Lessons For A Malaysian Traveler In Nepal

By Soon Li Wei KUALA LUMPUR, May 6 (Bernama) -- "I had a hard time deciding whether I should stay back in Nepal and help those in need or hop into the Malaysian air force plane and get back home." This was the quandary that a Malaysian backpacker faced after putting up with a local family for two days and joining hands with them in helping the local community after the 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck Nepal on the afternoon of April 25. Tommy Yeoh Sang Ye, 27, who started his solo 51 day journey from India in March was on his way to Annapurna Base Camp for a trekking expedition. He arrived in Kathmandu from Kokalta, India on April 25 after a 14 hour grueling train ride. He was at the Boudhanath Temple in Kathmandu the same day when he witnessed the locals fleeing from buildings to open areas. "Initially I was at a loss on what was going on and felt disoriented... then a local told me to get out as it was an earthquake," he said to Bernama. Yeoh sensing the danger rushed out to an open space and waited there for two hours before a sense of calm set in. "As I was hungry , I walked towards a row of shops to see if I could get anything but they were all closed or abandoned. Then I came across 'G-Cafe'," he said. G-CAFE PROVIDED ME SOME CONSOLATION I took a peek from outside the cafe, I saw a man standing within waving at me to come in. "I got into the cafe and the man handed me several breads to fill up my stomach," he said. The man was Vishua Maskey, the cafe's owner, who would become my saviour for the next two days. In spite of the turmoil outside, he appeared calm and even offered me a place to put up with his family and employees. "I told Vishua and his family that I had an accommodation at Basantapur, but they advised me against going there as the local radio had announced that the place was devastated and dangerous. "So I took up the offer to put up with Vishua, though I was also well aware that I had to get back to my accommodation and save my personal belongings," he said. REACHING OUT TO THE VICTIMS Throughout the stay with Vishua, Yeoh joined the family and the employees in going to the nearby areas affected by the quake to distribute food. "I helped them to cook and prepare bread to be given to those who have lost their homes. "Outside the cafe, the employees had set up a shelter to provide food for the victims," Yeoh said adding that the areas around G-Cafe were the worst affected by the quake. I could still feel the aftershocks and the next day I left the family for a short while to retrieve my belongings in Basantapur. "However, on my way back to G-Cafe from Basantapur, while passing a narrow lane flanked by shops on both sides an after shock with a 6.3 magnitude struck. "The tremor sent deep fear into my heart but I managed to keep my balance. The locals told me not to walk close to tall buildings," he said. GOT TO MALAYSIAN EMBASSY IN KATHMANDU Yeah had contacted his family back in Malaysia through Whatsapp to let them know that he was safe. On the third day after the quake, he attempted to contact the Malaysian embassy in Kathmandu to let them know he is safe but no one took up the phone. "The handphone lines were not stable after the quake, so I had to wait until the lines stablised before sending an email to the embassy . "Surprisingly 30 minutes later, an embassy representative by the name of Fadli Adilah (Charge d' Affairs) replied saying a Malaysian Air Force plane is waiting to take home Malaysians," he said. As his family back home had voiced their concern over his safety through Whatsapps, Yeoh then decided to hop on the air force plane. "With Fadli's help, I managed to get into the air force plane at the Tribhuvan International Airport in Kathmandu," said Yeoh who was among the 103 Malaysians to return home in the plane on April 29. LESSONS FOR THE EARTHQUAKE Yeoh said the natural calamity provided him with lessons in humanity. He had witnessed how despite of the tragedy and the misery the locals went all out to help others, including foreigners. "I am grateful for the kindness shown by the locals there, especially Vishua and his family who took in a stranger and treated him like their own family," he said. Yeoh is now contemplating of getting back to Nepal in future to repay the good deeds of the family running G-Cafe. Ever since returning home he has been praying for the family and the people of Nepal. --BERNAMA