culinary usage... :-)

B

bearcub

Joined
Apr 20, 2001
Messages
20
If any of you have read 'Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance' you may have a slightly different definition of the word 'quality' than those who have not. Pirsig used the word to denote anything of inherent beauty and functionality, and quite a wide definition it was.

My wood WWII has 'quality'. Oh my, yes. I had the pleasure of turning a waste tree into sawdust over a very enjoyable couple of hours, and came in to the house to make dinner. I used the kukri (with no interim sharpening) to slice the garlic into matchsticks for stir-frying, and I would not have believed that a nearly 2lb knife could be controlled with such precision, nor retain such an edge.

I've always been brought up to believe that tools (and I firmly believe that the kurki is a tool first and a weapon second - the one definition fits inside the other) should be bought with quality uppermost in mind and that you buy the best you can afford.

My kukri feels so 'right' in the hand - it's almost an organic extension of my hand and arm, whether hacking through wood or used with a controlled tap of the spine to shell crab claws, which incidentally, created quite a spectacle for the neighbours - me sitting cross-legged in the back garden with a pile of crabs to one side of me, a dirty great kukri in one hand, and a pile of shell fragments growing to the other side - the kids were riveted. *laughing*

 
Bearcub, As a Medical professional, I diagnose you with a severe strand of malignant Khukuri virus----There is no cure. Not only am I medical professional that can diagnose this virus-I am a victim myself..Sort yourself out mate! Go to the pub and drink a pint or two of shandy and face the reality...Think about your next khukuri purchase..I recommend the Jungle SN-1
Also let us know if you have any Gurkha curry recipes or experiences. Cheers Mate!
 
PipeyCain: You've gone and dunnit now...opened a real can of worms, mind you. I've known for sometime there is a set of clearly defined signs and symptoms associated with khukuris. I'm not convinced it's a virus, but may be more similar to a non-fatal metal poisoning. Then again, it could be a psyche thing, or a combo as with alcohol. With some folks it takes only handling one khukuri, but I think it can even be contracted by visual cues, even over the internet, which appears to rule out anything viral.

I was secretly hoping this would go undiagnosed, but no matter, because I don't have a problem and can quit anytime. Hard evidence of the absence of addiction is that I don't have a khukuri collection. See there?! What a relief...I'm glad we're having this conversation. Thanks, Pipey.

Bearcub, your ability to speak such correct English has taken the vicarious khukuri experience to a new level. It's ALL GOOD! Thank you.

I'm very curious about what kind of khukuri training the Gurkhas do. Is there any technique they practice, or is all they do totally home-grown? There was a very long thread on this a while back.
 
LT. My theory is that the dreaded "Khukuri virus" is actually a computer virus that is transmitted both over the internet and through special harmonics in the steel.

------------------
Mykl
Once you start down the path of the sharp side forever will it dominate your destiny
 
Lt Dan and MYKL, We should form a support group. I would nominate John Powell to be our Chairman-Based on his long standing battle with this disease that has no cure. We will survive even if Craig becomes a billionaire....Cheers!

Trained to be Cheerful.....
 
Forumites, it's pretty much common knowledge on BladeForums that lots of folks have some form of khukuri addiction. PipeyCain's acute medical judgement is sound and some means of treatment is badly needed. We must keep our heads and look at the situation objectively. Cause, transmission, signs and symptoms, and disease staging need to be clearly defined. I'm also very much in agreement that support is needed, and you guys can count me in! I suspect that I'm immune, like my dad's side of the family is to poison ivy. I really feel sorry for you guys, and I'm here for you.

Whatever this thing is, it's not your basic virus as we have in other diseases. Mykl's theory is the best model I've seen so far. Let's look at this thing and try to see a pattern: Craig, Mykl and I all live in Virginia. I'm sure Craig and I are clean, how about you, Mykl? If so, then it might be a regional resistance, similar to our few American Chestnut trees that weren't killed off by the blight from China in the early 1900's. Perhaps the afflicted should move to VA for counseling, treatment and rehab.

I'm only theorizing and grasping at straws, 'cuz I want so desperately to help y'all. Could it just be all in your minds? C'mon now, we can do this....Dan
 
Here is a personal disclosure: I was afflicted with the virus way back during the Falklands Island war-where I first saw Gurkhas on TV...Later that summer on a holiday in Gatlinburg, TN I found a poorly constructed"Authenic India Army Gurkha Kukri"(tourist model) that my dad bought me. I was incapacitated from there on.
Over the years I've had the honor to meet Gurkhas and to become friends with a couple of their pipers in the 1RGR pipes and drums.
I hope my story will inspire others of you to log on and tell us how you contracted the Kukri virus...as for now I need to clean my Jungle SN1....Cheers!
 
Pipey, your initial exposure was from a cathode ray tube, then again with the khukuri from the Great Smokey Mtn tourist trap, direct contact with Gurkhas, and even thru the ancient tones of the pipes. Yours is such a complex case. Wow.

Something I've noticed is that victims enjoy the addiction and the accompanying rush of buying, handling, and the persuit of more khukuris even strengthens its hold. When they discover the forum, one might initially think if it as a suppport group, but this is false hope because of the vast numbers of enablers and co-dependents there. Trying to convince someone who delights in the symptoms and secondary gain that s/he has a problem is tough going. Until we really understand what we're dealing with, traditional psych counseling and feedback techniques will be fruitless.

Pipey, thank you for sharing your personal khukuri addiction story with us here. What you've said is a strong beginning and will benefit others with the same affliction. I hope other forumites will step forward with their own stories, too.

