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Globel trotting: Nepal 世界走透透 - 尼泊爾

Mount Everest, the tallest mountain in the world, attracts climbers from all over the world. 世界最高山脈聖母峰吸引來自全世界的登山客。 (照片：法新社) PHOTO: AFP

Forests and grasslands, the world's highest mountains, holy men, kings and rebels ... Nepal is a truly beautiful country that has it all. Read on to learn more about this enchanting country that has captivated the world's imagination for so long.

森林草地、世界最高山脈、聖者、國王和叛軍，尼泊爾真是應有盡有的美麗境界。往下讀，深入了解擄獲長期世人想像空間的迷人國度。

A closer look 說古論今

Historically, Nepal was divided among many different kings, much like ancient China. The country united in 1768 and has been led by a king or queen ever since. While in the past the king was nearly all powerful, since 1990 Nepal has been a constitutional monarchy. The landscape of Nepal is unique and varied despite its small size. The south is covered in marshes, forests and grasslands and is tropical, but as one moves further north the elevation continues to rise. By the time one gets near the world's tallest mountain in the far north, Mount Everest (8,850m), only a few shrubs and weeds can tolerate the cold, arid climate. Nepal is the birthplace of the Buddha, and while over 80 percent of the country is Hindu, Hindus and Buddhists worship at the same temples because Hinduism and Buddhism are intertwined — much as Daoism, Confucianism and Buddhism are fused in Taiwan. Culturally, Nepal is heavily influenced by Tibet and India as well as the indigenous Newari culture. Newari masked dances detail the stories of gods and heroes. Recently, rock and roll, rap and reggae have become popular, and are now enjoyed along with traditional music. A typical meal, eaten at breakfast and dinner, is dal-bhat — a preparation of rice, vegetables, beans. During the day, Nepali people drink tea and eat snacks.

(Jason Cox, staff writer)

尼泊爾的歷史與中國古代頗為相似，國土遭諸王分裂。一七六八年尼泊爾全國統一，自此由國王或皇后掌權。以往國王權力幾乎無限上綱，一九九○年後尼泊爾實行君主立憲。尼泊爾的國土雖小，地形卻獨特多樣。南方是沼澤、森林和綠地覆蓋的熱帶地區，但愈往北走，地勢漸昇，直到遠北近世界最高的聖母峰（八千八百五十公尺），只有少數的灌木叢和青草能承受乾冷的天候。尼泊爾是佛陀的出生地，全國超過百分之八十的人口是印度教徒，因印度教和佛教的交流，印度教徒和佛教徒在相同的寺廟朝拜，如同台灣道儒佛合一的情況。尼泊爾在傳統上深受西藏、印度和尼瓦里原住民文化影響，尼瓦里面具舞道盡諸神明和眾英雄的故事。近來搖滾樂、饒舌和雷鬼樂也漸漸流行，與傳統風格和樂器相得益彰。早餐和晚餐最典型的料理就是「dal-bhat」，是由米飯、蔬菜和豆子所製成，尼泊爾人白天則飲茶搭配點心。

（翻譯：鄭湘儀）

About Nepal 國家概況 Size: 147,181 km2, or about four times the size of Taiwan Location: South Asia Border countries: China, India Capital: Kathmandu Population: About 27 million Languages: Nepali Government: Constitutional monarchy Currency: 1 Taiwan Dollar = 2.05 Nepalese Rupees 面積：十四萬七千一百八十一平方公里，約為台灣四倍大。 位置：南亞 鄰國：中國、印度 首都：加德滿都 人口：約兩千七百萬 語言：尼泊爾語 政府：君主立憲 貨幣：新台幣一元等於二點零五尼泊爾盧比

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