Anjali Lama

Anjali...Nepal's first transgender model!

More Nepal

Call it Karma, or just some sort of unexpected piece of timing but just after my post on Nepal's capital Kathmandu I found this story. From the Nepal Mountain News:

" In a landmark decision, the Cabinet has agreed to provide citizenship to a post-operative transsexual who changed sex from male to female. Caitlin Panta, (above) earlier Pratik Panta, is the first Nepali to have changed gender through a sex reassignment therapy (SRT) procedure this January. The decision has opened up doors for those wishing to change their sex and avail of citizenship under the changed sex. Pratik Pant (inset) and his new look as a female after he changes his sex (file photo) A Cabinet meeting on September 3 had instructed the Nepal Medical Board (NMB) to find out whether Panta had changed sex and if there were any feelings of apathy after changing the sex. It was also instructed to assess Panta’s mental state and if there were any behavioral changes. A three-member committee formed at the NMB certified Panta as female, confirming the sex change."

Kathmandu

As you may or may not know, Kathmandu is the capital of Nepal in the Himilayas.
Decades ago in a land and life far, far away-Kathmandu took on an almost mystical place in my life.
As some of you know, my time in the Southeast  non war we fought in was served in Thailand.
So yes, I too took a trip to Bangkok and like some of you, not to stay long. We were quickly shipped north to an area 50 miles south of the Mekong River.
If you know any of the "culture" of the time, you probably have heard the term "Thai Stick" which vaguely described different forms of marijuana. Needless to say where we were stationed was known for the real Thai stick.  It's rumored that my friends and I took advantage of the location and the home grown Mekong Thai Stick.
Six months into my tour a friend and I had a chance to fly round trip to Kathmandu for a ridiculous small amount of money. Here we were with a chance to go to the mystical capital of Nepal where few have gone and......didn't. You could say we got stoned and missed it.
Since then I have always regretted not doing it.
My second chance at Kathmandu is almost here and I have to say I'm a little frightened.
This trip is much more local and involves mountain climbing of a different sort and my drug of choice this time is Estrogen.
This Wednesday is a huge day thanks to my daughter. For my birthday she is treating me to a styling and hair coloring session at her hair salon! How great is that?
As luck would have it, the Veteran's Administration approved endocrinist FINALLY received all the payment  approval forms and Finally got around to letting me make an appointment. So after four months worth of work, I have what I refer to as "phase two" of my HRT lined up.
So all of the sudden my chance to go to a different "Kathmandu" is looming right in front of me.
All that I dreamed of over the years is just a short trip away.
This time, I will be on the flight!