Nine Kilo Nine Hour

It was raining while coming back from Dullu VDC situated in Dailekh District. The road was steep and slippery, still we manage our movement. While moving down to Pali, Far at the distance we saw a beautiful falls. I asked my driver, ‘where is that?’ He answered ‘on the way we will ride.’ I was excited to ride past that falls. We finally we got that but it was difficult to cross that falls. We dared the devils and passed through it. We were almost swallowed by that falls. After crossing it, we took some snaps on its background. Thereafter we moved on. We halted there in Tallodungeshor on the bank of Karnali River and the cross point of Karnali river and Lohore khola. Here in Dailekh there are two dungeshors- one is Tallo another is Mathillo.

After having lunch in Tallodungeshor, we moved towards Dailekh bazaar at 9 AM but someone told us to not go ahead since there was landslide nearby. We defied him and we moved. In no time, it turned out to be true there was a landslide, a slow landslide but we crossed it. After few minutes, there was a caravan of vehicles. We stopped by. We saw a large landslide and people were waiting for excavator to come. The raining was just stopped. The drivers were playing cards beside a truck. One pick-up jeep crossed that large but shallow landslide. We also tried and were able to cross it. We drove ahead. People coming from opposite side mentioned us there was a landslide and one tractor was stuck there. Despite their saying, we drove the vehicle. We found them true and there was one tractor stuck at the site of landslide. It was almost engulfed by the loads of the mud. There was big rock beside it. There was no way cross through. While we were observing the tractor someone said from behind that the tree was moving. We turned back, yeah there was tree sliding down along with land slide. This was next landslide spot. We ran back crossing this spot and waited to see the tree falling.

There was no way until excavator come, so, we returned towards Tallodungeshor. We came back to the same spot where there was a caravan of vehicles and drivers were playing cards. We heard the excavator is coming up. We see some hope to reach our destination Dailekhbazar. Finally the excavator came after 2 hours’ waiting. The excavator was moving ahead we were following it. It was clearing the obstacles and we were driving on the clear road. We again reached the same spot where tractor was stuck and the tree was moving down. The tree was already there fallen on the road and the tractor already escaped- it was unbelievable for tractor to escape from. The tree was broken and the accumulation of mud on the road was cleared and the rock moved aside. We followed the excavator and crossed the Rati khola,(a brook that is crook) and moved ahead. We saw the same tractor that was stuck in the landslide but escaped parked at the side of road. The driver was basking the west sun. There was another tractor stuck ascended up the landslide. The driver was so young we cannot imagine he could drive. It was pulled back by excavator. The piled up mud was cleared. We followed the excavator. While moving ahead we saw the caravan of vehicles coming from opposite sides. There was huge rock falling from top of the mountain. It was our bad luck after bad luck. Had it fallen down crossing the road, this would have not been the problem but it was stuck there. With much more difficulty, the excavator moved that rock aside the corner. The vehicles from both sides passed through. We took long breath and wished there would not be any more obstacles. By this time it was already 6 PM. We just crossed the Siyakot, the place between Mathillodungeshor and Tallodungeshor. The flooded muddy Lohore khola was already got the current of clean water.

While we were moving ahead, there was a vehicle coming from opposite side. The drive mentioned there was road block ahead due to land slide. So they were moving back and he advised us to follow him. My eye brows drew up, ‘Again landslide!’ we moved nearby the landslide. Two buses were parked there and people were on the road. We took some snacks in local hotel, the Bhatti. Almost all the people were making calls for the solution. Finally the excavator came and cleared it. We escaped to Dailekh Bazar, it was 7 PM by this time. The distance between Tallodungeshor and last blockade was just nine kilometer.

A Nagarkot Rendezvous

While surfing the facebook, there was a signal I found in inbox. I clicked there. It was message written by Naji for possibility of get-together. Achyut and I decided to have get-together party in Nagarkot. It was awesome idea that came to our mind. It’s been many years I had not been there in Nagarkot. I wondered how it has been now compared to one that I visited 9 years ago.

