N= Never

E= Ending

P = Peace

A = And

L = Love

Nisam ja to smislila, negdje je pisalo na internetu. Osvojila me ova zemlja. Osvojile su me i druge zemlje, ali ova pogotovo. A što čini mjesto dobrim mjestom nego – dobro društvo. Ekipa mi je sjajna. Lako se sprijateljim s ljudima, nije mi problem. Jednom mi je rekao jedan dragi učitelj: “Tako se dobro povezuješ s ljudima, i ne vidiš to.” Što je izrečeno je zapamćeno, sada se samo sjetim tih riječi i to je dovoljno da se svjesnost o tome vrati. Svi ljudi su super, ali neki su ipak malo više super. Ono, kad ti netko sjedne. Ma ne samo to, sanjarila sam o ovoj vrsti entuzijazma, posvećenosti i opuštenosti u ljudima. I da ne kažem da je olakotna okolnost ta da ih ne razumijem ni riječi. Hindi još nešto i razumijem, povrh toga što im je svaka druga riječ engleska. Ali Nepali? Ni riječce. Naučila sam par riječi slenga, ali ostalo zbilja ni blizu ne kužim. Da imam još koji mjesec tu, osvojila bih i to. Ha, zašto sam u Nepalu još uvijek? Naime, vizu sam dobila, bez dodatnih plaćanja i potezanja veza, na 6 mjeseci, jednokratan ulaz. Zatražila sam tako, pa sam tako i dobila. No, sve se zakompliciralo s onim prvim danom kada im je crknuo sustav za naplatu, jer to je cijeli proces usporilo za dva dana, baš je bio vikend. Tog trena kada sam dobila vizu, više nije bilo moguće izaći iz Kathmandua. Zašto? Spomenula sam da su izbori uskoro, nešto sam spominjala o stranačkim izborima, ali zapravo nije to u pitanju. Izbori su kako bi se utvrdilo po stranačkoj osnovi tko će biti u odboru za kreiranje novog ustava. Naime, do prije 8 godina Nepal je bio Kraljevstvo, a sada je Republika kojoj treba ustav. Što se trenutačno događa, po mom razumijevanju, nakon saslušanih nekoliko strana, je to da se dosta stranaka uopće nije kandidiralo, jer su imali neke realistične, ali i puno nebuloznih zahtjeva vezanih uz kreiranje ustava. Izbori će se sada održati, dakle, s manjim brojem uključenih, a ideja je naravno da sve struje sudjeluju u tome, u omjerima koje narod izabere. Zašto ne mogu izaći iz Kathmandua? Jer postoji jedna od frakcija Maoista čiji predstavnik povremeno oglasi “band” (doslovno: zatvoreno), što znači da se motorna vozila ne bi trebala kretati, da je većina dućana zatvorena itd. ne samo u Kathmanduu, nego u cijelom Nepalu. Kako se postigne taj band je tako da se oglasi nekim kanalima, kao u stilu neke prijetnje da će biti neredi, pa bolje da nitko ne ide nigdje, nema škole i slično. U stvarnosti tada ne vozi javni prijevoz, većina ljudi hoda ili koristi motore, no otvoreno je sve što ti treba da ti bude ugodno. Prijetnje su više kao političke izjave. Kažu mi da će se izbori zasigurno održati, ali najvjerovatnije proglasiti nevažećima, ili nešto slično tome. Kažu mi da je sada puno bolje od toga kako je bilo prije. Dakle, zašto ne mogu izaći iz zemlje? Jedino letom je okej za strance, ALI letovi za Indiju su užasno skupi, a letovi unutar zemlje i prebukirani i preskupi za strance (jedna je cijena za domaće, druga za strance). Busevi isto ne voze, od dana kad sam dobila vizu. Moglo bi se nešto organizirati, neki prijevozi do granice i slično, ali sada je Kathmandu nekako i najsigurniji, pa je bolje ne micati se. Kad izbori budu gotovi, ići ću s prijateljima preko granice, tada će se stvari vratiti u normalu, a i drugačije je putovati s lokalcima.

