Words

I love words. I love the sound of words in any language (although I struggle to love Chinese).

Ram, the mountain man, has been teaching me Nepalese. I'm fluent as long as the conversation contains only the words is (chha), down (tala), go (jaam), hot water (taato paani), potato (aloo), thank you (Dhanyabaad), welcome (swAgat chha), mountain (himalayi), man (manche) and my favourite word, beautiful (raamro).

raamro

Roll the first 'r' on the tip or your tongue and let the 'aa' slide over the back of your throat. Allow your lips to flirt briefly with each other as they close over the 'm' then drop the second 'r' into the 'o'.

raamro

raamro Nepal

raamro himalayi

raamro himalayi manche

Maybe it's because I've fallen in love that everything seems so very beautiful; because falling in love causes an ethereal, chaotic beauty. Unplanned, unexpected, intense, spontaneous and carefree. I have journeyed through highs and lows, through 27 beds, 10 countries, 13 trains, 5 aeroplanes, countless cars, many buses, numerous metros, one rickshaw and a motorbike. Of all the places I have been I love Nepal the most. My journey isn't over, it will continue each day in a different country, a different place, into another unknown. To sum up this journey needs only two words

raamro chha

It's beautiful