Stranger in a strange land.

Pemba, Jampa and young Gedhun sat outside Chokey’s home and drank some water from her well. Chokey took the sacks of lentils that Gedhun’s family had brought to her and dragged them into her home. She returned with a few ladoos. If there’s one thing you could look forward to when visiting Chokey it was her ladoos. The sweet mix of steamed millet flour, jaggery, coconut and peanuts all rolled into large balls the size of lemons make your mouth water as soon as you see one. Chokey’s ladoos were extra special, extra tasty. Maybe it was due to Chokey roasting the peanuts, or maybe it was because of the type of jaggery she used. They each devoured one and placed extras in their pockets for a snack later on. Chokey told Pemba that her rice would be harvested in a few weeks and he could come pick up his share next month. They thanked Chokey and continued down the path toward Chusul. 

The market in Chusul was another 6 KM away. Gedhun was excited and a little anxious, this being his first trip to the market. He didn’t know what to expect except that whenever his father or grandfather returned from their trips to the market they usually brought back items that were not available near their home. Stuff like dried mushrooms, pots and pans, rope, paper and pencils, and sometimes dried fruits. After passing a few more homes on the path they saw 3 men squatted in a circle with a hookah in the middle. Smoke was rising, Gedhun looked closely at the men, whose eyes were glazed and bloodshot as they coughed and laughed. 

A few houses further down the path, 2 small children stood in front of their home behind a small iron gate and stared at Gedhun. His grandfather stopped briefly to say hello. The children’s mother motioned for Pemba to come through the gate and into the yard. Gedhun, Pemba and Jampa followed the 2 children over to where the mother was standing. She offered them some raw milk from her water buffalo who was penned up nearby. Water buffalo milk has 10 percent more calcium and protein than regular milk and almost 40 percent more iron. As Gedhun finished his milk he pulled the extra ladoos from his pocket that Chokey had given him and offered them to the 2 kids. They looked to their mother for approval and she nodded. The children extended their hands, took the ladoos from Gedhun, and bowed toward him, thankfully.

Continued their walk down toward the market, they got closer and there were other locals on the trail now heading in the same direction. People with large backsacks and women carrying loads on their heads, all on their way to the weekly market. The closer they got they could hear the sounds from the market. Bells gently ringing. Motors running. People talking louder. They started to smell smoke from fires, food cooking and even some sort of incense burning. As they entered the market area Gedhun noticed one of the first food stands set up on the left hand side. A man was selling fried mozzarella balls. Next to the wok there was a small box playing loud music. Gedhun had never, ever heard music before or seen a music box. The song playing was Iron Man by Black Sabbath.