This blog should have been enlisted under 2012 as I should have written (am writing) my experience on my third and probably the last experience on "one day on Earth" project, 12.12.12 with UNDP Nepal.
Never been to Kakani before and never knew that Kakani was in Nuwakot. I always misconceived them to be two different places far far away from one another. Anyway journey began a day before 12.12.12 to Kakani. In mere 2 hours ride in a big UN white vehicle we were in Kakani's guest house so contrary to what I've imagined a hotel to be. Chilly and absolutely out of place to be Taragaon.
We un-equipped ourselves and set out for a quick tour through Okharpauwa village in Nuwakot down west from the hotel I stayed. A cute village but way rural than conception I had in my mind. I was further flabbergasted to see kids running along the vehicle bare feet and just a shirt on in some cases in December, while I was all jacketed and sweatered. All the people designating me ma'am and sharing their experiences of their involvement in producing and trading cash crops like strawberries, roses and peas instead of their regular crops. I love it when I see Nepalese benefiting from agriculture. May be it is because my country is largely an Agriculture based country and in my heart somewhere there is a farming hermit. Plus it is also a slap to faces who say there is no opportunity in this country.
The next morning we woke up as early as we could to film the sunrise and the magnificent Ganesh Himal. I was the camera person for the whole project, did I mention that earlier? There was a beautiful sunrise between trees but apropos Ganesh Himal it was not a lucky that day for me.
We had a quick breakfast of fried rice and tomato soup to fuel ourselves enough for the all day long shoot and also to return back the same day. Walked up and down the hills of Nuwakot with my camera gear, filmed the humble farmers, their families and their unimaginable farm. I was just blown away and so was my sister Priti who was in charge of all the film production. She later made a short film on our tour to Nuwakot farming too. Basically that is what we were there for. https://vimeo.com/57041358
We had taken needful technical precautions and learned from our last year mistakes during similar project in Biratnagar. It was one hell of a ride back then.
All the filming, interviews, photography ended with well served meal of dhido and saag, a debut meal for me and my sister.
Although the trip sounds flawless we did have some hiccups like, road was narrow and bumpy that I was frightened to look out of the window the cliff below. I had this terror that one wrong move and we would all tumble down the hill nowhere to be found in one piece. Then there was a time where the width of a road was not enough to pass that big car and the villagers have to build a passable road. Then again, I am famous for clumsy walking and stumbling and people laughing at my mess.
It was a marvel filming trip. We rewarded ourselves munching fresh strawberries and peas right out of the farm and also rewarded our families back home with purchase of strawberries, peas, cauliflowers, etc.
Never been to Kakani before and never knew that Kakani was in Nuwakot. I always misconceived them to be two different places far far away from one another. Anyway journey began a day before 12.12.12 to Kakani. In mere 2 hours ride in a big UN white vehicle we were in Kakani's guest house so contrary to what I've imagined a hotel to be. Chilly and absolutely out of place to be Taragaon.
We un-equipped ourselves and set out for a quick tour through Okharpauwa village in Nuwakot down west from the hotel I stayed. A cute village but way rural than conception I had in my mind. I was further flabbergasted to see kids running along the vehicle bare feet and just a shirt on in some cases in December, while I was all jacketed and sweatered. All the people designating me ma'am and sharing their experiences of their involvement in producing and trading cash crops like strawberries, roses and peas instead of their regular crops. I love it when I see Nepalese benefiting from agriculture. May be it is because my country is largely an Agriculture based country and in my heart somewhere there is a farming hermit. Plus it is also a slap to faces who say there is no opportunity in this country.
The next morning we woke up as early as we could to film the sunrise and the magnificent Ganesh Himal. I was the camera person for the whole project, did I mention that earlier? There was a beautiful sunrise between trees but apropos Ganesh Himal it was not a lucky that day for me.
We had a quick breakfast of fried rice and tomato soup to fuel ourselves enough for the all day long shoot and also to return back the same day. Walked up and down the hills of Nuwakot with my camera gear, filmed the humble farmers, their families and their unimaginable farm. I was just blown away and so was my sister Priti who was in charge of all the film production. She later made a short film on our tour to Nuwakot farming too. Basically that is what we were there for. https://vimeo.com/57041358
We had taken needful technical precautions and learned from our last year mistakes during similar project in Biratnagar. It was one hell of a ride back then.
All the filming, interviews, photography ended with well served meal of dhido and saag, a debut meal for me and my sister.
Although the trip sounds flawless we did have some hiccups like, road was narrow and bumpy that I was frightened to look out of the window the cliff below. I had this terror that one wrong move and we would all tumble down the hill nowhere to be found in one piece. Then there was a time where the width of a road was not enough to pass that big car and the villagers have to build a passable road. Then again, I am famous for clumsy walking and stumbling and people laughing at my mess.
It was a marvel filming trip. We rewarded ourselves munching fresh strawberries and peas right out of the farm and also rewarded our families back home with purchase of strawberries, peas, cauliflowers, etc.
