imagiNATION

Last week, while Sweetie and I were on our anniversary road trip, I misspoke a word. It fell trippingly from my tongue and sounded fun to boot...so I ran with it! And thus was born the Nation of Himaliyia!

(...sometimes my flights of fantasy scare me!)

Himaliyia (he-MAL-e-ya)*

A small, isolated country that shares its borders with Nepal and Bhutan. Est. 2009 population: 30,621 The capitol is Tikiburi ("shining river fork") and is known as The Switzerland of the Sub-Continent. The origin of the Himaliyan people is unknown, although many scholars believe that the area was peopled by various native populations fleeing the terrible reign of Sardo Numspa in nearby Nepal. Although they live peaceably with all of their neighbors, they have very little cultural similarities to Nepal and Bhutan. The Himaliyan climate is extremely mild and so its culture developed many different aspects from its Mongol ethnic neighbors. Some scholars believe that Himaliyia was the basis for James Hilton's utopia in the novel, Lost Horizon. The main industry is the manufacture of cotton and linen textiles whose beautiful soft colors are popular throughout the region. Most of the manufacturing happens in small mills employing the local population. With its large population of goats and cows, Himaliyia is justly famous for its production of cheese and butter. The creamy, salty Buri Butter Cheese is very popular in Myanmar (it will always be Burma to me) and northern India, as well as the popular Himaliyan dish, Pan Lumpur - a crusty bread dish made with fresh vegetables and cheese. ** There was no local government for generations, although clan leaders would control small, family territories. The Communists took control in 1956 and the people of Himaliyia lived under their repressive rule for years. Finally, in 1982, the Communists were overthrown by a progressive government. Many political analysts point to this expulsion of communism as the first strike that eventually caused the Iron Curtain to fall in Europe, seven years later. At this time the US government has still failed to acknowledge Himaliyia and there is no US Ambassador or Consul there, although many United States citizens have rallied for recognition (among them Angelina Jolie and Richard Gere) and several US Congressmen have visited the tiny country. Himaliyia is probably most famous of its Himaliyian Cat, not to be confused with the domesticated household cat, the Himilayan Cat. The Himaliyian Cat (felis capillus capitis) is larger than the domesticated house cat and has a very distinctive ring of fur around its head, looking very much like a Russian Ushanka. The extremely rare, and beautiful, Ice Water Shark (carcharodon glacies) can be found in some rivers and lakes. It is a small, fresh water shark, noted for its icy blue coloring. It is only found in the highest sections of the country and can be particularly aggressive when disturbed. There have been unsubstantiated reports of local fisherman losing fingers to this creature. The Himaliyian Great Timber Forest is currently on the World Wildlife Federation's watch list as it is one of the few surviving temperate hardwood forests in the region.

Ice Water Shark

(carcharodon glacies)

Himaliyian Cat

(felis capillus capitis) -all information on Himaliyia from WikiMa-

*Whatever you do, DO NOT call a Himaliyian a "Himilayan"...it makes them mad! And there's nothing worse than an angry Himaliyian! **I am not particularly fond of Himaliyian cuisine although I do like the butter!