A few weeks ago, I set off on an unusual journey. I would be joining what looked like a motorcycle gang headed into the Mid-Western Region of Nepal. Despite my time in the country, I’d never traveled further than Butwal, a city far from the Mid-Western Regions border. The mid-west seemed like a far off […]
Chautari: Photography & Symbolism of Nepal’s Banyan Trees
It seemed that all of my favorite photos from my recent trek through the Kathmandu Valley were of trees. But, they weren’t just any trees. Each photograph was of chautari, which are ubiquitous throughout Nepal. These often giant trees are surrounded by a small stone retaining wall, which creates a kind of seating area. What […]
Losar Festival: Tibetan New Year in Nepal
Nepal is such an interesting country with different festivals happening every couple of weeks. Each caste and ethnic group has its own celebrations and traditions. One of the biggest festivals among Tibetan Buddhists is the Losar Festival. Losar is the Tibetan word for “New Year.” Nepal runs on the Bikram Sambat Calendar. This means that […]
Namo Buddha Monastery: Temple Guide and Photography
Namo Buddha Monastery is a Buddhist monastery located just a couple of hours from the capital city of Kathmandu. It’s a great day hike from Dhulikhel and is worth visiting if you’re interested in learning about Buddhism. You can stay at the monastery guest house and eat with the monks and attend their chanting sessions […]
Nepal’s Newari Caste: Food, Culture and Traditions
Nepal is a diverse country with around 125 different ethnic groups and 123 different languages. Before I arrived, I assumed everyone was Nepali and spoke Nepalese. While that is kind of true, there are a variety of different ethnic groups. Further, among each ethnic group there are subgroups. I’ve been lucky enough to make friends […]
The Rise of Female Trekking Guides in Nepal: Feminism in the Mountains
A friend invited me to attend a ceremony honoring three Sherpa women who had just summited Everest, and luckily, I didn’t hesitate to say yes. It was at this presentation that I sat next to Lakhphuti Sherpa. Little did I know, I was sitting next to one of the trail blazers of the female guide […]
Seeing an Astrologer in Nepal: What it’s like
The sweet smell of rotten fruit fills the air. Probably offerings to the gods left in the Kathmandu heat for too long. A baby goat is tied up nearby, and a man wearing white linen clothing sits close while chanting. Dust churns in the air as motorbikes speed past, honking at one another to signal […]
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 […]
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 […]