- Joined
- Jan 13, 1999
- Messages
- 1,422
I went to the Gurkha barracks in Singapore today. I've read so much about them here I thought I'd go and see what they were like. Luckily my cab driver was Indian so he knew whom I was referring to.
I went up to the gate and suddently saw a man in that distinctive Gurkha hat wearing the disconcerting khukuri. It took me a while before I worked up the courage to talk to him.
I have always read that Gurkhas had really nice personalities, but I've always thought: okay, "nice" for soldiers mean different things.
Boy, the guys I talked to had very nice and patient personalities. Truely good natured and eager to help. This is something that can't be taught, just a part of their culture. If I didn't know anything about the ferocity of the Gurkhas, no way would I have believed such non-agressive people were capable of killing. It just seems so incredibly bizzare. They were the exact opposite of French Foreign Legionnaires I've met.
Nice as they were, seeing the khukuris attached to those belts were quite menacing. one man had a revolver on his belt as well, but it wasn't as threatening as the inanimate khukuri.
Anyway, I tried to buy a khuk from them, no dice
They were quite surprised and amused about my suggestion. Oh well. . . I thought I'd ask the man to show me his piece, but as he was on duty, I didn't chance it.
Gurkhas seem to be fanatical joggers. There were many out jogging in the stiffeling heat of the early afternoon. As an ethnic group, the Nepalese didn't look all that different from the Singaporan Chinese here. But you can always spot the Gurkhas even in their jogging clothes -- They're lean and muscular like gymnists.
[This message has been edited by tallwingedgoat (edited 05 April 1999).]
I went up to the gate and suddently saw a man in that distinctive Gurkha hat wearing the disconcerting khukuri. It took me a while before I worked up the courage to talk to him.
I have always read that Gurkhas had really nice personalities, but I've always thought: okay, "nice" for soldiers mean different things.
Boy, the guys I talked to had very nice and patient personalities. Truely good natured and eager to help. This is something that can't be taught, just a part of their culture. If I didn't know anything about the ferocity of the Gurkhas, no way would I have believed such non-agressive people were capable of killing. It just seems so incredibly bizzare. They were the exact opposite of French Foreign Legionnaires I've met.
Nice as they were, seeing the khukuris attached to those belts were quite menacing. one man had a revolver on his belt as well, but it wasn't as threatening as the inanimate khukuri.
Anyway, I tried to buy a khuk from them, no dice
Gurkhas seem to be fanatical joggers. There were many out jogging in the stiffeling heat of the early afternoon. As an ethnic group, the Nepalese didn't look all that different from the Singaporan Chinese here. But you can always spot the Gurkhas even in their jogging clothes -- They're lean and muscular like gymnists.
[This message has been edited by tallwingedgoat (edited 05 April 1999).]
