Nepal has its own kind of humor. It is reassuring that the people there have something to laugh about with all of the despair they could be facing: daal baht for every meal and emphysema in their thirties from all the pollution in the city. Pema has a television in the dining room of his lodge in Khumjung, somewhat of a rarity over 13,000 feet (remember, someone had to carry it up there). One of the choice viewing selections was the comedy duo MaHa (Madankhrishna Shrestha and Haribansa Acharya) performing live in Kathmandu. We gave it a try (to break some of the monotony) and was a bit of culture shock, and sensory overload for Rich. After an hour of incomprehensible yammering and a musical number that seemed to go on an infinite loop Rich scampered away and took some powerful sedatives, but the tune continued in his nightmares. Still, Pema and his boys got a good laugh from the routine. They say the people of Nepal love this comedy team and they help to ease the tension and to take some weight from the heavy issues. Shovan says he loves that show too. The way he explains it they do make a lot of fun of the government, but are “diplomatic and satirical” in the way they play it. They don’t mention any names or address anyone directly, but the Nepalese are in on the jokes.

In part of the hour of yapping like lap dogs they hit everything from women’s rights to the Maoists, but I cold never tell. Shovan admits the singing is not the highlight, but the clever jabs and innuendo make them the country’s most favorite act. I wondered if the show would be banned now given the political environment, but Shovan is certain they’re too popular, they could never be taken away. There was one skit that was clear enough for me to catch and it was kind of funny. On of the guys was dressed as an old woman in a provincial village, and a player suited up as a Maoist rebel was trying to bully her for donations. She swatted him with a stick and told him to get lost, which gives you more of a laugh of relief than anything else. I know people are worried and intimidated by the threats of civil terrorism, so it’s nice to pack the problem down to a manageable size and trounce it about for an evening. That one moment helped me to relate a lot better with the Nepalese and I realize they’re coping with the whole thing in a healthy way. They’re good people and they enjoy a good laugh, even if it’s too much to handle at first for us westerners.