- Joined
- Mar 5, 1999
- Messages
- 34,096
Hello Boys!
Here's my quick post for this AM.
We went out to Swayambunath yesterday and did our puja and then went to pay a quick visit to BirGorkha.
The kamis met us with surprise and all due respect and then after the initial shock of seeing a gray haired old Uncle Bill (nobody has gray hair here) they started giving Gelbu hell because he had not warned them that we would be coming yesterday. I could get the gist of what they were saying and after we left Yangdu filled me in on what I didn't understand on the spot. It went like this and was directed at Gelbu.
"Why did you not tell us that Big Brother and Sister from America would be coming today? These are the people who put the food on the table for us and our families and now we look like a bunch of ungrateful fools because we had no gift for them and were not prepared to greet them properly. This is very unthoughtful of you. Further, because of the storm up in the hills last night five of our brothers are not here today because they must repair the roofs of their homes which were damaged by the storm. This makes us look worse because 5 of 19 are missing. You should tell of such happenings so we can be prepared and look and act our best. Now we look like laggards and ungrateful fools."
Today we are going back to BirGorkha and present the gifts and buy the kamis a couple of beers in the afternoon. Drinking in the shop is only allowed on special occasions.
I got no pictures yesterday because the trip to the factory was impromptu but I'll get some today. And, I'll get Gelbu off the hook by telling the kamis that it was my idea to pay them the surprise visit yesterday.
The factory is still under construction and as you'll see from the pix it is situated in the middle of some rice and vegetable fields to discourage visits by the curious and according to Bura -- "spies!"
I was not overly surprised at what I saw yesterday but there were a couple of techniques used that I had never seen before.
The sarkis work in a different location now and we will visit them later on this week. Khukuris are completed and then taken to the sarkis for the scabbards to be custom fitted -- believe this or not. I have some things to tell the sarkis which they may not like.
The HI superfrogs are made in yet another location which I'll get pix of, too. This is our shipping office and one sarki works here making frogs and helping pack knives.
There is so much to share and I have so little time right now for posting but I'll have it all down with pix and will start posting as soon as I get back.
I deliver to the kamis today the pix of all those who sent them. Believe me, you are all here in spirit if not in person!
Blessings to you all from Anamnagar, Nepal.
More later today or tomorrow.
------------------
Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
Here's my quick post for this AM.
We went out to Swayambunath yesterday and did our puja and then went to pay a quick visit to BirGorkha.
The kamis met us with surprise and all due respect and then after the initial shock of seeing a gray haired old Uncle Bill (nobody has gray hair here) they started giving Gelbu hell because he had not warned them that we would be coming yesterday. I could get the gist of what they were saying and after we left Yangdu filled me in on what I didn't understand on the spot. It went like this and was directed at Gelbu.
"Why did you not tell us that Big Brother and Sister from America would be coming today? These are the people who put the food on the table for us and our families and now we look like a bunch of ungrateful fools because we had no gift for them and were not prepared to greet them properly. This is very unthoughtful of you. Further, because of the storm up in the hills last night five of our brothers are not here today because they must repair the roofs of their homes which were damaged by the storm. This makes us look worse because 5 of 19 are missing. You should tell of such happenings so we can be prepared and look and act our best. Now we look like laggards and ungrateful fools."
Today we are going back to BirGorkha and present the gifts and buy the kamis a couple of beers in the afternoon. Drinking in the shop is only allowed on special occasions.
I got no pictures yesterday because the trip to the factory was impromptu but I'll get some today. And, I'll get Gelbu off the hook by telling the kamis that it was my idea to pay them the surprise visit yesterday.
The factory is still under construction and as you'll see from the pix it is situated in the middle of some rice and vegetable fields to discourage visits by the curious and according to Bura -- "spies!"
I was not overly surprised at what I saw yesterday but there were a couple of techniques used that I had never seen before.
The sarkis work in a different location now and we will visit them later on this week. Khukuris are completed and then taken to the sarkis for the scabbards to be custom fitted -- believe this or not. I have some things to tell the sarkis which they may not like.
The HI superfrogs are made in yet another location which I'll get pix of, too. This is our shipping office and one sarki works here making frogs and helping pack knives.
There is so much to share and I have so little time right now for posting but I'll have it all down with pix and will start posting as soon as I get back.
I deliver to the kamis today the pix of all those who sent them. Believe me, you are all here in spirit if not in person!
Blessings to you all from Anamnagar, Nepal.
More later today or tomorrow.
------------------
Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
