If you're a friend, you probably know that I spend my birthdays somewhere I've never set foot in. I've been doing this for 5 years now. For my 27th birthday, I decided to spend it in the Himalayas. One of the best decisions by far.
I am still struggling as to how to share that awesome trip to everyone. Within the 2 weeks of my travel, I have countless experiences, observations, insights, etc that I cant organized. Maybe for this post, to put more order, I will write the top 15 things that I learned from that trip.
1. BE READY FOR SURPRISES
I've always loved good surprises. But what I re-learned during this trip is that I should be ready with both the good and the bad. The trek in the Himalayas was not what I expected it to be, in several aspects, but what I didn't expect was how it wasn't as easy to find a friend/friends who would trek with me. I had images in my head of fun-filled hours of trekking in the mountain with new found friends. I think it would've been better to find a group in the city, but I didn't have much time to do that.
This however, is not to say that I didn't make friends, I did. But most were short-lived, like when we started forming carpool when we landed in Kathmandu to save on taxi cost. Or when I finally stayed up late in one of the teahouses and talked for a good 5 hours with the father and son tandem from Belgium which later on was joined by this lovely teacher couple from Australia. They were amongst the loveliest people I've ever meet.
Of course the trip was full of good surprises, like when I met a group of Filipino in Jinhu. It was a lovely treat because their stories cracked me up big time, during that time I hadn't laughed so hard in a long while and I was really grateful I came across them. Or when Coco invited me to check out Bhaktapur, which I had zero idea about, even the local bus ride to there was full of surprises.
I can write so many surprises that came my way, but I guess one of the best surprise was when I realized that I had an extra day that would allow me to travel and explore Chitwan. I love Chitwan! It was a great joy to be waking up to the sound of different animals, and the humid temperature felt a little bit like home, especially after freezing nights up in the mountains. And this was also where I traveled with a friend, Liam, who I met in Pokhara.
2. GO SLOW
I used to be the kind of traveler who would try to see and do as many as I could. It was exhausting. But as I travel more, I saw the value of taking things slow, and that's how I did it during this trip.
When I arrived in Kathmandu I spent one day in the city, most of the day was spent chilling with other travelers in my hostel. Also, when I got back from the Himalayas, I spent a day in Pokhara in my lalala slow pace - stayed in my bed, read, rest, explored the city.
Even during the trek, we would spend our time leisurely. I would ask Prem, my guide that we start the trek early that would allow for more resting time and other stuff, like when I did some rock balancing. Or just to stop for a while and stare at the beauty that surrounded me.
Going slow gives me more time to appreciate things, especially what is happening in the now, which I guess gives more depth to every experience.
3. BARGAIN
In most cities in Asia, bargaining is practice, especially if you're in a tourist area, such was the case when I was in Pokhara when I did my shopping. Typically the rule is, you ask for 50% off the tag and don't buy in the first few stores that you go to.
I've done bargaining in souvenirs and taxi ride and motorbike rentals, but what I learned was I could also bargain for lodging, and this was what I learned when Liam was looking for his room in Thamel. On my next trip, I will do this.
4. BE NICE AND COURTEOUS
People deserves to be treated nicely and they will also treat you nicely also. When you are nice, the dynamics between you and people around you is good which makes everything light and easy. You actually get special treatment when you're nice. Raju and his wife arranged for me a free motor bike ride to the place where I would meet my guide for my trek to the Himalayas. I was expecting I'd take a taxi, but they were really nice to do that for me. Also, laughing is inevitable if you create that bond. Also, they let you in and they make you experience their culture. I liked that night when we drank local whisky with the people in my hotel in Chitwan.
On the other side of the equation, if you're not nice karma could go back so fast. When I were to do paragliding, I met these 2 girls who were a little rude to our paraglide pilots. One of them didn't enjoy paragliding and threw up while she was up in the air. She had a plastic bag full of digested breakfast food when she landed. Yuck!
5. SMILE
It breaks language barriers. There's always a warm and fuzzy feel when you break into one's wall and normally a sincere smile does the trick.
I remember meeting Raju's wife (the owner of North Face Hostel in Pokhara) who at first, seemed to be this strict land lady. But I gave her a smile and our dynamics got better. I could easily ask her for help, where to get food, how to reserve for bus or things about my tours, etc.
Also, smiling directs you to the right people and awesome adventures. I've met so many nice people because I dared to smile. The scariest thing about smiling is not getting acknowledged, which is a hit on the ego. But I would rather try than let that fright hold me back from a possible friendship or adventure.