I wrote the message to have party on Friday, 14th October 2011, the very same day that Naji lands in Nepal. It was ambitious plan for us to involve him on the very same day. Despite that, we circulated the same message to other friends as well. We found Madi and he accepted it. I asked PT but he told he has night duty that day. Finally he was ready to involve in our rendezvous after he exchanged the duty with his companion. We asked Ganu with low expectation but he readily accepted. I called Gauri but he could not make it happen. Other friends were not available.

At around 11 o’clock, I started out for Nagarkot and asked Madi to come with Naji. He did accordingly. I met Achyut with Khem dai in County Villa Hotel in Nagarkot- it was outstanding but it was not hotel that was booked for us. The other hotel nearby was for us. I was little bit frustrated not getting room in Country Villa hotel. I was hungry so Khem dai gave me the company-took a one of glass beer with fish dish and other snacks as well. Thereafter I went out to my hotel called Unkai hotel (thought  ‘Unkai ’as ‘her/his ‘ hotel) but this  ‘ unkai ’ word is Japanese word meant for ‘ sea of clouds’. I took some rest and got fresh and went out to have some clicks. It was already dark. I walked with my oldie Ipod listening some of my favorite music. I got a call from Achyut to arrange dinner party nearby hotel. I went there and asked the hotel Didi to prepared some snacks and foods.

I returned to Unkai hotel and waited friends to come. Finally they came with hungry mood. Naji came with surprise with his wife. We arranged the special room for Naji’s Jodi and it was challenging though.

We started our party with ‘rum punch’ and some with wine outside the Didi’s hotel where we were bearing the chilling cold of wind. This wind pushed inside the hotel. PT was also enjoying the party though he did not take anything specialized for party. Actually enjoying food was not the important but the important was the get-together with buddies-that is what PT as well as we felt. After few time, Khem dai also came to us to celebrate junior bhaiz’ get-together. He ignited the environment by sharing romantic pieces of his life. We enjoyed a lot his presence and experiences. He is intelligent guy and jolly man as well.

After food time was over, we played cards for some time and went to bed for tomorrow’s sunrise. Ganu wake us up at 4:45AM, we were ready by 5:30AM but the cloud was there. We stayed at hotel to take tea and went towards viewpoint tower though sunrise view was not possible due to cloud. It was really fun to walk on the road. Puri was delicious that killed our hunger and helped us reach view point tower. We five people Achyut, Madi, Naji, PT and me ascended up the tower. Took some snaps putting on the Aeropostale T-shirts brought by Naji. Ganu and Roashani left there in the ground. While returning, Ganu opened his heart sharing his love story: when he saw his wife first time, he felt, ‘As if…he knew he loved her before he met her.’

Dashain wish

 May the Desire bloom
May the Moment be beautiful
May all your Wish come true
on this very occasion of Happy Vijaya Dashami-2068

