World's Biggest Gurkha

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
Messages
34,096
<img src = "http://members.aol.com/yangduspag/pict27.jpg">

Some years back Gurkha friends and family were curious as to whether I could pass for a British Officer or not so they dressed me up accordingly. Conclusion: No. But I might be able to pass for a Chetri or Brahmin if I billed myself as the "world's biggest Gurkha." At 5' 11" and 190 I am not big but in the world of the Gurkha that is good size.

I chuckle when I look at this picture. A person must be able to laugh at himself if he is to enjoy laughter at all. Feel free to laugh!

Uncle Bill
 
I'd bet you probably had a khukuri between your teeth before the pix --- Ha Ha

------------------



 
Jay, my teeth are too old and fragile for a khukuri, believe me.

We did have fun when we joked and sipped a little rahksi together. Humor is a large part of life in Nepal and you must be able to take a lot of teasing and tormenting or you will be in trouble. My godawful Nepali and lack of knowledge regarding some local customs used to make me the laughing stock of Nepal.

Uncle Bill
 
At last I see the man behind so many posts. How old were you in the picture.

take care
collin
 
:
Interesting Uncle Bill !
The years when I was "passing"
smile.gif
I grew a scraggly mustache that wouldn't hold a candle to yours. It took me 2 years to grow that thing and I wore it for about 20 years.
No one knew me when I shaved it until I spoke and then they couldn't believe it was me.
I can go 2 days now without shaving,but generally go about 5 days. ( Nothing to prove and no one to impress.
smile.gif
)
It used to be 3 when I was 55 and 4 when I was 30. That's why it took so long to grow something halfway decent.

------------------


&gt;&gt;&gt;&gt;---¥vsa----&gt;®
The civilized man sleeps behind locked doors in the city while the naked savage sleeps (with a knife) in a open hut in the jungle.
 
Interestingly, I have never seen a picture of a Gurkha wearing sunglasses.

In the book "Shots Fired in Anger" the author reports that he spoke with a captured Japaneese soldier that was well over 6'.

Will
 
Sunglasses, cigarette dangling from the lips, 190 lbs -- there are a lot of things wrong with that picture.

However, when I dressed in local style with daral (long shirt), surawala (pants), easticoat (vest) and topi (cap like kami is wearing in pix of shop 2) people would look several times and sometimes ask me what village I was from. When I spoke it ususally gave me away. My accent was atrocious.

Uncle Bill
 
Interesting Uncle, I would have guessed about 5-10 years younger.

I would like to visit Nepal one day. I bet I would stick out even more though Uncle.

thanks and take care
collin
 
collin, dark skin and black hair helps. My hair was gray but when we were living in Nepal Yangdu would put mahendi on it so it was black and I would not stand out so much.

Uncle Bill
 
Well I have brown hair and am about as white as they come so I would probably stick out real bad.

thanks and take care
collin
 
collin, you may as well face the music. You are not going to pass for native and in the village people may point at you and call you, "white monkey."

Uncle Bill
 
You look handsome in that clothing Pakcik Bill ! - I think I had seen your pix while you were very young with Makcik Yangdu posting in front of a Buddhist worship house (that pix must be in knifeforums).

One thing I want to tell you - it seems some of the Nepali words are similar with Malays - for example : 1. surawala (pants) - in Malay is "seluar" or "serwal" and 2. topi (cap) - in Malay is exactly "topi". After all Nepal is not that far from Malaysia.
 
I think you have a substantial Indian population in Malaysia do you not, nephew? And many of the Nepali words are very similar if not the same as Indian and the alphabet both use is the same -- Devanagari. So, this is not surprising.

Strangely, a Japanese customer told me that one of the Japanese words for uncle is "mama", the same in Nepali.

Origins and language!

Uncle Bill
 
That's a pretty common slang name for foreigners, collin. Especially those who are fair haired and light skinned. It is really not meant to be demeaning.

Uncle Bill
 
Well, I like it either way but I guess I prefer it said in a friendly way so I am glad you told me that.

thanks and take care
collin
 
Collin;

"White Monkey," I kind of like that.
Click to expand...

How about "White Hanuman" ?

Long time ago - we had a "White Rajah" in Sarawak (a Malaysian state in Borneo) !
 
mohd, if we ever make a Hanuman with a bone handle that's what it will be, "white monkey."

Uncle Bill
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top