Nepalese Culture

So this post will point out and bring some clarity to things in other posts but I figured why not let it stand alone.

Food
In addition to our staples of Momo and chow mein, Nepal's primary fuel source is Daal Bhaat- literally meaning lentils and rice. This is consumed at every meal (see 'gallo pinto' for Costa Rica and Nicaragua).

(credit Google for the pic with only my annotations)

What made each Daal Bhat meal great at my homestay was the different "ochar". They also called this chutney and based on my experience it is a catch all name for sauce, relish, and chutney. This varied with meal in our home and made each a little different. Our house Didi (big sister) also would switch it up with a boiled fried egg (yes both, and it's good) or torkari- a cauliflower, potato soup that is much better than I'll be able to describe. Ochar and torkari made my homestay meals.

Drink
Chiya!  Nepalese spiced tea was my life force. Chiya is the Nepali word for tea and is typically a spiced tea (like chai, but that's just the Indian word for tea) served with chimi (sugar) and dur (milk).

Roxy aka Roshy aka Nepalese moon shine. This was offered to us at the New Year's festival Dec 30 (we declined) and at our farewell (we accepted). Warning: STRONG! Although we heard it's easier drinking warmed with a little water.

Religion
Nepal was a Hindu kingdom until 2007. Now it's top 3 elected officials are females- #girlsruntheworld
A Hindu hospitality custom is that "Guests are gods". This is not much different from Jewish and Christian customs to welcome and feed strangers and guests as friends or the Afghan custom of Pashwami that saved Marcus Luttrell in Lone Survivor.
As with any religious custom, this is practiced at different levels but ultimately means guests and foreigners receive warm welcomes and respect.

Pictures above (3): Temple in Damauli on the River

 Pokhara Lakeside Temple

 From the Pokhara cave!

It's also responsible for the constant placing of teeka (the red rice and adornments on my forehead) and why I was fed fresh coconut on several occasions.

Me after visting the Damauli temple and the very energetic old monks who tried to get me to climb through a cave in the ceiling...

After a visit from one of the house mates!

Nepal is also where Buddha was born so there is plenty of Buddhist love. Especially since Hinduism recognizes Buddha as an incarnation of one of its primary gods (I will not guess so as not to offend).

Gifts of Love- Buddha statue and Welcome scarf (center left and center right)from our host family

Far left- Yak Leather bag; Far Right- Elephant print Pashomina/Cashemere blend

Chocolate bar from a Mom of the neighborhood kids!

Nepal was however a country closed to outsiders until the 1950's when missionary Christian doctors (#ChristiansOnMission) were the first to show up. As a result, many assume - especially outside of Kathmandu and tourist destinations- that all foreigners are doctors.  So here I am with my "patients"

Pulse oximeter ready for use!

Suction machine almost ready for a final functional test

X ray light with some interesting standard wiring

Music and Dance
Iit's best to just experience it yourself soooo
Traditional-

"Panko Pat"- rougly translated ( and likely incompletely remembered) the song says symbol of love friends remember day and night. So it's a sound about friendship in the form of conversation between man and lady
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrwNiY2ZjsE
(start around minute 4:25 and listen for a minute or two- its a loooong conversation)

Modern (aka flash back to 70's and 80s)
Lot's of rock and metal, like Jimmi Hendrix and AC/DC, and some funk too