6. ASK
If you assume, you will end up paying twice as much for food you didn't even enjoy.
Or if you don't you might skip that wonderful night in Pokhara.
If I didn't ask around when I was doing the trip, I don't know how my trip would've ended. My guide was not really the best. I felt he was not equipped to get to the basecamp. He suffered what I thought to be altitude sickness because he had head ache and stomach problems, and his shoes broke towards the end of the trip. Although I badly wanted to reach basecamp, Raju reminded me to put safety above all. So with the snow and avalanche and my haphazard guide, I was not comfortable to continue.
But luckily, I met Dee and told her about my situation and she told me about the Mardi Himal trek, which at first didn't interest me. But then she showed me her photos and I decided that I would go there instead. Had I not ask for her advice, things would've been totally different, I wouldn't have reached Mardi Himal.
7. PLAN THE MAJOR STUFF
Like making sure you have enough cash or that you didn't forget to activate your ATM for overseas transaction - or else, Western Union would be your lifesaver.
Plan how you're going to spend your days, doesn't need to be very detailed but just enough to guide you. For instance, what I did that helped me was I broken my whole 2 weeks into major events, which basically was - Kathmandu (2 days), Himalayan trek (8-10 days), Pokhara (2 days), then later on realized I can still do Chitwan (2 days).
Planning helped me make the most out of my trip. It also saved me money, because in most cases, I had more time to bargain and scout.
8. A LOT OF NEPALIS HAS A FILIPINO FRIEND
Because both nationalities have work forces sent to the middle east. It was both funny and comforting experience when I heard a broken Tagalog cuss word from a Nepali.
9. THERE'S A NATION MORE FRIENDLIER THAN MINE
They are used to greeting people more than we are. They always respond to one's Namaste greeting. For many of them, it seemed that it is their purpose to make you smile. They take extra good care of me. The owners of the teahouse in Forest Camp made sure that I was always warm - the husband lights the fireplace everytime I'd go to the common area. Or they'ed make sure that I have water when I clean up.
The old man who runs the Lali Gurangs Teahouse in Mardi Himal High Camp, always asked If wanted more food and in the one time I said yes, he gave it to me for free. He also offered us free tea.
It was like royal treatment because they watched and anticipate what I needed, the kind of treatment you get in a fancy restaurant, or from a gentleman who cares about you.
But what's more amazing is that despite their poor condition, they are willing to give. These people makes ends meet and with the very low price they charge us, I don't think they're making a lot of money from the tourists. But I think it is just in their hearts to be so good. And when you experience something this good, it feels like you're committing a sin when you don't treat others nicely.
10. CASTE SYSTEM STILL BREAKS PEOPLE'S HEARTS
I met Coco in Kathmandu, she's Indian. She told me a few crushing first-hand experiences of this. One was she was told that if she drank water from a colleague of lower cast, she needed to bathe in cow's urine. And another one was when her friend who spent 7 years working as an artisan for a big temple was banned from going inside the temple because he is of lower caste. The day when they finished all the carvings, the temple was "cleansed" with cow blood and from that moment, only certain level of the caste can go inside.
It was heartbreaking when I first heard it, until now when I remember it.
11. SAN MIGUEL BEER IS POPULAR
In the blues bar I went to in Pokhara, about 80% of the people had a bottle of 1L San Miguel Beer. And there were a lot of San Miguel logos painted in walls and buildings.
12. CHIVALRY IS ALIVE
And it's a wonderful feeling to be handed a bottle of water just because you look like you needed a sip. Or to be fetched in a bus station of a place you know nothing about.
13. SEEING THE BEST OF NATURE IS A PRIVILEGE NOT A RIGHT
When we travel to a place popular for something, we already have this mindset that we will surely see whatever that place is known for, it could be the whales, the beautiful left-hander, or in my case, the basecamp. But as I let the disappointment of not being able to see the basecamp get the best of me, I took a step back and realized that I do not have the right to it. And when I let go, that's when everything magically fell into places.
14. THE FAIRYTALES AND ADVENTURE BOOKS SETTINGS ARE REAL
One day I felt like Snow White when she was entering the forest. Another day, I felt like Tarzan and wanted to swing from one tree to the other. There was also this forest that looked like the Fangorn Forest in Lord of the Rings and another one where Little Red Riding Hood was tricked by the wolf. It was magical to be seeing those things that I only imagine in the books that I read.
