The Cherry on the Sundae
How can this possibly be my final day?
Yes, I am ready to be home but what saddens me is that it is such a big trip to get back. (And yes, I have already started my list of places to go on what I hope will be a future visit!)
Of course I start the day, once again, with my biscuits and latte. I continue packing. So much to sort out. I leave some stuff behind in the hopes that someone will get use of it - snack foods, shoes.
I have a busy day planned, and then at midnight, Gulson and Prabin will be here to take me to the airport.
Sidenote: I don't think I have shared much about Prabin. He was behind-the-scenes keeping all of my private touring moving like clockwork. He arranged special tours, he coordinated my rides, he checked on me at the conclusion of every single activity. In a nutshell, I felt safe and secure and well-cared for because of Prabin's attention. The manager of my Nepal visit. Thank you, Prabin!
I meet Prabin and today's guide, Namrata, in the lobby.
For the record, Namrata turns out to be a blast! She is not your typical guide. Her interaction style is super casual, as if she were a girlfriend, at the same time making sure I don't miss anything (and allowing me to ask anything at all.)
First stop, the home of a local family for momo-making lesson.
Turns out to be a lovely family!
Purna is dad = "complete"
Dil is mom = "heart"
Pawan is college-age son = wind
Turns out Dad is the cook and my teacher. He is a WONDERFUL teacher. Mom is ADORABLE! Son keeps his head down in his phone the whole time (like everyone else his age) but he is polite and friendly and as the morning passes he engages more and more.
Today's menu: Chicken Momo
We sit at the their long, low table on small stools. All of the filling ingredients are in the bowl and Purna gets me to mix it- with my hands. Mix and mix so those flavors really mingle.
On to the dough ...
It is literally just flour and water. With no real measurements. (Oh boy, this is going to be one of those "feel" and "look" recipes.
Again, with both hands, I just get in there and mix and knead and knead.
Early on some of the flour pops out of the bowl and Dil gets an apron and wraps it around me. I laugh, "Thanks, Mom," I say. Who knew such a small comment would be such a hit. She LOVED it. She called me daughter the rest of our time together. (Granted, she is much younger π) Purna pointed out that they do not have a daughter hence her enthusiasm. ππ
At some point Purna takes over the kneading (fine by me) and gets the dough to the final stage. At this point when you press it, it bounces back some.
Time to make the dumplings.
First we roll chunks of dough into logs. Then we break off the "just right" size of dough for each dumpling. (I am still not sure what that perfect size is exactly.Darn it, why didn't I take better notes?!?!)
Rollings pins are pieces of PVC - they work beautifully!
Unlike the last time I made momos with my Together Women Rise Group at Seven Women, the dumplings did not stick as we rolled them out. Great!
Then comes to filling and folding. OMG. This is when an expert makes something look so easy but an amateur is a complete mess π
Purna and Dil were not afraid to laugh (not in a mean way) at my early attempts. We all knew the truth so I laughed right along.
I kept working at it and Purna was great with hands-on instruction.
I got better. Not great, but better.
Dil showed me an easier shape and that went ok. Then she got fancy and tried to show me another one. Oy! π
In this personal setting I was able to ask them more about Momos in the Nepali home:
How often do you eat them? Occasionally.
When do you make them? Whenever in the mood.
Who makes them? Purna.
How many does at person eat? At least 10.
What else do you eat with them? Nothing.
While the Momos are steaming we make the Tomato achar AKA pickle (the "sauce" for the momo.)
Achar is made and momos are steaming so we head out to relax on their deck.
What is the house like? Like almost all of the homes I saw throughout Nepal, it is multi-story. You walk into a downstairs entryway - similar to what we might call a mudroom. Then upstairs. and upstairs again. They live on the top floor and tenants live on the others.
From their deck a beautiful garden shines from below. "My uncle's garden," says Dil.
Dil is a hoot. She is so easy-going and upbeat. At first she was concerned about her English, but once I assured her it was great, she really relaxed and let her personality shine. She is easy to laugh and quick to smile.
Purna is equally pleasant though more reserved. Pawan shares that he is really an introvert, but he really does participate in the event, though more as a curious bystander.
Time to eat!
Yum, yum and yum!
