Day 17: BIG Loads, Gurong Traditional Costume, and Off to School

Today we visited Bright Guest House for lunch, home of the millstone and the honey hunting cliffs of incredibly huge beehives, then stair-stepped DOWN 860 feet for two hours into Vern's favorite village, Ghandruk, where we saw centuries old stone paths and buildings which can withstand ANY earthquake. Rosann, one of our porters, and I try to carry the bulky loads of leaves and Lage carried one of our porter's packs as a joke. I really respect these villagers and also our very strong young porters whose job it is to transport visitors happily and safely to destinations.  From our teahouse, I could see a family below getting ready for school. Grandmother is weaving, dad chopping wood, and three little kids sitting nearby (see video). The little two year old was creating havoc, peeing off the wall and dumping out his sister's backpack, and the mother was busy erasing all the marks the little guy put on someone's homework! We also saw a frustrated looking mom walking UP about an hour's worth of steep steps carrying two schoolbooks. Uh oh...someone is going to get in trouble tonight for forgetting their books!? We visited the Gurong Museum and were fitted in traditional dress by a sweet little lady (holding the chicken in the photo below).  Many Gurong men were and still are Gurkhas warriors who won the highest admiration and praise from their British allies over the past 200 years. In WW I, Sir Ralph Turner wrote, “As I write these last words, my thoughts return to you who were my comrades, the stubborn and indomitable peasants of Nepal. Once more I hear the laughter with which you greeted every hardship. Once more I see you in your bivouacs or about your fires, on forced march or in the trenches, now shivering with wet and cold, now scorched by a pitiless and burning sun. Uncomplaining you endure hunger and thirst and wounds; and at the last your unwavering lines disappear into the smoke and wrath of battle. Bravest of the brave, most generous of the generous, never had country more faithful friends than you.”