Costa Rica Diary: Thrills
Posted: April 27, 2010 Filed under: Guest Post Leave a comment »
By Guest Writer: Gurkhahere
Today was going to be the most exciting day of my trip. I had reserved for a rafting and a canopy tour a few days ago. I was especially excited because I had convinced another volunteer who had never rafted before to go rafting. Although she had just been to a canopy tour a couple of weeks before, she agreed to go on the combine tour because I had put enough excitement in my words while explaining how much fun rafting can be, especially on the Pacuare river, recognized by some, including the National Geographic, as one of the best whitewater rivers in the world.
The bus came to pick us up around nine. In the bus were a bunch of Frenchmen, Chileans and one American. We drove through Cartago, one of the other bigger cities in Costa Rica. The driver showed us a volcanic mountain along the spectacular two hour drive. Two rafts, two guides and a photographer were waiting for us when we got there. It was a beautiful river surrounded by green mountains. The air was fresh. The day was beautiful. The sun was out and it almost seemed like it was waiting to watch us paddle the river. It was a perfect setting for a great run down the river.
After quick safety instructions, we were all ready to experience the thrill. My friend was nervous, especially because the water was very cold and guide had said that if someone fell off the raft, it was up to them to make it to the shore. Of course, he knew better but thought it was funny to scare others. I was really excited, as this was one of the things that I had really wanted to do while I was down there. I had run a few whitewater rivers in the US but this was going to be different. This was a whole new continent, a whole new group of people whom I will very likely never meet again. But that didn’t bother me. All I was focused on at that point was to experience the Class III thrill and make it to the shore without scratching a bone.
The five-kilometer run was very quick. The first half kilometer was not very exciting as we hit many rocks but the remainder of the trip was filled with the guide yelling “paddle forward,” “right back”, “left back,” and “duck” along with a couple of profanities. By being on the front of the raft, I was one of the two leaders which made me feel extra responsible but I was confident that no one was going to die. As long as no lives were spared I was okay with someone falling into the river. That would just add to the excitement- I thought. I nearly became the victim when I was almost thrown out of the boat while maneuvering, or more appropriately – trying to maneuver, through a rapid. The raft bounced off the river. The guide had yelled “duck” which meant “hold on to the paddle and grab the freaking rope.” I did. But I only managed to hold the paddle underneath my arm. It was too late before I could find my rope. The next thing I know is I have half my body out of the boat and parallel to the river. First thing that occurred to me was to somehow avoid any rock that was going to be on my way as I fell off the boat. But then, I also quickly remembered that my foot was tangled to a “grip” on the floor of the boat. I pulled my leg to make sure that my grip was tight. As we were coming down the rapid, the boat hit a huge splash of water coming towards the boat in the opposite direction. The splash couldn’t have timed itself any better. I was soon back up in the boat, this time better prepared and even more excited to tackle another rapid. Read the rest of this entry »
10,000 Steps
Posted: April 13, 2010 Filed under: News/information and opinion 3 Comments »Do you know how many steps you walk in a day? We all know the importance of exercise in our lives, but most are unaware that excercise does not have to be difficult or physically demanding to reap health benefits and maintain proper weight. Recent studies have shown that walking 10,000 steps a day is often enough for weight management, provided you take care of your diet too. However, if you are looking for a 6 pack abs or a significant reduction in weight, then you might require more strenuous exercises 
I recently purchased a pedometer at a thrift store, so I was very curious to count how many steps I walk in a normal day. I clipped the pedometer in my belt everyday before leaving for work, and took the reading immediately after coming back home. The count was that I walk slightly over 3,000 steps in an average. The proper reading needs to be taken right before going to the bed; but knowing the couch potato that I am, there wouldn’t have been more than couple hundred extra steps at max. And, I have a magnificent pot belly to prove it 
It wasn’t just me, unless people do some extra walking they normally don’t reach the goal of 10,000 steps (or 5 miles or 8 km) in a day. Here is the list of few professions and the average number of steps they walk in a day. Note, this is based on the study conducted in USA. In Nepal I used to surpass 10,000 steps easily, even when I was doing absolutely nothing
For source: click this link
• Secretaries 4,327 steps
• Teachers, 4,726 steps
• Lawyers, 5,062 steps
• Police officers, 5,336 steps
• Nurses, 8,648 steps
• Construction workers, 9,464 steps
• Factory workers, 9,892 steps
• Restaurant servers, 10,087 steps
• Custodians, 12,991 steps
• Mail carriers, 18,904 steps
Unless I choose to take stairs, 3-4 story’s up, every time I want to go to the restroom (toilet), I don’t foresee attaining 10,000 steps while continuing my couch potato privileges 
Hopefully, 10,000 Steps will be a part of my new years resolution
Happy Nepali New Year 2067 to y’all
Retiring the word “Dalit”
Posted: April 6, 2010 Filed under: Scratch of my head 8 Comments »Words are not just some combination of characters; it often has big meanings, and can significantly shape a nation or the whole mankind. To quote few memorable ones: I have a dream, Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country, Only thing we have to fear is fear itself, Be the change you wish to see in the world, etc. Thus, realizing the power of words, it is imperative to use them very wisely. We have also witnessed, with time, many existing words were evolved/changed based on their broader definitions, correct functions, or political correctness.
Up to few years ago, ‘mental retardation’ was a generalized (more commonly used) term for all ‘Developmental Disability‘; at the same time ‘retard’ was a common phrase for an insult, synonymously used for calling someone an idiot or a stupid. It is gravely wrong to call someone with a developmental disability stupid; not just because it is rude, but also because they are not stupid. Now, rightfully, the words ‘mental retardation’ are being gradually replaced with ‘Intellectual Disability‘. The word ‘Disabled’ itself is further being corrected as ‘Differently-Abled‘.
Now coming to my main topic, it hurts me a great deal when people continue to call someone “Dalit”, and at the same time advocate for abolishing the concept of ’untouchables’. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the word “Dalit“, they are supposedly the “lower caste people” considered to be “untouchables” by the supposedly “higher caste people”, a common practice in the Indian sub continent. I don’t know how a group of people were labeled as “untouchables”; based on my extensive readings of Hindu religious books, I know for sure, it has nothing to do with the religion. I bet, historically, few ruling class drubbed this ill concept to continue suppressing other groups of people. I had written extensively about this; how this caught my attention and what my interpretations were, in two of my previous posts.
Discrimination against the community drubbed as “Dalit” is even more sickening in India compared to Nepal. Regardless of the geography, this deplorable ill concept of “Dalit” has to end, period. First step forward would be to retire the word “Dalit” itself, you can’t empower them much if you continue to call them with that name. Branding the tools of empowerment with that ill name does not help either; for example, “Dalit Quota” for education, jobs, healthcare, or any other entitlement programs.
If, ever, any separate recognition is a must for the purpose of empowerment, I propose to call them, hereafter, as ‘underrepresented’, similar to other tribal groups. I strongly believe that being underrepresented, historically, in the “mainstream” social structure was the primary reason why they were marginalized in the first place.
God loves everyone equally, so should we.
