Epicentre - part one
22 May 2015
Working in a post earthquake zone here, I have gotten
increasingly used to the periodic tremors that are common after the
upheaval of a major seismic event as the layers of land settle and
stabilise. When in the city or office I hardly notice them, they could
be faint vibration of a large lorry driving past, or just my own
clumsiness causing me to stumble as I walk. I usually rely on others to
tell me that one has happened, or as in our hotel grounds, the startled
calls of the birds as they rise shaken from the trees.
Out in the mountains though, where the air is stiller and the land
somehow rawer I am more sensitive to them. A deep rumble both heard and
felt passing right through your body and leaving a hush in it’s passing.
Distant dust clouds signal where rocks have fallen. It’s easy to see
why some cultures did and still do revere volcanoes as being the home of
the gods. In the presence of the land itself stirring all around you,
you are left feeling very awed and very very small indeed.
Tuesday was my scheduled day out on the Helicopter explo clinics,
Christopher our air safety expert and Lalit, one of our softly spoken
Nepali doctors my companions. KC is our pilot, Nepali born, with over 20
years experience flying in the Himalaya.