Dok sam tu, zbrinuta sam kao damica. Prati me se ili vozi gdje treba. Kući me dočekuje topli obrok i namješten krevet. Nema problema, mogu uživati, rekli bi moji dečki. Dečki, jer su cure sve doma, ne smije svatko kao ja ići gdje hoće i kad hoće i s kim hoće! Družim se samo s dobrim ljudima.

Osjećam se dobro jer je sve neplanirano, i ujedno savršeno odigrano. Jučer smo krenuli u dućan po namirnice za ručak, završili na penjanju po umjetnoj stijeni i ručali u lokalnom restorančiću. Sretna sam. A ti? Koji su razlozi SADA koji te čine sretnom/sretnim?

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NEPAL

N= Never

E= Ending

P = Peace

A = And

L = Love

 I did not think of this, it was somewhere on the Internet. This country won me over. Other countries also won me over, but this one especially. What makes a good place a good one are the people. My mates are brilliant. I can easily make friends, that is not a problem. A teacher dear to me once said: “You are such a connector, and still you do not see it.” What has been said is memorised and comes up as an awareness when needed. All people are amazing, but some are more so. You know that feeling when things just fall into place. Not only that, I had dreamed of this kind of enthusiasm, dedication and level of relaxation in people. Not to mention that it is a good thing that I cannot understand what they are saying. Hindi I can understand, they use so many English words as well, but Nepali? Not a word. I learned a few words of slang, but the rest is all a blank for me. Another month or so in this place would help, I would get it, easy. Ha, why am I still in Nepal? I got my visa, without paying extra or using influential people, 6 months, single entry. What I asked for I got it. The complication began the very first day when the payment system broke down, it made the process slower for two days, as it was just before the weekend. So, the moment I got the visa, it was no longer possible to leave Kathmandu. And why is that? I mentioned the coming election, also about how it had to do with the parties and parliament, but that is not correct. The election are supposed to be for a committee for creating the new constitution. Until 8 years earlier Nepal was a Kingdom, but now it is a Republic and they need a constitution to be made. What exactly is going on right now is, according to my understanding after having heard several people on the topic, is that lots of parties are not candidates in this election, for having some realistic but also some unrealistic propositions (demands?) considering the creation of the constitution. The election will be held, including a smaller number of parties, even though the core idea was to have the constitution made by all, the ones getting more votes obviously with more of a say in the whole thing. So, why can I not leave Kathmandu? There is one of several Maoist fractions that occasionally pronounces a “band“ (the same is in Hindi, band means closed), meaning no motor vehicles should operate, most shops are closed etc. Not just in Kathmandu, but all Nepal.  The band is pronounced through some channels, as a threat of disturbances, so better keep to homes, school stops etc. In the real world what happens is that public transportation is not running, most people walk or use motor bikes and all the shops you need to go to are open. The threats come more as a political statement. They say the election will be held, but will most likely be re-held or something similar. I am told that it is much better in comparison to how it was before. So, why can I not leave? Because the flights are the only safe way to exit the country. The India related flights are very expensive, the local flights over booked and more expensive for foreigners. The buses are not going, since the day I got my visa.  Some transportation could be organised till the border, but it is really safest to stay in Kathmandu now. After the election I will travel with friends, things will be back to normal, and it is better to travel with local people.

I am taken care of as a real lady. I am escorted or taken where necessary. I always have a warm meal and nice bed to go to. No problem, I can enjoy, my boys would say. Boys, because all the girls stay at home and cannot go anywhere, anytime and with anyone, as I can! My company is made only of good people.

 I feel good when everything is not planned, but at the same time perfectly played. Yesterday we went to the shop to get groceries to cook lunch, but ended up climbing an artificial rock and eating in a local diner. I am happy. What about you? What are the reasons RIGHT NOW that make you happy?