Monsoon season in Nepal always seems to get a bad reputation. I guess the fact that it’s called “monsoon season” isn’t super helpful. For some reason, most people associate monsoon season with a constant downpour that lasts several months. But that’s just not true. You might get an occasional day or two of rain, but […]
Chitwan National Park on a Budget
Several people had asked me to visit Chitwan National Park with them during my stay in Nepal. Every time, they told me about a great all-inclusive package for $100 which included three days and two nights. Basically, two travel days and one day of doing safaris. It seemed way too expensive compared to the rest […]
Annapurna Circuit Itinerary with 3 Optional Side Treks
I made this Annapurna Circuit itinerary after realizing that there wasn’t a lot of solid information on how to navigate the path without a guide. Everyone I met who completed the Annapurna Circuit said it was easy to navigate, and the trails were well marked. I have to say that I don’t entirely agree. I […]
Annapurna Circuit Cost: Including Per Day Budget Breakdowns
I’d heard a large variety of answers when I asked people what the Annapurna Circuit cost. I usually budget $30 a day for my travels, and after talking to several people who had done the trek, I realized it was well within my budget as long as I carried my own bag and went without […]
The Best Nepali Dishes to Try While Trekking
Something I always hear when people get back from trekking in Nepal, is how surprised they are at how many choices are on the menu. For some reason, everyone expects three to five selections, but the truth is you can order plenty of options in the mountains from pizza to chow mein. Although you can […]
The Funniest Signs Along the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal
I usually try to post things that are informative or tell a story, but sometimes you just see funny things and want to share them with the world. While trekking the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal, I kept seeing funny signs and taking pictures. Eventually I had a ton of them, and it only seemed appropriate […]
Learning About Nepali Culture in Bardaghat Village Near Lumbini
There are places you go to see things, and there are places you go to be a part of them. For me, Bardaghat and Lumbini were the latter. I’d heard that Lumbini was a crowded town with an Indian vibe. It was described to me by people who knew my experience with India was unpleasant. […]
Book Review: Siddhartha by Hermann Hesse
I downloaded Siddhartha by Herman Hesse after a friend recommended it to me. To be honest, I didn’t really know what it was about and had wrongfully assumed it was the story of Buddha. My friend had described it as “simple but profound” and he was right. Siddhartha tells the story of a boy (who […]
Book Review: Annapurna Circuit by Andrew Stevenson
I had decided to trek the Annapurna Circuit with less than 24 hours’ notice and was scrambling for books to download on my kindle before leaving the comforts of guaranteed WiFi. My friend recommended Annapurna Circuit: A Himalayan Journey by Andrew Stevenson. I wouldn’t really recommend this book unless you’ve done a trek in Nepal […]
A Glimpse into the Lives of Nepali Women
Having spent over three months in Nepal, it was kind of shocking that I really hadn’t spent any time with Nepali women. They seemed so mysterious to me. On my last trip to Nepal, I spent a month in Pokhara, and while I met lots of guys, it seemed women never went anywhere unaccompanied. Groups […]