Life is very simple in the villages of Nepal. Food is grown on the layered farms that hug the sides of the mountains. Cows, goats, buffalo and chickens supplement the diet. Kids entertain themselves with simple hand-made toys, or communal games that I’ve not seen before.
Electricity is lined in from Kathmandu I think, on precarious lines that transverse this rugged landscape. A pole was found to be down this morning so the men had to go out and fix it. Electricity is limited at the moment because it’s the dry season. Reduced water flows weaken the hydro power plants.
Schools are available in most villages. In Batase the school provides for up to grade 9. The government provides some teachers while friends of Himalayan children (FHC) charity provide teachers as well. Some of the men own serious trail motorbikes unlike the smaller ones in the cities. Batase village had one truck, provided by FHC.
There are no conventional medical facilities available in Batase. There are some traditional healers that can provide some non conventional remedies but to get to a doctor, you have to trek to another village. More serious cases have to go to the hospital in Kathmandu, where families have to provide food for the patient. A serious illness can seriously inconvenience the entire family.
Today we are back at school after two days off. Classes are busy and all of the volunteers take English classes. I also sat in on a Nepalese science class and got some nice photos.
The afternoon is lazy for all of us. No walking, just reading in the sun. Arneil has gone to Kathmandu to organise his study for the year so Mane and Phulmaya are looking after us.
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