March
23rd,
2010 - The night I spent in Tengboche was an entertaining one. I met
some folks from Ireland, Belgium, England, and the Netherlands. It
was the conversation with the young Dutch woman that sticks in my
mind. She was traveling alone albeit with a guide and porter.
Apparently the guide was…how shall I say…a bit clingy. He was
upset with her because they were not spending enough quality time
together. Sure.
She
was staying at the adjacent guesthouse and because we were at the
start of the season she happened to be the only occupant. Our
guesthouse was a hotbed of socialization so it is no surprise that
she wanted to meet folks. Her guide was not amused. He did not seem
to understand that spending all of her time in a dark lodge while
having a conversation in broken English was not the Himalayan
adventure she was seeking. Imagine that. They had a 'come to Jesus'
heart to heart where he asked her if she wanted another guide. Tears
were shed….by him. She managed to mollify him and all was well but
she was walking an amorous tightrope.
You
may think this scenario sounds exceptionally bizarre. It is not. As
far as many Nepali men are concerned female westies (as I like to
call them) are considered to be the romantic Holy Grail, especially
when they are fetching, as the young Dutch lass in fact was. She told
me that they had spent the day together in Kathmandu on a sightseeing
tour. I explained to her that it probably meant he was in love with
her….literally.
