The Umbrella
After my trek to Everest Base camp, I found a lovely little restaurant that, from the outside at least, had little to distinguish it from the many other restaurants that line the sides of Phokara’s main street. On the inside, however, you could find the only French cuisine for a 1,000 miles, compliments of a French expatriate who had married a Nepalese woman.
One day I met a German expatriate who had come to live in Nepal to escape the rush and pressure of modern life in Germany and we sat down for what turned out to be the best game of chess I'd enjoyed in years. A few days later, I left for a three week trek the Himalayas. I doubted I would see him again.
Still, after weeks of trekking through the mountains, I returned to Phokara much in need of some recuperation. I returned to the little restaurant only to find my German friend sitting there once again. He greeted me with a warm smile and an unforgettable "I knew you'd come back."
We spent the better part of the next two weeks sitting there enjoying the food and game after game. Around four each afternoon intense storms would pass over the city and we would enjoy the rain and relief from the afternoon heat that accompanied it. One day the sound of particularly strong rain caused me to look from my game only for only a moment, but it was in this moment I caught the image of an umbrellas sitting alone in the doorway. A moment later I was back to the game. I don't remember who won, but then again, it doesn't matter.
One day I met a German expatriate who had come to live in Nepal to escape the rush and pressure of modern life in Germany and we sat down for what turned out to be the best game of chess I'd enjoyed in years. A few days later, I left for a three week trek the Himalayas. I doubted I would see him again.
Still, after weeks of trekking through the mountains, I returned to Phokara much in need of some recuperation. I returned to the little restaurant only to find my German friend sitting there once again. He greeted me with a warm smile and an unforgettable "I knew you'd come back."
We spent the better part of the next two weeks sitting there enjoying the food and game after game. Around four each afternoon intense storms would pass over the city and we would enjoy the rain and relief from the afternoon heat that accompanied it. One day the sound of particularly strong rain caused me to look from my game only for only a moment, but it was in this moment I caught the image of an umbrellas sitting alone in the doorway. A moment later I was back to the game. I don't remember who won, but then again, it doesn't matter.
|
|