Politics and escaping it at the Garden of Dreams

Last Thursday there was a half day at MotherCare. Nepal's student union elections were to be held that day and there was a worry that there would be rioting in the afternoon, so Sapna wanted to assure that everyone got home safely first. Thankfully there was no trouble in Kathmandu although elsewhere in the country rioting led to several injuries and at least one dead. Just imagine the NUS elections leading to rioting and death. (I'm not sure of the equivalent Canadian body)

I only have the shakiest of a grasp on Nepali politics. I've just started a book about it and will post on the topic when I know more. Politics only has a tangential impact on my daily life but enough to know that things aren't as they should be and trouble is brewing. This usually manifests itself in strikes (bhands) that can be called at a whim by any political party and can effectively shut the city, Kathmandu Valley or even the country down. There have been a couple since I got here. Quite frequently, certain roads get shut down and cause even greater chaos in the traffic than usual. I think this has something to do with protecting nearby embassies.

Other than that, I notice the soldiers on the road and find them a little ominous, with their big wooden sticks.

Anyway, the half school day on Thursday afforded me the opportunity to escape it all in a haven known as the 'Garden of Dreams'.

Once you're inside this pocket of tranquility, it's easy to forget that you're just moments from one the cities' main intersections. The garden and it's pavilions were built in the 1920s, inspired by visits to English Edwardian estates, by the son of the prime minister, who won a small fortune in a game with his father.

There is a particularly good continental restaurant in the garden and I treated myself to a delicious lunch. What made it particularly special was tasting flavours that I haven't had since I arrived (in case you didn't already know or couldn't tell from my blog so far, I'm something of a foodie.) I don't think I've ever enjoyed a caper so much. It was like a tiny explosion of salty goodness in my mouth. And the tiny spring of fresh basil, my goodness, I was momentarily overcome with a paroxysm of joy. I still love Nepali cuisine but I didn't realise I missed continental flavours so much.

Although the garden is only 1.2 acres, I spent nearly an hour walking around. It has recently been lovingly restored and is full of gorgeous things; beautiful trees, well-arranged flower beds, interesting statues (for example a European-style woman who was later remodeled as the Hindu goddess Laxmi), ponds and fountains. Despite my earlier comment in a recent post in which I commented on the lack of rain and the unlikelihood of it in the near future, there had been a massive thunderstorm the night before and there was consequently a freshness and lushness in the garden that made it an exceedingly pleasant place to be.  So after walking around, I settled under a tree and read for an hour or so, only leaving when the sun went in. A lovely afternoon.