The Paddler ezine WW kayak collection 2013 | Page 142

ThePaddler 142

Apart from the physical man hours we
contributed, the best part was the community
spirit shared between visitors and villagers. The
young people from one of the most deprived
areas of the UK had seen how hard things can be
living hand-to-mouth.
Apart from the physical man hours we
contributed, the best part was the community
spirit shared between visitors and villagers. The
young people from one of the most deprived areas
of the UK had seen how hard things can be living
hand-to-mouth. Travelling from inner London to a
remote mountain village in Nepal certainly puts
things in perspective and was summed up by

Ryan Whittingham

“I'm never going to call myself
poor again,” another reflection on
the scale of the Himalayas, where
having nothing means exactly that.

On the last night the villagers gave us an evening
of traditional songs and dance round the bonfire
and we handed out toys to the children. The next
morning the villagers came out in full traditional
dress and gave us a Nepalese send off and
blessing for the journey ahead, with vibrant
decorations, incense and flower necklaces handmade that morning. We left the village exhausted
and headed for the next challenge – a day of
canyoning!