Dil and Purna don't eat anything since they had already eaten, and as it turns out they are going to a big family party later today.). Pawan, like all young men, eats and eats and eats momos. So cute! They all laughed when I say, "In my next life I am coming back as a young man so I can eat like you."
They seem to be a super close and happy family. It was an absolute pleasure to spend time with them. With any luck, I will become a successful memo-maker at home!
Namrata and I load into a taxi and head to our next adventure - pottery.
This taxi rider is the only driver on this entire trip who made me squirm. Oh well.
We arrive at the pottery place and I can tell this is going to be fun!
Our teacher, Narayan, greets us we get seated and ready to go.
We start with hand building. I have my choice:
I decide on the elephant.
Why???
Ganesh, the elephant-headed God, the Lord of Good Fortune, provides prosperity, good fortune and success. I mean who doesn't like that BUT that is not why I chose an elephant. I chose an elephant because it does remind me of Ganesh which reminds me of my trip because A. Almost every driver I encountered has Ganesh on the dashboard of the car, and B. On my first day, Sunesh, head of fine arts department, who spent the day touring art with me, Ganesh is very important to her and Ganesh Ganesh Ganesh. She even painted a FANTASTIC picture of Ganesh.
So I guess Ganesh matters to me, too, since he seems light-hearted and the god of good things and he will always remind me of my trip. THAT is why I chose an elephant.
I LOVE it.
(Just wanted to make that clear in case you can't tell from the photos π)
Narayan is so helpful and friendly. He is a hands-on instructor but I struggle a little with his English. Good thing Namrata was there to help keep me clear.
Is it just me or do my hands look way out of proportion
to my body and head??? π
The only bummer about this pottery session is I can't take my pottery with me because it's my last day and it won't be fired in time. Oh well. Still great memories.
But I can buy a piece by Narayan. Love it!
We get dropped off close to the hotel and walk to several shops to find what I am looking for, namely Duruk Green Chile sauce. Namrata laughs that this is what I want but I fell in love with it on my trek. She calls it "green ketchup." I laugh because it was always on the same tray with regular ketchup at tables. π
We find it in a couple of stores but thankfully Namrata checks the expiration date and passes. Then we try yet another shop and it has the sauce but a different brand. She assures me it will be the same. I will let you know ... (and no, it's not available on Amazon - already checked. LOL)
Namrata asks if I have eaten a Samosa yet, "No." Guess what we got??? YUM!!
"Nope."
"Do you want to?"
"Nope."
"Well, you're going to."
And that's what I love about her.
On the rickshaw we climb ...
I felt ridiculous sitting up so high, like the queen. She and I joked and laughed and mostly I felt bad for the guy who is peddling π
They drop me off at the hotel and I get ready for one more thing on today's agenda: Ranjeeta is coming to the hotel to meet for coffee.
She arrives and we hug right away. Ranjeeta takes the lead and puts her arm in mine and off we go to the hotel restaurant. We sit and order coffee and the proceed to talk non-stop for the next two hours.
Ranjeeta and I both spoke of our instant connection. We both shared how we feel so fortunate to have met each other and developed this special relationship. We both talked of our hope to continue this special connection into the future.
Ranjeeta talked of problems and challenges plaguing women in Nepal, especially poor women. Gender inequality, domestic violence.
She spoke of the "brain drain" in Nepal (though she didn't use that term.)
She spoke of wanting to the come to the US for higher education, but that she would of course go back to Nepal once completed.
She told me a bit about the challenges in her own life yet simultaneously sharing that she is grateful for those challenges. WOW.
What a young woman. SOooooo inspiring! So humble. So pleasant. So smart. So much heart!
AND then I discovered her innate leadership skills. I asked if we could get a picture and of course she obliged. But then she later said she wanted more pictures and she totally took over.
A confidence sprung up and she gracefully "bossed" me and the waiter around as to where she wanted us and how she wanted us to pose. Truly it was an honor to see yet another dimension to this young woman.
A graceful, confident, natural-born leader. Ahhhh, I can only wait patiently to watch her life unfold. An honor.
She contacted a ride via their version of Uber - on a motorbike. A sweet goodbye and the Cherry on the Sundae ... the PERFECT ending to My Nepal - 2022.
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