15. THINGS ALWAYS TURN OUT FOR THE BETTER
There were a lot of things that didn't go as plan and I couldn't be more happier that they didn't. Things would've been totally different.
One of the major things that didn't go as plan was the trip being a solo trip. I'm totally fine with travelling by myself, but its a different story when you've already set it in your head that you will be traveling with friends and then later on find out that you have to do it on your own. I was anxious when a few days before the flight, Mariel backed out. There was this tinnie-winnie romantic in me that imagined Mariel was just bluffing me and would actually show up in the airport.
It was stressful because I had to be responsible - with the research, the planning, taking care of myself, etc - which I wasn't planning on doing because I was supposed to be traveling with friends.
Another major thing that didn't go as plan was my trek to Annapurna Basecamp, it really got the best of me. I was really stressing over the fact that I wouldn't be able to go and that would totally ruin the whole trip.
But looking back, those and the other things that happened paved the way for something better. I mean, hadn't I solo traveled I wouldn't be able to hang out with the people I did. Or had I pushed through with the Annapurna Basecamp I wouldn't be able to go to Mardi Himal, which was absolutely amazing. Or I wouldn't have enough time to travel to Chitwan. Or hadn't the Turkish Air cause trouble in the Nepal Airport it would've been a different set of people who I'd meet.
When the earthquake hit Nepal, I felt really connected with the country and the pain they were going through. I was able to check on some of my friends and it was a relief that they weren't hurt. But some who I had no way of reaching, I still don't know how they are, I hope they're fine. It still worries me how the country will get back on its feet. I wish they do real soon.
I didn't expect that I would come to love Nepal as much as I do. The country is beautiful and its people are just the loveliest beings. I was really sad on the day that I was to leave Nepal, I don't think I've never been that sad to leave a place. I highly recommend Nepal and I cannot wait to go back and maybe do the Everest Basecamp and never leave Chitwan jungle until I see a tiger in the wild and fall in love with this country's beauty all over again.
I am still struggling as to how to share that awesome trip to everyone. Within the 2 weeks of my travel, I have countless experiences, observations, insights, etc that I cant organized. Maybe for this post, to put more order, I will write the top 15 things that I learned from that trip.
1. BE READY FOR SURPRISES
I've always loved good surprises. But what I re-learned during this trip is that I should be ready with both the good and the bad. The trek in the Himalayas was not what I expected it to be, in several aspects, but what I didn't expect was how it wasn't as easy to find a friend/friends who would trek with me. I had images in my head of fun-filled hours of trekking in the mountain with new found friends. I think it would've been better to find a group in the city, but I didn't have much time to do that.
This however, is not to say that I didn't make friends, I did. But most were short-lived, like when we started forming carpool when we landed in Kathmandu to save on taxi cost. Or when I finally stayed up late in one of the teahouses and talked for a good 5 hours with the father and son tandem from Belgium which later on was joined by this lovely teacher couple from Australia. They were amongst the loveliest people I've ever meet.
Of course the trip was full of good surprises, like when I met a group of Filipino in Jinhu. It was a lovely treat because their stories cracked me up big time, during that time I hadn't laughed so hard in a long while and I was really grateful I came across them. Or when Coco invited me to check out Bhaktapur, which I had zero idea about, even the local bus ride to there was full of surprises.
Ascetics in Bhaktapur
I can write so many surprises that came my way, but I guess one of the best surprise was when I realized that I had an extra day that would allow me to travel and explore Chitwan. I love Chitwan! It was a great joy to be waking up to the sound of different animals, and the humid temperature felt a little bit like home, especially after freezing nights up in the mountains. And this was also where I traveled with a friend, Liam, who I met in Pokhara.
We went on a jungle walk tour and had to run for our lives because a rhino was running towards us.
Im sure we're much more good-looking than this photo, but we're just tired. That's Liam, Mr. Mannered from Australia
2. GO SLOW
I used to be the kind of traveler who would try to see and do as many as I could. It was exhausting. But as I travel more, I saw the value of taking things slow, and that's how I did it during this trip.
When I arrived in Kathmandu I spent one day in the city, most of the day was spent chilling with other travelers in my hostel. Also, when I got back from the Himalayas, I spent a day in Pokhara in my lalala slow pace - stayed in my bed, read, rest, explored the city.
Coco and the girl from Colombia (ermm, Im so bad with name)
Night stroll in Pokhara
Even during the trek, we would spend our time leisurely. I would ask Prem, my guide that we start the trek early that would allow for more resting time and other stuff, like when I did some rock balancing. Or just to stop for a while and stare at the beauty that surrounded me.
