Patan, Nepal, is a guideMaharjan NareshThis is also Mr. Nares's birthplace, and for this Nepal tour, we were invited to Mr. Nares's family home in Patan, where we had a welcome party on our first night in Nepal! In front of Mr. Nares's family home, the neighbors gave us a warm welcome! Mr. Nares is a hero and a beloved figure in this town, and everyone greeted us warmly♪
I witnessed a rare sight as part of Nepalese customs! Mr. Nares put banknotes into a water jar placed at the entrance, prayed, and then went inside the house, soaking the money! (Amazing!) Apparently, this is a custom of the Newar people, the indigenous people of the Kathmandu Valley, and it seems that many other customs remain in the Newar culture!
I was shown into a room that was like a guest room in Japan! It was a space with vibrant pink walls and striking blue interior accents, and it felt like it was designed by a Mexican architect...Luis Barragán (Luis Ramiro Barragan Morfin)The color scheme is reminiscent of [something], and it has a cute design!
Because Nepal is a small country, the amount of land available to the average family is limited, and wealthy families tend to add more and more floors to their homes. Nares's family home is also impressive, being seven stories tall, and it's amazing that even her elderly mother goes up and down the stairs every day! Climbing seven floors in one go must be quite a workout for your legs and back! The oldest member of the tour group is 81 years old.Noboru SugiyamaWhile Mr. [Name] was climbing briskly, we, the 40-somethings, were the ones screaming the loudest, which is rather embarrassing (lol).
As dusk falls, the rooftop offers a pleasant breeze and a wonderful view of Patan! We all toast with Nepalese beer!
Nepal Beer is a joint venture with Carlsberg of Denmark and Gorkha Brewery.TUBORG"and"Gorka (GORKHA)It seems that this is the mainstream choice! Both have a light taste and a hint of sweetness!
While enjoying two kinds of beer, we savored dishes that are popular in Nepalese households, such as buffalo stew and stir-fried chickpeas!
They treated us to rice shochu, which is made in Nepalese households and is similar to "doburoku" in Japan! I think the alcohol content is high, around 40%, but it has a sweet taste, so it's dangerously easy to drink (lol). Furthermore, the potato chips with the skin on that they served as a snack were spicy and delicious, and they disappeared in no time! Potato dishes are very common in Nepal!
Nares's motherPremmayaThe gift includes a commemorative photo of the Nares brothers, who are active in Japan, and a famous confectionary representing Hamamatsu.Shunkado"of"Eel pieThey presented her with gifts such as [item name]! Nares moved to Japan when she was still a young 18 years old. I'm sure her mother is always looking forward to Nares's visits home!
As the sun begins to set, a beautiful gradient of colors spreads across the sky!
Here comes the main dish, a Nepalese home-style dish!
「Dhal Bhat Talkari"Dal" is a classic Nepalese dish consisting of dal (lentil soup), bhat (rice), tarkari (side dishes), and achar (pickles) all served on one plate! Nepalese cuisine uses a lot of vegetables and also incorporates spices that help burn calories, making it very healthy and often having a mild flavor that suits the Japanese palate! My personal favorite is the sour and spicy achar (pickles) made with tomatoes♪
「Momo"Momo" is what we call "gyoza" in Japan! They come in steamed, grilled, and fried varieties, and the filling is often made with buffalo meat. The filling is seasoned, but it seems that it's most commonly eaten with a spicy sauce. As someone from Hamamatsu who is familiar with gyoza, momo was a food I really wanted to try for the first time! Just as there are countless varieties of Hamamatsu gyoza, I hear that momo also comes in many different flavors, so I plan to try various kinds during my stay in Nepal!
After the meal, a warm milk tea, similar to Indian chai,ChiyaThey served me this delicious Nepalese tea! It has a gentle sweetness, and the aroma of cinnamon and ginger spices warms you up from the inside out.
As the party was in full swing, Mr. Nares's classmate, who works at the Patan City Hall,Bikram ShakyaShaka has arrived! The next day, Shaka arranged an appointment for us to pay our respects to the mayor of Patan City Hall! Thank you!
At the end of the welcome party, when it was time to say goodbye, her mother saidPremmayaFrom Mr. [Name], as a welcoming ceremony,Puja = prayerThey prayed for a safe journey for us!Dhanyabad! (धन्यवाद) Thank you!
I had red powder applied to three places on my forehead and cheeks, flowers in my hair, and a red string tied around my neck as part of the ceremony! (Note: The red powder is difficult to remove, so please be careful if you are wearing white clothing.) This was also my first time experiencing this!Puja = prayer"I am so happy to have received such a warm and welcoming response!Felivetuura! (फेरि भेटौला) See you again!
