Having heard rumours about a possible coup just the day before and read about the Maoist violence in the country endlessly, one did not know what to expect in Kathmandu. There were mixed feelings as the jet plane touched down on the runway.
The fluffy white flowers of the tall wild golden grass (ee as we call in Manipuri) on either side of the runway and the scenic beauty of the blue motionless mountains in the far background reminded one very much of one's own valley--Imphal.
Yet, as soon as one disembarked from the plane, it was reminded that 'Kathmandu is Kathmandu', not Imphal. Even for collecting luggage, one had to get through the metal detector gate. Well, even at a place like Imphal someone who had just got down from the plane is not checked thus.
Never mind, the Nepalese could be given the benefit of doubt as they have been desperately trying to exorcise the ghost of Indian Airlines IC814 hijacking.
As an outsider, the purpose of the visit seemed to be very conflicting in the context of the situation that prevailed in the country.
Yet, as soon as the 'remodified' red diesel Toyota roared through the streets of the Capital of the Himalayan Kingdom on the way to Hyatt Kathmandu, one could
sense life was as normal as anywhere else in the world.
One felt a little reassured after seeing those ladies in bright red saris on roadside, teenagers laughing their way to glory in the streets with their 'partners' that a witness to Miss Nepal pageant would not be as 'risky' as it was imagined earlier.
The 19 contestants, who have made it to the final round, staying at the same hotel epitomised the 'who-cares-a-hoot' attitude of young Nepalese (of course, mostly urban).
"Maoists? Who? Gyanendra aha!" They seemed to say with their body language as much as their friends who bunked colleges to throng the afternoon discotheque
in their minimal dresses. The boys weren't too far either.
The judges were a bit more guarded though, as they knew how the country was trying to come to terms with the evolving socio-cultural dynamics of the modern world.
One of them remarked, "Well I wouldn't like my daughter to be a participant". That summed it up all.
Nevertheless, when it comes intra-country air travel Nepal hasn't gone much beyond the World War II days, as was witnessed during the flight on the twin-propeller 20 seated aircraft from Kathmandu to Simara in south east Nepal.
The sound of vintage aircraft and the shaking inisde was reminiscent of the old war movies, of the Aliied Forces paratroopers on a mission to destroy Hitler's den. Sadly, in 2005 Richard Burton would not have liked a "Where Eagles Dare".
Yet, flying at a height, where most jets would be preparing for a landing, throughout the 25 minutes flight which cut short 6 hours of road journey gave one the opportunity to admire the Himalayan Kingdom in its grand beauty.....
....TO BE CONTINUED (NEXT: "I WOULD STRANGLE THE HUNGRY") here.
* Pengba Aruuba Eshingee contributes to e-pao.net regularly.
The writer can be contacted at [email protected]
This article was webcasted on Oct 25th 2005
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