Cycle Rally #Amsterdam #ViSitNePal2011

Writer and photographer, Mr. Gaurab Paudel (@gpoudel) is a web developer living in Utrecht, Netherlands.

National Unity Nepal, the Netherlands (NUN-NL) organized a cycle rally to promote “Nepal tourism year 2011” in Amsterdam on 20th March . I have attended few meetings and talk programs organized by various Nepali organizations here in Netherlands in past, usually inside closed doors, where everybody tries to force out how big their plans are for the country and how we can contribute to our land even while living far away. But the one mysterious phenomena about such meetings I have noticed is that the ideas get vanished in air as soon as the door is opened and breeze from outside interrupts.But this thought of doing something in public in the heart of Amsterdam in one fine sunny Sunday enticed me somewhat, thus I packed my camera and sacrificed the long Sunday morning nap as I got ready for the jaunt.

The original request was to dress in something that represents Nepal and bring along a flag if available - I didn't have any (hamm... I actually put the jeans I bought in Nepal, so I had answers ready in case of any criticism) . The official time to assemble at Amsterdam Dam Square was 10:00 am , I was 3 minutes too early to find few lads on bicycle talking and giggling to each other and other few unpacking brochures, pamphlets and other stuffs, but most had not arrived yet. This was completely excepted. One major advantage of Nepalese people over the rest of the world is that we have this amazing immunity towards frustration caused by waiting for others in public or private events. This do not bother us at all, it is pretty much mutual. “So what if I was on time today, next time I might be late and others will have to wait”, I managed to console myself , the weather was great and it was important to keep the mood positive about everything.

Slowly and swiftly, bright colors began to fill the environment. Among number of men dressed in “Daura-Suruwal-Topi” and many ladies in “Saree-Cholo” or “Gunyu -Choli” were little adorable kids dressed similar as their parents but easily captivating the surrounding more than everybody else.

The view of Dam Square did not take much time to become breathtaking, as more participants poured in and soon they outnumbered the rest of the public. The locals and tourists seemingly amazed, intrigued and curious,at once, watched in awe and admiration to this unusually dressed mass carrying strange looking but remarkably beautiful flag in various sizes. Those who were perhaps more daring picked up one of those beautiful aliens to ponder their questions upon while others approached to one of the local (Dutch) volunteers who had joined the event. The long queue of new, old, very new and very old bikes holding flags, banners and pamphlets mixed with the hundreds of pigeons of Dam Square boosted the artistry of the surrounding even more.

The only ones who were not enjoying the show must have been the beggars or panhandlers dressed up like comic book characters, before they could realize what changed they had already lost all the attention.

The location chosen was perfect for the purpose, Dam Square is easily the top place to find tourists from all over the Europe in the Netherlands and even in overall comparison to other places of Europe, it will remain very high on the list. Reportedly some 600 to 800 brochures about touristic attractions in Nepal were distributed to the travel enthusiasts from all over the world, which can be well over the criteria to call this event a very successful and satisfying one.

The bicycles begun to move around 11:30 AM to follow the planned route (Dam Square- Rembrantsplein- Musiumplein- Leidsplein Westerpark/ Nassaukerk- Dam Square). I would have loved to continue along and even though I went there without bike I was immediately promised an arrangement but I had other personal appointments in afternoon. Whatever I had seen in about those 2 hours were very heartening and had already lifted my mood, I returned with a big smile and kept smiling all day.