Playing in the snow
Going slow gives me more time to appreciate things, especially what is happening in the now, which I guess gives more depth to every experience.
3. BARGAIN
In most cities in Asia, bargaining is practice, especially if you're in a tourist area, such was the case when I was in Pokhara when I did my shopping. Typically the rule is, you ask for 50% off the tag and don't buy in the first few stores that you go to.
I've done bargaining in souvenirs and taxi ride and motorbike rentals, but what I learned was I could also bargain for lodging, and this was what I learned when Liam was looking for his room in Thamel. On my next trip, I will do this.
4. BE NICE AND COURTEOUS
People deserves to be treated nicely and they will also treat you nicely also. When you are nice, the dynamics between you and people around you is good which makes everything light and easy. You actually get special treatment when you're nice. Raju and his wife arranged for me a free motor bike ride to the place where I would meet my guide for my trek to the Himalayas. I was expecting I'd take a taxi, but they were really nice to do that for me. Also, laughing is inevitable if you create that bond. Also, they let you in and they make you experience their culture. I liked that night when we drank local whisky with the people in my hotel in Chitwan.
This is Selin, he's our tour-guide in Chitwan. Probably my favorite tour-guide to date. He's so knowledgeable and I like his humor.
On the other side of the equation, if you're not nice karma could go back so fast. When I were to do paragliding, I met these 2 girls who were a little rude to our paraglide pilots. One of them didn't enjoy paragliding and threw up while she was up in the air. She had a plastic bag full of digested breakfast food when she landed. Yuck!
5. SMILE
It breaks language barriers. There's always a warm and fuzzy feel when you break into one's wall and normally a sincere smile does the trick.
I remember meeting Raju's wife (the owner of North Face Hostel in Pokhara) who at first, seemed to be this strict land lady. But I gave her a smile and our dynamics got better. I could easily ask her for help, where to get food, how to reserve for bus or things about my tours, etc.
Also, smiling directs you to the right people and awesome adventures. I've met so many nice people because I dared to smile. The scariest thing about smiling is not getting acknowledged, which is a hit on the ego. But I would rather try than let that fright hold me back from a possible friendship or adventure.
6. ASK
If you assume, you will end up paying twice as much for food you didn't even enjoy.
Or if you don't you might skip that wonderful night in Pokhara.
If I didn't ask around when I was doing the trip, I don't know how my trip would've ended. My guide was not really the best. I felt he was not equipped to get to the basecamp. He suffered what I thought to be altitude sickness because he had head ache and stomach problems, and his shoes broke towards the end of the trip. Although I badly wanted to reach basecamp, Raju reminded me to put safety above all. So with the snow and avalanche and my haphazard guide, I was not comfortable to continue.
But luckily, I met Dee and told her about my situation and she told me about the Mardi Himal trek, which at first didn't interest me. But then she showed me her photos and I decided that I would go there instead. Had I not ask for her advice, things would've been totally different, I wouldn't have reached Mardi Himal.
Fish Tail view in High Camp, Mardi Himal. It was breathtaking.
7. PLAN THE MAJOR STUFF
Like making sure you have enough cash or that you didn't forget to activate your ATM for overseas transaction - or else, Western Union would be your lifesaver.
Plan how you're going to spend your days, doesn't need to be very detailed but just enough to guide you. For instance, what I did that helped me was I broken my whole 2 weeks into major events, which basically was - Kathmandu (2 days), Himalayan trek (8-10 days), Pokhara (2 days), then later on realized I can still do Chitwan (2 days).
Planning helped me make the most out of my trip. It also saved me money, because in most cases, I had more time to bargain and scout.
8. A LOT OF NEPALIS HAS A FILIPINO FRIEND
Because both nationalities have work forces sent to the middle east. It was both funny and comforting experience when I heard a broken Tagalog cuss word from a Nepali.
9. THERE'S A NATION MORE FRIENDLIER THAN MINE
They are used to greeting people more than we are. They always respond to one's Namaste greeting. For many of them, it seemed that it is their purpose to make you smile. They take extra good care of me. The owners of the teahouse in Forest Camp made sure that I was always warm - the husband lights the fireplace everytime I'd go to the common area. Or they'ed make sure that I have water when I clean up.
