i was in burma in january and i came across a hindu mandir in a town in shan state, called nyaung shwe. it's the nearest town to inle lake. anyway, some old indian guy at the mandir told me about a nepali community living about 20 minutes away and that every morning they come on their bicycles to sell dudh. so, the next day i went back and met two nepalis! they invited me back to their village- a separate little community in which they had built a shiva mandir and had a nepali laguage school. they were as warm, hospitable, and giving as nepalis in nepal, inviting me into their home, offering chiya and immediately preparing some nasta, and giving me a tour of their village. most of them had never been to nepal, their families had simply stayed in burma after their grandparents (former gurkhas) retired there. it was kind of surreal to be in that environment there in burma and, while they were still holding strong to their nepali culture and language and instilling it in their children, the impact that living in burma and in a very small community of nepalis had on them was quite apparent. but their generous nature made me realize that nepali jahaa bhae pani, nepali hunchha! oh, and there is a FANTASTIC nepali restaurant called mount everest in mandalay!