Not in Kansas anymore…
In my last entry I talked about getting to Nepal. In this entry it’s all about my first 24 hours (really the first couple of hours).
Culture shock. I’ve heard the term used before but never really experienced it. Nepal is a country of 28 million people and about the size of Washington state (Wa population just under 7 million). 4 million people live in Kathmandu compared to just over a half a million in Seattle. The net result is a TON of people living in a relatively small geographic area. To further that the region lacks basic infrastructure like roads, which sets the scene for my first shock: going from the Airport to Sherpa Adventure Gear’s (SAG) headquarters.
When I got off the plane we all packed into a bus. The bus moved maybe 100 ft and we were at customs. I’m sure it came down to money, the bus driver is paid to drive the people regardless of the distance. So I grabbed my bad and scurried off to get through customs. I rushed to get my forms done before the others, paid 5 bucks for 2 passport style pictures for my visa paperwork and got inline. A cockroach scurried beneath my feet as I wait my turn and I have to admit I was kind of like oh boy, here we go (I know I know I’m a spoiled Westerner). After some questioning as to why I hadn’t many stamps in my passport (starting a business doesn’t lend itself well to traveling). I got out and was greeted by Lok (the driver) & Tsering Sherpa who is the son of CEO Tashi Sherpa. Tsering went to Newport High School in Bellevue but spent his early years in Nepal so he knows the differences well. We jumped in a small car and made our way towards SAG’s headquarters.
Driving in Kathmandu Immediately as we pulled onto the streets my stress levels went to 100, I gripped the door handle with white knuckles as we pulled out in front of on coming traffic. It was all I could do to not yell at the driver. I wanted to play it cool and act like it wasn’t a big deal but literally every move we made was greeted with honking cars and near collisions. Some streets were paved, most weren’t and we traversed down and around what seemed to be neighborhoods and alley ways. Come to find out, Kathmandu doesn’t have highways, proper streets, traffic signals and few streets had side walks. I looked on in awe of the chaos and as our journey continued I started to see the beauty in the chaos. Yes the streets were dirty and dusty, but I noticed the shop owners cleaning the streets outside of their shops. Because they lack the street cleaners and garbage systems we take for granted in the states the responsibility is left to the people. I saw people welding, making crafts, kids playing and construction happening. The city is alive, work is being done and you can see the growth and commerce. They’ve created all they have with their own hands and sweat (manual labor), no big cranes; instead I saw workers carrying stones 2 at a time up long flights of stairs to erect these 5 to 7 story buildings (I couldn’t believe this, how does a building ever get built this way… but it does).
Finally we make it back to SAG’s headquarters, where they’ve got a 24 hour security staff. I make my way in and they show me to my room (they’ve got a wonderful bead and breakfast with a fantastic rooftop). Ahhh a quiet cozy oasis amongst the chaos with everything I’d need, AC, Wifi, a nice bed, hot water, cooked meals by my man Raj). I rounded out my day by touring the headquarters where they do much of their prototyping, check out their retail store and met Tsering’s uncle Angphurba and many of the other people who worked there.
Exhausted from the travels I pretty much sacked out for the day hoping to regain my energy for the many adventures I would embark on during the week.