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Nepal is a Disney Movie IRL
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Casual evening in Southern Nepal…
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I’ve wrapped up my stay in Nepal and have left Asia for who knows how long. It’s quite bittersweet as it has been over a year since I’ve been East of Turkey. This newsletter will serve as my personal report so you can get a glimpse of what a trip to Nepal might be like for you. Plus, there’s a special promotion at the end of this newsletter—don’t miss it!
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I’ll admit that my first week in Nepal was scary. I realized right off the bat that living in this country is going to take grit. I’m not going to sugarcoat this because I believe in sharing the truth about the world, not just the good stuff: Nepal isn’t a safe country. But not like you might expect.
When most people think of their safety while traveling, they immediately think about all the bad things that will happen to them at the hands of the humans who live there. While most countries don’t have as many scary people as expected anyway, that is especially not the case here in Nepal. Besides the embezzling government and the few odd people, the Nepalese are incredibly warm and respectful; and not just on the surface.
Wherever you are in the country, you will be greeted by any stranger or child with a big warm smile and a confident “Namaste!” (hello in Nepali) not complete without their hands clasped together in prayer pose, eye contact, and then a slight bow of the head. It’s the standard way of showing respect here and everyone happily obliges. Beyond that, conversation is easy here. The people care about your wellbeing. It’s easy to feel a connection to the locals you come in contact with on a daily basis.
So where does the danger come in?
Well, you can probably imagine that living at the base of the tallest mountain range in the world might come with some hardship. Between altitude and extreme landscapes, the elements seem to be against you at every turn. Throw in wildlife, monsoon rains, and loose, gravely mountainside, you can’t hide from nature’s wrath. Top it off with a government that doesn’t exactly push for road safety, safe telecommunication, or earthquake-proof buildings, I cannot stress enough that coming to Nepal is not a stroll along Amsterdam’s canals.
But this warning is not meant to scare you. I want to shout from the rooftops how incredible Nepal is, but I feel the need to be upfront and clear about the risks first because it would be a serious disservice for me not to. With that said, you aren’t guaranteed to be hurt if you come here— all of my friends and I have “made it out” without a scratch— so really you shouldn’t worry much. Simply be aware so that you can properly prepare. With that out of the way, let me tell you why you should visit.
Read on to find out!
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It’s all a Fairy Tale here
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The longer I stayed, the more that I started seeing Nepal as a real-life Disney movie. With giant, perfectly rounded haystacks as big as houses, towering cornstalks lining the village roads, rice paddy fields covering as many acres as possible, and architecture that seems straight out of a fantasy film, simply going for a walk can make you question whether you’re dreaming.
Get this: once upon a time, Bertie and I were hiking around the top of the hill behind our valley. We went to escape the heat in a beautiful patch of trees at the top when we spotted a young man in a pristine white vest sitting in the shade of a perfect tree, high above the city below. He was leaning against the trunk while not one, but two girls his age were feeding him fruit. From the way he demanded the most respectful form of Namaste– Namaskar– when we greeted him, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was a real-life prince. That same day further down the road, we passed two groups of young girls in colorful sarees, giggling and singing as they walked hand-in-hand down the road. Exactly like a Disney movie.
Nearby, a massive white hotel is rising at the top of the hill at the edge of the most fantasy-like village above Pokhara (which I’m pretty certain was the inspiration behind Belle’s village in Beauty and the Beast). It’s the most princess-y hotel I’ve ever seen, and I guarantee they’re doing it on purpose. I can’t wait to see it finished. Secretly, I’m hoping they’ll add faces to their furniture to really round out the experience.
This photograph is just one example of the gorgeous villages in this country, and it happens to be the neighborhood I was living in. You will find rolling hills, colorful houses pepper across the landscape, and rice paddies everywhere.
The joy of living in this fairy tale is just a conversation away… If you’re looking to stay for longer than just a vacation, I can happily walk you through the visa procedures and can even set you up with long-stay housing.
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Yep, that’s a real life wild rhinoceros walking down the street near Chitwan National Park. When they get old they tend to mellow out a bit, and they don’t want to fight for territory any longer so they live nearby the people.
It wasn’t until we made our plans to head to Nepal that we found out that this national park existed. I don’t know about you, but I never expected to find rhinos outside of Africa. Turns out there are 5 species in the world with 2 in Africa, 1 in India/Nepal, and 2 more in Indonesia. Thanks to fantastic conservation efforts, the rhino population in this region is thriving! At one point, their numbers were dwindling under 1,000, and now they are over 4,000!
Other than rhinos, Chitwan is also home to tigers, leopards, sloth bears, wild elephants, deer, crocodiles, and tons of other smaller creatures. Consider it Jurassic Park with all the ancient species around, or just continue to see it as the Disney movie it is.
The best part about going on safari here is that people have such respect for the animals, making the safari experience so much more real and exciting. There’s no overcrowding or walkie talkies sending all jeeps to check out one animal. They don’t rush you. It’s calm, the animals are abundant, and the guides recognize the importance of keeping distance and doing their best to avoid disturbing the animals. I especially loved that we went on walking safaris and one night we stayed in a forest tower where animals roam around you at night.
You can go on a 4-day very high quality, all-inclusive safari here for less than a single day would cost you in Africa.
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The Himalayas are beyond imagination. And I’m saying that after barely getting to see them due to the fact that I came during monsoon season (it’s not the worst idea to come during this season, but it definitely takes away the opportunity to have a lot of up-close-and-personal visits with the mountains).
For some, the dream is to reach Everest Basecamp (or even to summit it!), which is totally possible for those fit enough. But I’m here to tell you that there is a whoooollllee lot more hiking opportunities for anyone to enjoy, not just the biggest and hardest one(s).
Genuinely, there are treks for all skill levels. There are countless day treks possible straight from the town of Pokhara, the town I most recommend you stay during your visit. And even for those who don’t hike, you can take a cable car up to one of the best views town and drive up to many other view points.
For those who want to do some moderate hiking, there are multiple short 3-day hikes where you hardly even need to carry water thanks to all the tea shops and restaurants along the trail. It’s also possible to do shorter portions of the big hikes like the Annapurna circuit instead of attempting to finish the whole thing, if you’re short on time.
Reach out if you need some advice, I have a plethora of knowledge now!
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As you may or may not know, Nepal’s northern neighbor Tibet has been occupied by China since the 1950’s. I won’t get into all the details on this occasion, but because the Tibetans living in exile are the only people who have full autonomy to be Tibetan, they have built villages that are Tibetan through and through. You can easily teleport to Tibet by visiting these villages around the country either on an incredible day tour from Pokhara or by trekking through regions like Mustang, which is part of the Annapurna circuit.
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Buddha, Yoga, and World Peace
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First of all, Buddha was born in Nepal. His physical presence in the country has left a long-lasting impression on Buddhists all around the world. Visiting his birth site is an important pilgrimage for many— not so easy to get to, or a very glamorous destination, but profound nonetheless.
Pokhara is one the most popular places on the Indian subcontinent (and therefore the world) to take a Yoga Teacher Training course. You can find just about any version of yoga, meditation, sound healing, and vipassana retreat/course you can think of. The prana (energy) flowing through Nepal is unlike anything else.
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