= today no electricity. This was one of the first expressions I learned in the village. It was very useful. Almost every other day there was electricity cut at some point. It just becomes a normal part of life. What is more surprising concept, is the half electricity. Half electricity is when lights work, but computer doesn't. I don't know what is the physics explanation for it. Some things you just shouldn't bother to question. My regular questions Why? imposed difficulties to locals too often anyway.
Today however I found out what is the reason for the current big electricity cuts in Kathmandu. Its because its cold, Snow is not melting. Thus rivers are not flowing so fast, thus hydroelectricity is produced in much smaller quantities. By now I have also managed to get the power-off-schedule for the Thamel district where I'm staying. Power is divided between different parts of the town at various hours. Tomorrow only between midday and 6pm. Meaning just when it gets dark, it really gets dark. Lights will be on again only midnight! Perhaps people are expected to take a powernap until power is back.
Additionally the country is running out of petrol and many buses services are cut due to lack of fuel. This doesn't bother me too much though hoping that on Wednesday at least Taxi drivers have enough petrol to take me to the airport. Bigger question is, if they will be allowed to - one political party its planning a strike. A strike means that in Kathmandu valley everything its shut down. Transport, schools, businesses, industry, restaurants. People who go against this can face problems such as their taxi is put on fire. The two American ladies I met during my second trek gave me some advice what to do and where to go in such situations, but i'd rather avoid this adventure. Probably the strike will be on Monday or Tuesday anyway. Fingers crossed.
When I was in the village, then there was such a strike. Exactly on the day Filip was planning to return to KTM. Well, based on what we saw on tv, it was definitely better to be stuck in the village.
That particular strike was called by Nepali Congress political party. One of their high ranking officials, president of Chitwan district had been imprisoned some time ago on questionable grounds and just when he was about to be released, he was attacked inside the prison walls. Now he died out of the injuries in the hospital. Of course one political party accused the other one in the assassination. Little bit like a movie.
I don't know if Belgium has a government now, but for the same period Nepal has not had a constitution.
Village life is not too much affected by the politics, although people do talk about it and are unhappy with it. One school director, principal Kamal, explained me, that last time there were elections, then in the post where one can vote, he was not invited in for many many hours, because they new he is not the supporter of the maoist party. Only when he confronted them could he cast his vote.
Principal Kamal was a good information source in general. One with broad knowledge (first one to know Estonia!) and better English to communicate. I found an answer to a question that rose already during the first trek - why are there so few cats in Nepal, but plenty of dogs? Well, its because cats are associated with witches. People are scared of witches, because witches do bad things. If your buffalo does not give you milk, its because witch has come during the night and the buffalo gave all the milk to her. Buffaloes always give their milk to the witch when she comes, because they are scared off them too. And witches often come in a form of a cat. There are many cases, when a cat has come to a house late evening and maybe the cat was then cut or burnt a bit and then, next morning, a woman in the village is seen with similar wounds. Also, cat has a different way of thinking. Cat likes to sleep on the fireplace where it is warm. People come there and disturb her in order to cook food. Cat wishes that there were no people in the house, so she could have the place for herself.
Dog, on the other hand, wishes that there were more people in the house. That means more food is cooked, more leftovers for him. Out of animals dog is also closer to humans, because being a dog is just one step before someone is born as a human being through reincarnation.
Talking about reincarnation, today I went to the most important Hindu temple in Nepal (Pashupatinath) and had a guide there and he explained that in older times, maybe 6 centuries ago, if a husband died, his wife was burnt alive with him. Now luckily no more, but a woman can not remarry. Men, of course, can. This is similar in Tamang culture, not sure if can be said more broad about Buddhist community. In general, when a husband dies, wife is in pretty complex situation. Financially hard, plus she will be somewhat outcasted. People don't look well on a widow. On the other hand its a known problem, that women who do remarry and have children with the new husband, just abandon her children from the first marriage.
On that note, I will stop at the moment.
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