Friday, June 21, 2013

Women tattoo nepal


In 2011, 2 nepale friends and I went on a walk. My friends wanted to visit western Nepal, the most remote area of the country. In western Nepal, there are few GNO's and the development goes slowly, most of the NGO's being in the eastern part of the country. The area, is a strong center for the maoist forces, and during the war many schools were destroyed, and many villages deserted. Now, the war finished, and new Nepal in the making, the west is the least developped, making it the wild wild west that few visit.





Now, the war finished, and new Nepal in the making, the west is the least developped, making it the wild wild west that few visit.  My friends and I walked from Khaptad national park to Rara lake, the largest lake in Nepal. The month walk was absolutely amazing, as we crossed areas which never saw foreigners, nor modern nepalese men from Kathmandu.
On those roads, 10 days away from the first bus stop, there are no guest houses to welcome visitors, so we stayed in local's home and ate with them. Everyone was wonderful, and very helpful to us. From the patatoes of Khaptad, to the special pickcles, each home is an occasion for the discovery of a new currie and recipe.


During this trip, I was amazed to see the strenght of the nepale women. Life is hard in those wild parts, and the women work hard at keeping the families together, always with a smile even in the simplest of clothes. When we talked to the women, they did share with us some of their worries. Mostly, they need schools, in order for their children to get an education. So whether you are into trekking the wild mountains, or wanting to give some of your time to villages in need, western nepal is a destination that will leave you with life long memories of a nepal from once upon a time.

During this walk, I took many pictures, and I will be happy to share some of them with you, as we slowly walk from Khaptad to Rara lake...to start with this walk, I wanted to pay an homage to the strong and beautiful women we met during the journey.

Thank you women of western Nepal, for a warm welcome and delicious meals.

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