Nepal

Since rioting Tibetans and the iron-fist of the Chinese government meant I’d miss the chance to visit Tibet, I was soaking up as much of the culture as possible in …

At the rate I’m going with flashbacks, I’ll be stuck in Nepal forever, but truth be told, the little Himalayan country holds a special place in my heart. Here are …

In Nepal, I had my pick of the rivers.  From day trips to 10-day expeditions, costs were low by western standards and opportunities for adrenaline rushes were high.  With only …

Of the 15,000+ photos I took on my trip, this is one of my favorites.  Maybe it’s the zen-like smiles we are all offering the camera after three days of …

When I returned from my backpacking trip, I unpacked all the boxes I sent home like a kid on Christmas morning.  Some of the stuff had sentimental value, some of …

As we walked to Deurali, we passed through gorgeous rhododendron forests with pink and white flowers. The forest felt magical, almost like ” Lord of the Rings.”? After we descended …

By the middle of my third day trekking in Nepal, I was exhausted according to the French doctor who checked me out at the Sherpa Guest House in Sinuwa.  I …

Wondering what it is like to be dropped off at the starting point of a 10-day trek toward the base camp of Annapurna South (8,000-meter peak) having not gone on …

Trekking in Nepal was a must-do experience for me on my trip, and while I had not gone on an overnight hike since the age of 12, I couldn’t resist …

Kathmandu was definitely unlike any other place I’d visited until that point, and within a few days I’d bought knock off trekking gear, developed an appreciation for milk tea, paid …

Technically, I did make it to Tibet when my Air China flight touched down at the Lhasa airport for one hour en route to Kathmandu.  The first part of the …

As much as I enjoyed playing chicken with oncoming traffic in Kathmandu’s little white taxis, I was happy to have a seat on Yeti Airline’s 11:40am flight to a small …

Nepal had always represented world-class trekking for me, yet I found the country to offer so much more. Beyond the beautiful snow-capped mountains, green valleys, peaceful lakes, raging rivers, colorful …

  A marching band accompanies a wedding procession around Boudhnath Stupa one afternoon. Butter lamps. A Tibetan woman spins prayer wheels. A rooftop view of the stupa…well worth the extra …

The second morning I awoke in Boudha, I satisfied my curiosity about the ringing bells at 5:30am. I put on some warm clothes and stepped outside of the guest house …

Sunday – Receive advice to get to the Indian Embassy early. Monday – 8:45am – Arrive at Indian Embassy 45 minutes prior to opening. Take a number – 79 to …

After my first peaceful night in Boudha (the area with the stupa), I awoke early to the the sounds of the nearby monastery’s morning puja (prayers). I put my curiosity …

After a few nights at the historic Kathmandu Guest House in the heart of Thamel (Kathmandu), I was ready to escape the live cover bands and honking taxis for some …

My first digital camera was a Christmas gift from my parents in 2006. I had been receiving compliments on the Canon PowerShot SD700 IS Digital Elph all along my trip, …

From the restaurant rooftop in Durbar Square, I could see Swayambhunath Stupa as it was up on a hill to the west. I grabbed a taxi for yet another kamikaze …