Not too long ago, I was chatting with one of my closest friends on Facebook. She moved to the States a few years back and she doesn't seem to mind it. Her stories about the crazy parties, the tall buildings, 24 hour electricity, unlimited internet access or the clean dust free roads that won't turn your eyelashes and brows white by the end of the day, I shamefully admit, makes me envious. My envy is not a question of my love for MY country but sometimes I do feel left out, that by still being here, I am somehow missing out on bigger things. I have had people telling me that living abroad is not the rainbows and butterflies its cut out be, this, including my own brother. But sometimes, you can't help but wonder.

On this particular chat though, I had an something close to a revelation, (well, not so much, the word just sounds dramatic and I like that.) I was telling her about how I was in the mood for Pani Puri and that I would go later and suddenly my friend seemed morose. She told me how much she missed Nepal and the infamous street food. This surprised me. You see, I am the sort of person who is still pissed off Mc. Donald's won't open a franchise here (DON'T JUDGE ME!) and while I may not be one of the hundreds of people who lined outside KFC and waited for hours for their first KFC chicken when they opened in Durbar Marg, the fact that she had easy access to all of these and still missed the very unhygenic alternative genuinely surprised me.

But then I thought about Pani Puri. Yeah yeah, I have had people scrunch up their faces and go all "eww, he probably picked on his butt or his nose before he made that" (which he probably DIDN'T) when I eat pani puri off the streets but HAVE YOU TASTED THEM??? They're like little tiny spice bombs in your mouth, the perfect combination- crunchiness of the shell, the softness of the potatoes and OH MY GOD, the JHOL (my favorite part but something I have been horrible at imitating.) What about the jhol momos in the bhatti, OR the deep fried sausages and alu chops (they even deep fry Tofu now) OR the channa chatpattes (actually, not really a big fan of that but they sprinkle those mama chau chau things on top nowadays)? I can walk 5 minutes to a pani puri stand, I am neighbors with a bhatti (who makes the awesomest jhol achar) and if nothing else works out I have bottles of mother's amazing pickles in my fridge right now ( I eat a lot of sour stuff and use A LOT of brackets.)

All of these things are things I have easy access to and often overlook but these are the tiniest things that, I realize, I will miss incredibly when or if I ever leave the country for an extended period of time. Abroad, I may have a more convenient life but that's not say these tiny things will be forgotten. Next time I decide to get some pani puri, which is as soon as I'm done writing this (all this thinking about it has built up my appetite), I think, I will be able to appreciate it a lot more than I did before. I'm just glad this realization hit me before I left so I can fully savor all of it. ALL OF IT!

Nice write-up. Kathmandu street food - a connoisseur's delight, a gastroenterologist's nightmare! You have pushed the boundaries of gastronomical delight and ventured where those cowering in fear of E. Coli and H. Pylori would dare not tread. I wish your tummy a long, healthy, happy, and fulfilling life ;)

Nas,
I feel for you bro. You post the dreams of 6 packs and the very next day you post these "street foods". I feel for you bro, I really do. Hahahaha

Personally,I think eating food is not only about the food itself but also the environment. In Owletko case, I asumme it is about the tring tring and pip peeeepp peep peepp, all the gajhyang gunjhung sound, and the hyaak thu by the passerby. The duiko 100 bhanne pasale, the chicks gigling and laughing, or huncha ni testai....the enviornment that makes nepal nepal typeko kura haru...tyomajhma basera chai sure Nas bro u cannot have pani puri. May be you can have some of that enviornment in Bhim's cafe or any places in Jackson heights. By the way I love Bhim's cafe. Thyakkai Nepal ko bhattima chirya feel huncha.
Nas bro, you have a very thin line which is chuttyaing your juicing process and the jpt khane baani hai. Just keeping the motivation alive! Anyatha nal linu hola.

I just had a bad experience today with food. Went to have some samosas which I missed most. But sadly, it was terrible in all respect.. the shape, size and the taste. These "tiny" things do make me miss home.

arni1101,
la aba kehi dukha gara timro rahar mettauna.
amilo tamarind, fennel seeds, khursani,jeera,lasun,usineko alu,matarkosa,nun, halera majjale musa, ani wrap bhitra rakhera wrap gardeu, Throw it inside the oven or have deep fried. Ani bro, yesto mitho bancha ki timi timro haat chatchau.

Hey guys, I'm sorry I haven't replied.
I haven't really gotten used to the habit of logging into Sajha.
Nas, it makes me so happy that you've been reading whatever I have been writing. You have no idea how happy you've made me by showing me that I won't really have to miss out on these little pleasures when or if I leave. But still, there's just something about Pani Puris here that make the experience so much better. Besides, I doubt they'll taste as good.
Vivant : Haha, I can see what you mean but don't worry. I have a stomach made of steel, haha. Pretty sure all the acid might start corroding it though.
CYKA : yeah, i guess the environment is something I will miss though the hyaak thu noise really had me cringing for a while.