has driven many into the city which is virtually sinking under the weight of all these people. There's not enough fuel ( comes up from India along with the electricity) and not enough decent water to cover the city's needs. A current fuel shortage is occurring as the road surface is too muddy and slippery for the tankers to get from India.
Things are slowly changing. Girls now leave school and can get jobs if they have been educated - not all get a decent education. They are having less children so rely on those they do have to contribute. On marriage, girls become the "property" almost of their in laws and don't see their parents all that often. The dowry that has to be offered up to her husband to be's parents is massive which is why, sadly, fewer girls are born/ survive to become adults. Make no mistake, it still goes on...
They are still very religious and practice Hinduism, Buddhism and a few Muslims and Christians. Some of the old laws and practices are being ignored b y the younger people and this , I'm sure, will continue - just as it has done in the developed world.
We have funded the education of 4 consecutive village children at a school in Kathmandu over the years and our last lad Hemanta was the most successful - he went to University there and now is doing well in a bank. I met him and his wife for the first time- couldn't get to their wedding 2 years back due to foot operation. Anu is now 7+ months pregnant and like all mums to be is a little anxious with all the doubts that go with this phase - there's no prenatal /anti natal clinics here but she is young and healthy. Still at work 'til the birth but gets 2 months bonding afterwards - then back to work.
Life is hard and so are the roads' surfaces! Very few are dressed in the luxury of tarmac and the Highway code is "me first" which can be rather harrowing when competing for a place on the Highway - along with cows, goats, the odd elephant, a swarm of small bikes, 3 wheelers and taxis. All heading for that same precious smooth patch at once!

I feel so glad that I did this trip though it was hard. I need to be reminded how very, very lucky I have been to be born here in the UK.
I will post some pictures to illuminate this post later,
thank you for reading it,
namaste,
Jenny.

 

Looking forward to the pictures jenny.
I love reading about people travels here on GC.
They give a educated and unbiased views of the country they are visiting.

 

Thank you Jenny. Looking forward to hearing and seeing more.

 

....really enjoyed reading about your trip Jenny. Would love to hear and see more.

 

I've been trekking in Nepal a couple of times in the past few years. Kathmandu is a crowded sprawling city and I'm glad to get out of there. Nepal is changing very rapidly there is a big road building programme going on. It is possible to drive the first part of the Annapurna circuit now. This is fine if you happen to live on the route of the road, but if your village is not on the road then you lose a lot of business from tourists who now bypass your village, don't use your teashops, don't stay in your lodges. Last November I noticed a number of teashops had closed over the past couple of years. On the upside travel is easier, goods are more available, there is less work for porters.
Although Kathmandu may have power supply problems in the hills there are a fair number of micro hydroelectric schemes that provide power to villages for lighting etc. More prosperous villages often had satellite dishes in them. Many Nepalese send their children to Kathmandu, Pokhara or another city/large town for schooling if they can afford it.
The Chinese were much in evidence last year building a large hydroelectric scheme, most of the power will be shipped back to China, they are also building roads in the area and have proposed a rail track from Lhasa down to Kathmandu prompting the Indians to propose a line from India up to Kathmandu.
With most of these changes it is a case of swings and roundabouts.
Nigel

 

Nice to read of a fellow traveller's feedback.
Thank you Nigel,
Jenny

 

Here's a piccie of Hemanta and his wife Anu. Petite little lass - her foot size is the same as the span stretch of my thumb and little finger

So,we were invited to his former school in Kathmandu to meet staff and loads of different classes. They knew we were coming and made us so welcome. I cannot get over their enthusiasm and hunger for knowledge. The children know how they are fortunate they are and it was a pleasure to see them .
The Kindergarten class of 3 year olds
they were so sweet and well behaved

A class of 7 year olds. They sang us their version of the 2 times table!

Jenny

 

This was their lovely, gracious teacher

Me with the deputy Head Principal and a class with 2 teachers.

At final year level, a class revising for a forthcoming exam. Very serious and quiet - girls on the left

boys on the right


We no longer fund individual education but are paying towards the furbishing of the school Library.
Jenny

 

Great read Jenny - really enjoyed it and do agree we are very lucky to have been born in the UK. What a wonderful experience for you to have visited and seen what your funding has achieved and also to have met Hemanta and his wife, they look a lovely couple. Well done I applaud you for your commitment on this project.

 

Smashing photos Jenny....do all of the children in the school have their education funded by someone? If so, is that the reason they can go to this school in the first place? It must have been amazing to meet Hemanta and Anu and to know that you have made such a difference to his life.

 

Many children now have parents who pay for their children's' schooling but some are sponsored by people such as us. They know their best gateway to a better life is through learning, writing and reading English. Many of them will leave Nepal to work abroad where their prospects are better - one of the greatest sources of revenue that comes to the country is from workers sending cash back home to support their kin.

 

Thank you Jenny for the insight you've given us of Nepal.