Of clouds and mist
As the month of September comes to a close, the monsoon will begin to wind down. The rains will be replaced by the morning mist. The people of the Kathmandu valley believe that in ancient times, Indra, the king of the gods and of heaven, was here in the valley as a child picking flowers for his mother. The locals caught him and tied him up believing he was a common thief. When his mother and pet elephant come looking for him, Indra’s true identity is revealed. The people of Kathmandu agree to release him in exchange for the morning mist. This moisture is what allows for the rice crop to do so well. As the new rice is harvested, the old rice is fermented and then distilled. And then the festivals begin. This year, the rains have been good for the farmers but a real problem for drivers, pedestrians and those living in low lying areas across Nepal.
In this issue of ECS, we feature unique individuals doing interesting work in Nepal. There is so much going on and we are always pleasantly surprised to get to know the people behind these initiatives. Nepal is a real crossroad where one gets to meet all kinds of people. I remember spending a night at a lodge in the ACAP area and someone remarked that it felt like the UN. There are so many things that are not right in Nepal and yet the world continues to see the positive aspects and keep coming.
One challenge we face at ECS is to choose out of so many events and festivals to choose from given their numbers and variety. Teej festival falls on September 8 this year. It gives a whole new meaning to the term “women in red,” and talking of red, we also feature a piece on art and the creative use of colors. We hope you enjoy these features and provide us feedback so that we can regularly improve on the product. We thank you for being a regular subscriber of ECS. The story on beads should provide plenty of colors as well. The color of the rice fields are captivating too.
In this copy of ECS, we also take you on a journey through the pottery square at Bhaktapur and we have a separate feature section on art and craft. We also help you find the best places in Kathmandu and Nepal to eat out. You have a whole range of food and experiences to choose from. In you wish to try some authentic local cuisine, we have just the right place for you to go to. Do send us your recommendations and experiences too.
For the more adventurous, we have a set of recommendations on what and where you want to be if climbing is your passion. In case it is fishing that you are really into, ECS is the place to find the best locations, agencies and other relevant information. Whatever you are doing this month, please put aside some time for the Nepali way.
