Travels in Nepal #12 An amazing school playground
Playing cricket in Nepal
While on the trek in Nepal last January we spent a hour or so at the school in the village of Monjo. I was utterly amazed at the view from the school playground. This was impressive in the extreme. There would have to be very few school yards anywhere in the world with such a stunning view.
In the first decade of my 35 years of teaching I could look out the window of my classroom and see a magnificent view of the Flinders Ranges. Living so close to this “chain of rugged mountains” – the words of explorer Matthew Flinders – gave me a lifelong love of these ranges.
In the last decade of my teaching career I could see Australia’s largest river, the River Murray, from the playground of the school where I taught. This was a good view , but nothing like the view in the Himalayas.
The view may have been out of this world but teaching in the school would be a huge challenge. This village is a long way from anywhere. The physical effort of moving around these mountains is demanding. The conditions in the school are very basic with very few teaching materials.
But yard duty would certainly be inspiring.
Related articles:
- Article about captain Matthew Flinders (an early Australian explorer)
Travels in Nepal #11 Playing cricket in Nepal
Playing cricket in Nepal
When we had arrived at the village of Monjo on our trek towards Everest, we had lunch. After lunch we went on a tour of the village. We visited a local temple and the local school. Word soon got around that some Aussies were in town and before long we were playing with the local boys in the school grounds. Several of the boys were quite good. The equipment was very basic, but the enthusiasm more than made up for it.
I had found out only shortly before leaving on this trip that the Nepali people are ardent cricket followers and that there are quite a few active clubs in the country. This enthusiasm spills over from neighbouring India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Cricket also has a great coverage on local television.
Travels in Nepal #10 Amazing porters
One of our porters on our trek.
On our trek towards Mt Everest in Nepal last January, I was constantly amazed at the abilities of the guides and the porters. The guides were always helpful and considerate, watching everyone carefully. As I struggled with some of the climbs they were always there to encourage me and help me achieve my goal.
The porters were something else. The enormous loads they carry up those steep climbs are extremely demanding. One can belittle their efforts by saying that they are extremely fit, that they do it for a living, that they are far more acclimatized than soft Aussies like me. The truth is, they are truly amazing. Loads of up to 120kg are not unknown, though the travel group we were with insist on loads not exceeding 60kg. Even this lesser load is very demanding.
The local Nepali porters are truly amazing.
Related Posts:
Travels in Nepal #9 Up close and personal
On the trek in Nepal
On my trek from Lukla to Tengboche in the Everest region last January I was not completely prepared for the village life along the track. The walking trail takes you through the middle of most of the villages along the way. In many cases you have to walk right past the front door of the locals. One step off the track and you would be in someone’s humble house. It is experiencing life up close and very personal. There seems very little privacy for the village people.
For a first-timer overseas, everything was fascinating for me. I drank in deeply from the barrage of experiences in my face every step of the way. People preparing meals just a metre or so away. Children being bathed on the front step just a step to one side. Teenage girls washing their hair in the “main street” and men sitting on a wall discussing the news of the day. Actually, they were probably laughing about these crazy Aussies slogging their way up through the mountains, huffing and puffing every step of the steep climb.
Related articles:
Travels in Nepal #8 The Amazing Himalayas
Everest region Nepal.
When I went trekking into the heart of the Himalayas I was utterly amazed by the unbelievable scenery at every turn. Wherever I looked the scene was picture perfect. The camera was given a good workout. The photos featured here on my blog and in my photo gallery are just a small sample of the hundreds of photos taken.
As we trekked further up the valley towards Namche Bazar the vistas opened up more and more. One of the problems I encountered, however, was being torn between looking at the scenery and making sure of my footing. The walking tracks in this region can be very uneven, rocky and potentially ankle twisting at every step. I was pleased to survive the whole trek with nothing more than bruised toe nails and a rather nasty blister on my left heel. That was my own fault; I didn’t treat it early enough.
The solution was to take frequent breaks along the track. I would walk for three or four minutes then take a short ten second break and soak up the scenery. When the track did level out or was well made gravel surface (this didn’t happen too often) I could indulge in the luxury of taking my eyes off the path and take in more of the scenery.