When the twin propeller Buddha Airlines flight finally touched down at Simara, one could not quite believe it was an airport. Manipur's MSRTC compound must be even bigger than the airport (of course minus the runway).

It was only the runway which was blacktopped. The bylane, which pretty resembled Keisamthong Top Leirak, that led to the Highway from the 'Airport' was very much in a similar condition to Imphal's perennially potholed lane.

Yet, serving as the gateway to Nepal's business centre, Birgunj which is about 25 minutes drive, Simara Airport's significance to the Himalayan Kingdom's cannot be ignored. But hey no luggage claims here and no X-raying to exits!

Having taken about 20 steps from the aircraft straight towards the gate, it wasn't a tough task to find the guy with the placard with our names written on it, amidst the motley crowd of 10-15 people.

"You are ahead of time Sir, your pilot must be speeding," the driver chuckled.

"Donno, but no traffic cops in the air," he was replied.

The middle aged man burst into laughter even as he sent his Nissan multi utility vehicle to roar like him.

The 25 minutes drive from Simara to Birgunj was almost like taking a drive down memory lane from Mantripukhri to Koirengei, where one could see vast green fields, punctuated regularly by brick-walled constructions of industrial and business houses.

Birgunj lived upto its name, and being a place which was very close to the Indian border, it wasn't much different from Bihar. Warm, humid and full of people of Indian origin....Having spent the day there, seeing the state-of-the-art manufacturing plant of one of the biggest fruit juice makers of India, one could only wish if only Indian companies could go within their own land--like the North East--how balancely developed the country would have been. But alas! Anyway, goodbye Simara, goodbye Birgunj....

"I WILL STRANGLE THE HUNGRY"

The BIG day arrived. The Miss Nepal contestants presented anxious and nervous looks at the breakfast table. Some of them tried to be really confident, but somehow could not hide their feelings.

In a way, it reminded of ones own experience of organising Miss Phouoibee contest during DM College of Science days in the mid 1990s. Of course, the nervousness was of a different kind, as that of an organiser hoping that the contest went off well, which actually did.

Circa 2005, King Birendra Internartional Convention Centre. The elite and hip crowd of Kathmandu trickled in hours ahead of the scheduled time, as did we.

Seated right behind the judges, one could not complain of not getting a clear view.

As soon as the emcee, a former Miss Nepal herself, started speaking in Nepali, one could guess the show was on. All the contestants were introduced one after the other, and by the end of the first round itself, the crowds have decided on their favourite--which one also thought was not a bad choice.

Even after the judges round, she led the field and with each passing round her support grew and so was her confidence which was then bordering arrogance.

The finalist were identified, five of them. The crowd favourite made it there too. Then came the final question:

"Malnutrition in the South Asian region has been compared to a silent Tsunami with millions of children going to bed every night on a hungry stomach. What will you do in your capacity to combat the problem?"

The replies of each finalist differed. But the crowd favourite went ahead a bit too far with her new-found confidence.

"It is indeed a shame that at this age we still have hungry children. I will do my best to strangle them so that no children sleep hungry."

Strangle the Hungry? Couldn't beleive our ears but that was it, yes she said she will strangle the hungry.

"Baby there goes your Miss Nepal Crown," we heaved a collective sigh of disbelief.

And when the results were announced, it was as expected. The crowd favourite came second runners-up.

Notwithstanding her goof up, it was an evening to remember. The after-contest party was even more memorable with the newly crowned Miss Nepal and her runners-ups in the tow:)

Next day afternoon, it was time to bid goodbye to the Himalayan Kingdom, after a quick shopping trip and having collected as many Chinese fundoo stuffs as possible, there we said C YA Kathmandu!!!!

Read Part 1 of this series here.