The old man who runs the Lali Gurangs Teahouse in Mardi Himal High Camp, always asked If wanted more food and in the one time I said yes, he gave it to me for free. He also offered us free tea.
It was like royal treatment because they watched and anticipate what I needed, the kind of treatment you get in a fancy restaurant, or from a gentleman who cares about you.
But what's more amazing is that despite their poor condition, they are willing to give. These people makes ends meet and with the very low price they charge us, I don't think they're making a lot of money from the tourists. But I think it is just in their hearts to be so good. And when you experience something this good, it feels like you're committing a sin when you don't treat others nicely.
10. CASTE SYSTEM STILL BREAKS PEOPLE'S HEARTS
I met Coco in Kathmandu, she's Indian. She told me a few crushing first-hand experiences of this. One was she was told that if she drank water from a colleague of lower cast, she needed to bathe in cow's urine. And another one was when her friend who spent 7 years working as an artisan for a big temple was banned from going inside the temple because he is of lower caste. The day when they finished all the carvings, the temple was "cleansed" with cow blood and from that moment, only certain level of the caste can go inside.
It was heartbreaking when I first heard it, until now when I remember it.
11. SAN MIGUEL BEER IS POPULAR
In the blues bar I went to in Pokhara, about 80% of the people had a bottle of 1L San Miguel Beer. And there were a lot of San Miguel logos painted in walls and buildings.
12. CHIVALRY IS ALIVE
And it's a wonderful feeling to be handed a bottle of water just because you look like you needed a sip. Or to be fetched in a bus station of a place you know nothing about.
13. SEEING THE BEST OF NATURE IS A PRIVILEGE NOT A RIGHT
When we travel to a place popular for something, we already have this mindset that we will surely see whatever that place is known for, it could be the whales, the beautiful left-hander, or in my case, the basecamp. But as I let the disappointment of not being able to see the basecamp get the best of me, I took a step back and realized that I do not have the right to it. And when I let go, that's when everything magically fell into places.
My first sighting of the Himalayas, I cried. It was one of the most magical feelings.
Poonhill View
14. THE FAIRYTALES AND ADVENTURE BOOKS SETTINGS ARE REAL
One day I felt like Snow White when she was entering the forest. Another day, I felt like Tarzan and wanted to swing from one tree to the other. There was also this forest that looked like the Fangorn Forest in Lord of the Rings and another one where Little Red Riding Hood was tricked by the wolf. It was magical to be seeing those things that I only imagine in the books that I read.
We actually got lost here. It freaked me out a little bit.
Baby elephants taking a bath, just how I imagined it to be.
15. THINGS ALWAYS TURN OUT FOR THE BETTER
There were a lot of things that didn't go as plan and I couldn't be more happier that they didn't. Things would've been totally different.
One of the major things that didn't go as plan was the trip being a solo trip. I'm totally fine with travelling by myself, but its a different story when you've already set it in your head that you will be traveling with friends and then later on find out that you have to do it on your own. I was anxious when a few days before the flight, Mariel backed out. There was this tinnie-winnie romantic in me that imagined Mariel was just bluffing me and would actually show up in the airport.
It was stressful because I had to be responsible - with the research, the planning, taking care of myself, etc - which I wasn't planning on doing because I was supposed to be traveling with friends.
Another major thing that didn't go as plan was my trek to Annapurna Basecamp, it really got the best of me. I was really stressing over the fact that I wouldn't be able to go and that would totally ruin the whole trip.
But looking back, those and the other things that happened paved the way for something better. I mean, hadn't I solo traveled I wouldn't be able to hang out with the people I did. Or had I pushed through with the Annapurna Basecamp I wouldn't be able to go to Mardi Himal, which was absolutely amazing. Or I wouldn't have enough time to travel to Chitwan. Or hadn't the Turkish Air cause trouble in the Nepal Airport it would've been a different set of people who I'd meet.
When the earthquake hit Nepal, I felt really connected with the country and the pain they were going through. I was able to check on some of my friends and it was a relief that they weren't hurt. But some who I had no way of reaching, I still don't know how they are, I hope they're fine. It still worries me how the country will get back on its feet. I wish they do real soon.
I didn't expect that I would come to love Nepal as much as I do. The country is beautiful and its people are just the loveliest beings. I was really sad on the day that I was to leave Nepal, I don't think I've never been that sad to leave a place. I highly recommend Nepal and I cannot wait to go back and maybe do the Everest Basecamp and never leave Chitwan jungle until I see a tiger in the wild and fall in love with this country's beauty all over again.
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