Nepal

SCIENCE NEPAL

(Russell Mulgrew Educational Trust)

I am in the process of establishing an educational Trust, Science Nepal, with a group of like-minded individuals to commemorate my late Nephew, Russell Mulgrew. The long-term aim of the Trust is to offer secondary-level science education to the children of the of Nepal by facilitating practical science classes.

Nepal desperately needs home-grown scientists, but as Nepalese children learn Western science only from a book, as they do not have the facilities to conduct hands-on experiments, there is a noticeable lack of synchronisation of knowledge and practical application. The aim of the Trust is to try to bridge this gap whilst offering Nepali children the opportunity to learn secondary-school science to Western standards. It is hopeful that the Trust can source money and sponsorships not only for education, but also for employment opportunities in health and sanitation in Nepal.

The long-term plan envisages practical science classes run by local Nepali science teachers and volunteer western science teachers. We are intending to co-ordinate from the UK and Nepal with the aid of volunteers. Keep watching this space!

NEPAL THE COUNTRY

Nepal is a beautiful mountain kingdom of some 23 million people: a strong cultural mix of Hindus and Buddhists, complemented with Tibetan culture brought by the refugees who fled their homeland some 30 years before.

Kathmandu is a thriving, busy and bustling capital metropolis with a dazzling array of craft shops, restaurants (not a Macydee in sight!), markets and stupas (mini temples). Take a trip round the old city or take a walk up the steep city hills for a breathtaking view of the Kathmandu valley. Do not leave the capital without a trip to Nagacot – with views of Mount Everest on a clear day (beware of the mists!).

Pokhara is about 100m west of Kathmandu and is the second city of Nepal. It is a thriving market town, and the jump off point for the famous Annapurna Circuit – a 21-day walk that takes in the sacred city of Muktinath, forbidden Mustang and one of the deepest gorges in the world.

Tips

Do not use the water at all – even for cleaning your teeth. You can buy bottled water, but make sure that the top is sealed as some unscrupulous dealers refill with tap water. Alternatively (and I recommend this for your walking trips as plastic is forbidden in the Annapurna Reserve), water purification tablets from Boots work very well.

You are likely to get a stomach bug – if you need antibiotics, make sure you top up your good bacteria with acidophilis tablets – get them before your leave home. Antibiotics kill your good bacteria, which if not topped up, can lead to candida.

Street hawkers are pervasive all over Nepal – this is a very poor country. Do buy from the colourful street hawkers if you have a mind, but the Government advises not to give money to beggars. Also, to stop excessive inflation, which affects the poor adversely, do not be tempted to pay western prices for goods or food. Pay the local rate for all your purchases.