Aug 10, 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.