Surket, Nepal is the big sky country of Mid-Asia. Like Montana, the distant mountains remind you that your existence is a fraction of a fraction in this vast universe. Thankfully, the surroundings aren't exclusive -- the nimble breeze carries your gaze from the soil below your steps to the square borders outlining each rice patty to the sturdy concrete homes to the mountains cradled in the clouds. An energetic stillness hovers in the valley of the Himalayas. This indefinite and powerful land welcomed us.
During one walk, we saw some women working in the flooded field. The peak planting time for rice in Nepal is during the summer monsoon season. Pants and sleeves rolled up, they planted the rice patties one seed at a time. These women were fabulous.
From a brief look of a semi-outdated US Agency for International Development table (it's from the 80s, people), you can see semi-recent agricultural efforts of women. I was curious about gender roles in agriculture, because I recall that only women planted the rice while men prepared the land (see image of cows and plow below).
Being new to the area, we found it necessary to do as the locals do ... we tried our hands at planting rice! Luckily, Chandan was able to translate our newest bucket list item to the women in the field. The women exchanged comical glances and laughed as our legs carried us over the flooded barrier and our feet sunk into the mud. Dancing through charades, we learned the art of planting rice. Grasping the rice seed in one hand, the free hand removes one seed at a time and chucks it into the water at a 45 degree angle. The blades were separated by a distance of 20cm. We learned that to achieve an intermediate level of rice planting skill would move require planting one blade per second ... the women were pros (2-3 blades per second) and unfortunately we never got past the novice stage.
Three to four months after planting, the rice will be ready for harvest.
Finally, we eat.
Besides the true Mt. Everest, Chandan told us that the massive amount of rice served on a plate is termed Everest -- 3 to 6 cups of steamed rice along with boiled cabbage and a mango. Whenever we ate all of the rice, we had 'conquered Everest.'
Besides the true Mt. Everest, Chandan told us that the massive amount of rice served on a plate is termed Everest -- 3 to 6 cups of steamed rice along with boiled cabbage and a mango. Whenever we ate all of the rice, we had 'conquered Everest.'
Thanks for reading.