We ‘presume’ they’re all there in a typical Aussie home - or available at the supermarket or nearby shop
.....NOT so in Ilam Nepal
Returning to Adelaide 8 days ago has already been a trip of re-discovery and re-adjustment…
These are the things in ‘re-connection’ order -
Did I miss them? Some….not all
• ‘half sitting’ toilet that flushes..I’m missing the ‘full sitting’..& the bucket & jug..not to mention the neighbours’ bathroom routine that echoed up the stairs every day…. I guess mine echoed down too!
• View of the backyard from the kitchen window
• Flowers in my OWN garden
• Shower with HOT and cold water ….the first one lasted 20 minutes…close to heaven!!!
• Shower gel...will miss the ayurvedic soap
• Drinking water direct from the tap over the sink…or any tap at home
• Kitchen cupboards – with DOORS …..many…. whooo hooooo!!!!
• Table lamp
• Wardrobe – with a rail for coathangers…previously hung on a piece of elastic & covered with cloth to protect from dust & mould
• Soft, soft lounge chairs and sofa
• Stereo CD player
• Dining table of reasonable height….a low wooden slat bed covered with a bedsheet was my dining and work table
• Automatic washing machine…..Whooo HOOOOOO again!!! beats 3 buckets and a large bowl, squatting on the bathroom floor, scrubbing by hand with orange soap wringing out sheets…
• SARD!!!! I love you
• My very own clothesline…..underwear and various other items are now secure!!!
• Bleach and disinfectant
• Sponges
• Shopping centre
• Supermarket with more than 2 aisles…TOO many choices & got lost searching for milk!!!
• Tea bags – infinite variety……. missing my daily intake of extremely fresh ILAM tea
• Milk in a carton - a choice of varieties – including flavoured
• Cream in a container other than a cow..
• Greengrocer with very shiny, high quality fruit & veg - green, red, yellow, purple, orange everywhere..and fresh herbs too …Basil….mmmmm!
• Trolleys for shopping
• Carparks with line markings
• Streets with line markings…and parking restrictions (that come with parking inspectors :-( )
• Traffic lights
• Pedestrian crossings that drivers recognise….Ilam has a couple, but drivers don’t recognise or stop for pedestrians…it’s your responsibility to get out of the way of crazy drivers
• Footpaths – paved….there are just a few in Ilam, not paved
• Fences….not so in Ilam…people walk thru your property (right past your front door in most cases) if they need to get fm A to B…
• Mail delivered to the letterbox – including bills
• Innerspring mattress
• Electric clock/radio alarm
• Weetbix
• Refined sugar
• Salt with iodine
• 100% orange juice…& many other varieties of fruit juice throughout the whole…not only mango or apple during summer...because you should ONLY drink warm fluids (or raksi) during winter to protect against colds...
• Hot running water over the sink…and a PLUG!!!
• Multi grain bread without too much sugar…that stays fresh for more than 2 days
• Butter or margarine –infinite variety
• Yoghurt in containers (various sizes) – ditto
• Plastic wrap and aluminium foil………thank GOD!!!
• Broom with a looooong handle
• Vacuum cleaner
• Iron…and a board to iron on…that was difficult after 14months of not ironing a thing...but bit the bullet & reacquainted myself with the process..
• Stove with 4 burners … typically 2 burner in Nepal
• Light over the stove
• Gas mains direct to the house….no need to buy a large gas bottle & then have the poor ol little porter to carry it on his back fm the market, up 3 flights of stairs….he looks about 75, but is probably only 35....and he used to be 5'8" but is now 4'11" ......I really felt for these guys.
• Electricity 24/7
• Inbuilt gas heating
• Reverse cycle aircon
• Organised garbage collection from your own bin….no need to carry it downstairs & deposit in the cement bags by the side of the house..then hope the municipality truck comes soon - before the dogs spread it all over the street
• Waste recycling – including disposable recyclable plastic garbage bags
• Furniture polish
• Carpet cleaner
• Crusty Italian bread, baguettes...........still warm
• Blue cheese with delicious plain wafer biscuits…demolished in one sitting!
• Icy COLD SA Sauv Blanc…4Litres in a cardboard carton … drinking from a large, light stemmed wine glass
• Freshly grated parmesan cheese
• Semi-dried tomatoes…had forgotten all about THEM…
• Verandah
• Garden shed
• Window blinds
• Insect screens…screen doors…………I think I saw more than ONE in Ilam
• Olive oil, peanut oil, balsamic
• Frozen veges from the s/market frozen food section..of course, you need a fridge/freezer at home…saves going to market every 2/3 days
• My very own car!!!!
many, many more…and many more to come...
Dinner ....fresh crunchy bread, cold Sauv Blanc with pasta - topped with fresh basil & parmesan