working in periphery

What comes in your mind when you find yourself where there is no telecommunication, no electricity and no internet-you will completely paralysed; something you will feel breathlessness.
Well guys, it was same for me when I was posted in Sallibazar, a town on the bank of Veri river in Salyan district on its western border with Surkhet. When I started my journey from Kohalpur to this place, I was playing with the aggression of Veri river's flood. The road sometimes touches it and sometimes goes far away from it. There is no way when vehicles get accident, it will be swallowed by Veri river. I have blurring recall of Babai, Harre, Chhinchu,Mehelkuna, Botechaur, Pokhre, Reikar, Baluwa sangrahi, Amra and finally Sallibazar.
When I got gradually accustomed to this place, it was heavenly touchy completely different from internet world. I found it as a real world and beautiful than the prototype virtual lifestyle in urban areas.
I got up at 7 AM and do some light exercise and take breakfast. I sit here in cottage built by hospital for canteen purpose. It is awesome here. When I sit here I feel as if I was in sweet sangri-la where nobody disturbs but patients....!!! this locality is typical prototype area of remote places. People are less educated and have less access to the world. They know their village and Nepalgunj, Rupadiya and Lucknow. Many of the people go to Lucknow for their treatment and many of the people lost money for no sake and still they have a passion to get treatment in Lucknow.
Usually I ask the question to these people who had gone to Lucknow,
'Can you explain your problem in Hindi language to the Indian doctor?'
those dumb uneducated people just smile for their reply.
We can guess what kind of treatment they get there. They usually go to the clinic not proper hospital there in Lucknow. These clinic quacks kill them financially. One patient of depression described how he was looted there. Within three days' interval without any intervention, he was obliged to pay Rs. 45000 there in Lucknow. He returned home without any treatment. They don't know what disease they have and there is no chance to know the prognosis of the disease they have but  the same people when they come to me, they want assurance of guaranty. This rises my mercury and tell those people to got the place where they can get guaranty. There are lots of people who come for treatment with genuine reason but some are rats.The challenge to work in periphery is people's ignorance and their craziness. The ignorance does not have idea about surrounding and the craziness does not intend to read the surrounding. Sometimes I am obliged to refer the simple viral fever to the higher center 'coz of people's crazy activities. Some people call me inside the ambulance and ask, 'hunchha bhane jharne natra laijane...'(if you can treat, it's OK otherwise...) they simply oblige to not treat the patients. Just simply inspecting the patient how a doctor can assure that he can treat the patient.
These are negative aspects that usually happened to my hospital. Lets talk about positive things too.
One guy greeted from distant with smiley face,
' Namskar doc sa'ab, I never seen such a talented one like you doc sa'ab in my life. I have been to many places but never met like you doc sa'ab! 'coz of you, my wife's life is saved otherwise she would have died. Thank you so much doc sa'ab.'
I was so excited but I just controlled myself and replied him normal way, 'well, great to know about..! it was my duty to save patients'
He was continuing his speech without any interruption, 'Everything what you mentioned has been explained by that doctor in Kohalpur. You are genius doc 'sa'ab, you are genius.. ek patak hajurlai dekhauna lyaeko( just to check up my wife..)
I examined the incised wound on right iliac fossa for appendectomy. It was healing withiout any discharge or pus. I just assured him, ' The wound is getting healed, no need to worry but do not allow to do anything that strains her abdomen, just put her on rest.'
he returned home with smiley face.
Another patient, I treat his chronic duodenal ulcer with triple therapy, his response was same what earlier one has. When I excised big sebaceous cyst on the mastoid region, many people came with hernia and abdominal mass to get excised. I counseled about their problem and limitation of my skill and hospital set up. They were content with my counseling and were ready to go to Kohalpur. Two hernias were undergone surgery. One female found to have ovarian serous cyst in Kohalpur. One patient with chronic allergic dermatitis have been cured by me. She brought lots of vegetables and one cock(kukhurako bhale) with happiness but we bought her cock in optimum price ( she refused to accept money but we simply oblige her to take the money).
This story I will continue in  the days coming.............!

Rara: A Shangri-La

Lifted up by chopper in Surkhet…..me getting excited boarding in chopper. Ohh ...but overwhelming sound almost ruptured the tympanic membrane ahhhah..!!! It lifted up and headed towards the northern direction of Midwestern region of Nepal to discover Mugu a land of RARA lake, the largest lake in Nepal.
I was quite excited getting into the chopper.  Eight people inside… nobody could talk since ‘bhatattttta…ta…’ sound and earpiece closing the ears. When I peeped through the window I could see the peaks of the mountains with white top due to piling of snow. Well I could feel the difficulties of geography but I was in air flying like a bird. There were so many rivers, brooks, falls and beautiful mountains I could see and they let me feel the beauty of nature in this adventure land moreover a wonderland.
After crossing the many mountains, we landed in Sorukot, a village where WFP supplies the rice, the food for road. We felt lil’ bit adventurous in that steep terrain. We took some snaps on the back ground of chopper, thereafter; we flew for the Talcha airport. On the way, we flew over the RARA Lake it was so charismatic that we were hypnotized by its gorgeous look and pilots were obliged to make a round over the lake. We finally dropped onto the Talcha airport. it was cold though it’s summer time.
We walked down the Gamgadhi, the headquarter of Mugu where district hospital situated. After two days stay there, we two people climbed up to the RARA leaving one friend behind the District hospital. While climbing, we enjoyed the panoramic views of Behulabehuli and Chhayakshetra series of Himalayas despite breath-holding steep road. The Chankheli Mountain was not less beautiful than those Himalayan series.
After five hours trekking, we heard the splashing sound of water. When I saw blue color through the crowd of bushes………I felt my breath stop………….it was RARA Lake that we were looking for. It was big and large ohh…. A kind of ocean… breathtaking..!!! We checked in army camp and there someone was waiting for us….the camp head….Major B. Chand. We were quite excited by the warm welcome by him. Why we were so excited? The one and only hotel in RARA was already occupied by other people and we were left behind. Thanks for CDO Saab in Mugu who helped us find accommodation in army camp.

