Day 09 - 20/08/2014 Kodari, the border village of Nepal and China, where the Friendship Bridge over River Kosi (called Barha Koshi by the locals) was unlike anything I had seen before. Humans living in the midst of nature with bare minimum necessities but warm smiles and enormous hearts. The village had a feel of a place out of time. And the clock inside us was ticking really fast, pining to leave Nepal but we had to wait for the choppers to land but the weather was cloudy. So we chanted 11 Devi Stutis for safe landings of our fellow yatris who had become friends.
We met Akanksha, a newly married bride who had been staying in the Kodari guest house for the last 3 days by herself while her husband had got the visa and gone ahead. She fed us with all kinds of Gujarati home made snacks including sukha paan. (Missing it all!!)
Also as we took a walk down the road and saw another Isha group sitting around a table on the roadside having tea. They had just returned from Mt. Kailash and amongst them I found my cousin from America sitting and having tea. It was a pleasant surprise. It was great to have met in such a setting and to hear his experiences.
Day 09 - 21/08/2014 Leaving Kodari,
Finally the visa list was announced. Unfortunately 6 people still hadn't received their visa including Payal and Amita. Payal, did not receive her duffle bag in Kodari, (maybe even in Dhulikhel). She had been without her essentials since leaving Kathmandu, but was hopeful to get her belongings while she waited for her visa. Everyone had helped her with whatever she needed and she smilingly continued her yatra.
With excitement and hope still burning inside we clicked our moments till just before the bridge.
As you enter the border security complex, no phones/ cameras are allowed. Its just an open ground while you wait for your turn at the toll booth kind of setup for visa processing. We were chatting as usual, tired and anxious and suddenly i sense something falling and hear a plop. I turned to my left and a small snake was twirling and trying to find its way. This brought in excitement amongst everyone - as a good omen to have blessings of the Nagas. Our hope of being able to meet Sadhguru at either Mansarovar or Mt. Kailash was restored.
The process took about 3 hours and then we headed to Zhangmu which is the border town on the other side. We were thoroughly briefed about the rules and regulations of the Chinese government and not to say the word Tibet. Zhangmu was another eye opening place. It was like a crowded small hill city with shops and hotels and guest houses, cars, buses, pollution and smells.
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