Uncle Bill fries some fish and fools the locals. Pix.

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

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We stop for lunch at the village of Maleku at this Brahmin owned restaurant. My initial conversation with Sauni (female owner) goes like this and it is in Nepali.

"Namaste, Sauni. My name is Govinda Dhital (a Brahmin name borrowed from my adopted Nepali son of years gone by who hails from Gorkha). I've been living in America for the last 20 years so excuse my Nepali if it sounds strange. I have forgotten a lot. Anyway, could I fry a fish for the camera to show my friends back in America?"

"Sure, help yourself but just don't take too long," Sauni says. "Dhital, eh. There's a bunch of them up around Gorkha. Are you related?"

"Yes, that's my family alright," I say.

I feel a little bad about lying but I'll straighten it all out with the truth before I leave so it will be okay. I fry the fish as you see here. Nieces Poonam and Naina look on with great amusement.

Later, after lunch when I confess that I am really an American, Sauni, daughter Laxmi (I think that was her name -- beautiful girl), a couple of Nepalis from the neighboring restaurant all have a huge laugh.

"You had me fooled," Sauni said. "When I first saw you I thought you were a quiri but then after you talked to me and ate I thought you really were a Dhital from Gorkha!" Nepalis like a joke as well as anybody. The important thing was I was able to fool them.

In the bottom pix, Sauni and daughter do some serious and wonderful cooking and we have a great lunch. You can see Yangdu at the far right trading recipes and some gossip.

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Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ

[This message has been edited by Bill Martino (edited 07-25-2000).]
 
You look right at home there, Uncle Bill.

That's certainly an interesting stove on which you're cooking. Is that the norm for the restaurants in the area? And I notice that they have western-looking tables and chairs. Is this a restaurant where locals go, or does it cater primarily to tourists -- or to both locals and tourists?

P.S. Please keep the photos coming -- they are an education unto themselves! Thank you.
 
I am too slow for Sauni. The lunch turned out to be great. Fish, although small, were less than a half hour from the water when they went into the pan. And they had cold Iceberg beer available!

Steven, the stove is the norm and almost all homes have one just like this but probably not as big. This place served both locals and bus travellers but I was there for a couple of hours and was the only foreigner.

------------------
Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
 
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