Glimpse of Eternal Snows : A Family's Journey of Love and Loss in Nepal

by Wilson-Howarth, Jane

• ISBN13: 9781841624358
• ISBN10: 1841624357
• Edition: Revised
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2013-02-05
• Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides

Summary

The story of an English doctor who, a month after the birth of her second child returns to Nepal. The setting is dramatic Himalayan scenery with its rich sub-tropical wildlife and exotic smells and sounds. She describes what drives her to ignore doctors' gloomy prognostications about her son. In Nepal, life is no longer dominated by hospitals and they learn from the attitudes of the locals. Jane offers unique insights into caste and slavery as well as the dilemmas of wildlife conservation.

Table of Contents

Foreword   Most welcome to Rajapur New Arrivals Disease and disaster David-the-interesting-case Escape to sanity David’s First Trek The Clever Doctors Worse by candlelight A Proper Toilet Exploring Our Island Vultures A Real Doctor Arranged Marriage Business as usual Dust Devil Prostitutes and Outcastes Dying for a Glimpse of cool Himalayas The Hot Season That’s life The gods hear better from here Blood Sacrifice Poor Pooss Baby Anniversary Party The Wild West Doctor last-ditch Clinics for the Poor School for David New Home in Kathmandu Over the Jalja Pass Expats and Fireworks David stands tall Renewal Departures   The Heart Sutra Afterword – The National Health Service: a cumbersome beast Map A note on Nepali Glossary Selected Bibliography Acknowledgements  

Excerpts

A group of giggling Nepali mothers gathered around to see my five-week-old: to compare babies. They took him from me and pressed in to see. ‘How beautiful,’ ‘Such soft white skin,’ ‘These little holes in his ears are a gift from heaven.’ This was the first time strangers had admired my new baby, and at that moment I knew that it had been right to flee England.

 

We had little idea of what the future held. All we knew was that it would be better than submitting to what the Cambridge doctors had planned for our quiet beautiful baby…

 

… Three-year-old Alexander whooped with delight as water surged onto the bonnet and over the windscreen. His exuberance started little David chuckling, while we gazed out at the exquisite scene of magisterial red silk-cotton trees and sun-orange geese reflected in sparkling river water. Finally, we drove up onto a pristine beach and by a longhouse. Panicking chickens scattered between thatched huts on the edge of Rajapur village, our new home.