Next day, we walked for our next destination, Shreekot, a VDC situated far from headquarter of Mugu. After two nights and one day stay there, we returned by the same road. While coming to RARA Lake, there was raining. I enjoyed raining a lot though my friend did not enjoy that much. My shoes were almost torn and they had already engulfed some mud inside disturbing my feet. Despite raining, we reached the RARA and felt it by heart again. I sat on the bench and just wondered watching the tides of water in lake. It was beautiful and heavenly feeling….no doubt…it was magnificent. This time I enjoyed a lot going three days back- boating, playing with water. I stay there just watching blue deep water. When I moved my head around ………I could see the Ghachchilek and Murmatop, Behulabehuli series and Chhayakshetra series.

Waiting for flight: Back to Surkhet from Jumla

Well it’s pretty excitement to visit Jumla, a heavenly place but the tedious thing is uncertainty of flight. When I tried to fly to Jumla, I went airport of Surkhet again and again. Many of the times, its flight postponed due to unavailability of passengers and bad weather. It’s really nice to visit Jumla but getting flight is really tedious. Going to airport and returning home- that seems to be regular awful activity.

Today I wake up early in the morning and check out immediately without any discount bargaining with hotel owner to catch the plane for Surkhet. With much more difficulty, I got the boarding pass and eagerly waited for the plane. Meanwhile I bought apples and put inside the bag. Everybody was there eagerly waiting for the plane with half hope because everyone knows the uncertainty of flight. Some are mumbling about not getting the flight. They were scolding the current political situation and some were accepting the fate.

Here weather is clean but we don’t know where the weather was gone wrong. Not a single plane is landing here in Jumla. Some people were full of apples in their baggage and some came with loads of apples to send down to Surkhet and Nepalgunj.

I am sitting on a bench in the shop nearby the airport with slight trace of hope of plane coming to Jumla. The shopkeeper is not telling anything to me. Occasionally the police guard at the gate of airport gives eye on me. Maybe he was thinking, ‘Why the hell is he here though flight is canceled.’ One or two people are here; rest went back to their hotel and home. I am just watching one pair of sparrows playing in front of me. Maybe they knew I am not going to hurt them. So they are not afraid of me. Sometimes they come nearby me and sometimes they go away. They are picking up their food spread in road. I am enjoying it. One sparrow found a piece of food which is large enough to kill its own appetite but it took it to its friend and shared it with the other. What a lovely relation they have, I am astonished.

The next day, I finally got the ticket with difficulty. People are around the ticket counter just like the group of bees around the honeycombs. It was so hotchpotch you can not even imagine the situation. People take money for the ticket but forget that they have already taken. You will get only boarding pass not the ticket. You will get the ticket only after frequent requests. I don’t know why there is no systematic way. It appears to be like riding a city bus.

Though it’s difficult to get the flight to Jumla and getting flight back to your home station, you have to visit Jumla. It is amazing. You will feel Jumla what really it is only after visiting this place.  You can get the mid level hotels here. You can enjoy apple brandy and sometimes grape brandy as well. Places to visit here are Jumla valley itself where Tila river is running down, Tatopani where you get the natural hot water, Karnali technical school, Pandugupha, Sinja valley and Birat palace. From Sinja, you can travel to Mugu to visit Rara Lake, the largest lake called ‘Nymph of heaven’.

On flight from Surkhet to Jumla, you will enjoy watching geographical terrains of Dailekh, Kalikot and Jumla and moreover you can see swirling pictures of Hema River, Tila River and Karnali River. They look really amazing.

See you Jumla next time.

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