Yak

My first "English Alphabet & Words Book" of childhood said, "Y is for Yak". The accompanying picture looked like an odd shaped cow with long hair all over its body. I was curious whether this animal makes smooth moo sound like cow, or is it hoarse like the water buffalo ? I had to wait for the answer till my first night in Gunsang. It was early October 2012.

Han ye ba ?

Where are you going ?

The mountain environment influences people and their culture in amazing ways. It encourages separation of what matters more in life than what does not. Totally disregarding the latter in some instances. This influence is manifested in several ways in the culture of Manangi people, an ethnic group of Tibetan origin living in Manang district of Nepal.

If you meet a Manangi traveler on your way, the usual greeting in Manangi language is "Han ye ba ?". Where are you going ? Where you are going is more important than where you come from.

The usual response would be (if you are going to Manang) "Manang ye ba".

And after a little chat, when its time for you to go your separate ways, say "Yo jo" to each other.

Rara-Para-Ara

A Nepali man enjoys Ara, around mid-day

Heard this rhyme from Tashi R. Ghale, who, in his good sense of humor calls this a summary of Nepali lifestyle in the mountains.

Bihano khaunchha Rara
Dinso khelchha Para
Beluka khaunchha Ara

Tibbetan bread

As the name suggests, Tibetan bread is a food of the Tibetan diaspora of Nepal. A minor variation named Gurung bread can be found in some areas, e.g.: Sarangkot. Its basically a flattened dough with three parallel slits cut in the middle deep fried in oil. The Gurung bread has two slits and a few herbs infused in the dough. The bread is usually eaten for breakfast with Su Ja, the butter tea. People eat food with high fat content to fight Himalayan cold, the Tibetan bread is no exception.