BTW, how long has it been since your last khukuri purchase? Is current khukuri maintenance effective therapy for now?
 
When I was visiting 1st Battalion The Royal Scots down in Colchester, several Gurkhas were being trained to use the Milan anti-tank weapon. Their Havildar (Sgt, or MSgt in US parlance) was barking out orders in Gurkhali, and they were moving with frightening efficiency. During the NAAFI break, we had a talk with them. None of them would actually draw their kukris, as apparently is was considered 'poor form' to display them to be admired, even to curious officer cadets. As I've mentioned before, out of the four companies of 1RS, one was a company of gurkhas from one of the recently disbanded gurkha regiments.

Actually, it's worth noting that the gurkhas are officially classed as 'mercenaries' since they do NOT hold UK citizenship, and until recently not only were their wives not allowed to stay with them in the UK (only to visit) but they were paid approximately a quarter of the equivalent british army rates, most of which they shipped home to their families in Nepal (where, in local currency, it would be a small fortune). Since the last change of government, this is no longer the case and they get paid exactly the same rates as the rest of the army. More and more of their officers as native Nepalese now, and not British.

Anyway, I digress.

The enlisted men in 1RS ate at the cookhouse, or Jockscoff, as it was colloquially known. The gurkhas had their own mess, as their kitchens had to be separate. Quite a few of the officers in the regiment actually sneaked out of the officers' mess and dined on curry, such was the reknown of the cooks. Whilst on training exercises in Kenya, a few native zebra were 'accidental' victims of 'friendly fire' (no such thing; I hear two-man gurkha fire teams with a 7.62mm GPMG each were sent out to augment rations) and found ther way into the stewpot.

The gurkha Company Commander was English, Major Ian Rigden. Now, the gurkhas march at, if memory serves, over 150 paces to the minute. This is all well and good if you have the little legs of Johnny Gurkha, but Maj Rigden is my height, 6'4... You can imagine the rest.

Lt Dan, thanks for the appreciative comments. I get the impression a few of you may think I'm older that my 25 years... would that be a fair assumption on my part? *laughing*
 
Good to hear from you Bearcub! Ive wandered all over your beautiful city and I can not wait to get back. There is a Nepali Restaurant called "The Gurkha" at 128 Morningside Road. Phone 0131-447-8114. Why dont you try it out sometime and report back to us on how you liked it--assuming of course, you havent already been there.

The two Gurkha Pipers I met and myself wandered all up and down Rose street inspecting pubs and gawking at some of the strange sights you are bound to see during Festival!
Stay in touch Bearcub. Cheers everyone!
 
There are three nepalese restaurants in the city now, and they're all quite good. Edinburgh really is a beautiful place, and although living here for eight years does inure you to the delights of the city, it remains a wonderful place, with a vibrancy all of its own, especially during the festival (when I once overheard an American voice from waaaaaaaaay South of the Mason-Dixon line ask where we stored the castle after we dismantled it at the end of the tourist season :-)

If you're ever in Edinburgh again, I'd be delighted to show you around.
 
Yes, I agree the forum is like a support group. When a new addict introduces him/herself to the group, they all say: "Hi, John/Mary!" or whatever. I recall that was the way I was warmly greeted when I first came in on the forum some months ago. Of course, another thing the addiction does to you, is to deplete the budget. Months ago I did not have a KPF - now it's like an extra mouth to feed.

Please allow me the opportunity (the topic being the culinary potential of the WW II) to announce for the first time on the forum that I am expecting a new addition to my addiction: a World War I Mark I!!!!!!! If everything goes well in the Postal Services, the khuk should arrive here at the latest on Saturday. It should be interesting to compare this khuk to the "WW II", as JP once said the WW II khuks were developed from the WW I khuks.
 
Indeed, JP may know this addiction better than most folks and be an old hand at dealing with it, having many insights and coping strategies. On the other hand, he might be into it too deep to offer any ways out, and there's no evidence of any personal triumph over it. He could even be considered the first khukuri addict. A kind and decent man, let's think about and consider what he might have to say.

The good news is this thing doesn't appear to be fatal. Johan made an astute observation about it being like another mouth to feed. Even though I'm clean, there is a little competition for resources between my khukuri purchasing fund (KPF) and shootin' stash, but that's expected 'cuz it's peak varmint season, and there's a serious need for a digital powder scale.

It's been months since I've bought a khukuri, so you guys can take heart in my example that IT CAN BE BEATEN! Tell be your khukuri struggles, forumites, 'cuz I feel for ya....Dan
 
A quick culinary story: At the end of our trip to Nepal, Marya and I went to a resort called "Godavari" - very luxurious by Nepali, and even western, standards. It was perched atop a high mountain overlooking a valley, and one could really enjoy the atmosphere, eating on the large deck in front of the restaurant, swimming in the blue pool. My favorite dish was something called "Jinga Curry" (spelling may not be right). It was curry with shrimp and a really tasty sauce.

Well, when we came back, we went to an indian restaurant and, since many flavors are found in both countries (and as Indians can even understand Nepali and vice versa), I asked if they had "Jinga Curry with Shrimp." The waiter looked at me and smiled - Jinga, he informed me, was just the word for "shrimp." And here I thought I was being exotic asking for some rare foreign dish!
smile.gif
A bit redundant, don't you think?

------------------
Craig Gottlieb
Gurkha House
Blade Forums Sponsor
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top