My Nepalese Holiday

1.       Drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara.

It was a six hour drive from Kathmandu to Pokhara. I dreaded the drive simply because the roads were like a constant ab exercise. To my surprise, this was the best part of my holiday. I saw the most beautiful wonders and scenes in those six hours, and was ready for six more.

The mountains all around, with the river gushing through them. The mist moving along through the mountains and through us, with no hurry, just swaying through life as if it were stoned. The light rain drops falling on my face, the smell of freshness in the air. I was in heaven. So much beauty, sketched by mother nature, untouched by human kind, it really felt like I was in Paradise. If you ask me what we friends talked about during this long journey, I wouldn't remember a thing. I was just too mesmerized by all that I saw.  I just wanted to breathe it all it, take it all back with me somehow.

 Villagers carrying wood and other necessities on their backs and walking up and down these mountains, with a smile on their faces, waving at us tourists. They all looked like happy monks from a Buddhist story book. It just seemed picture perfect. How Ironic was it, they have absolutely nothing, lived a day at a time, in a tiny hut by the river, and they were happier than most people I knew. I guess that’s what nature can do to you.

Suddenly where I came from and who I was became a tiny spec in this amazingly beautiful Universe. I guess this is what God’s art can do to you.  I will go back someday, and stay there in those valleys, in a hut for a few weeks, detox the city toxins out of my system and get rejuvenated. 

For me, this drive was the highlight of my trip. My intimate time with Mother Nature.

2.      White water rafting.

     For a first timer, I was scared and didn't know what I was getting into. All I knew was to hold on to my dear life. Once we were on that river, going along with those currents, and against the wind and the rain drops, I just let go of the fears and enjoyed the ride, until splash!! Freezing water hit us from all around, waking every single cell in my body and all we do is gasp, scream and laugh out loud! The splashes continue and the adrenaline rush increases as we get a hang of team work and oh what a beautiful river to be doing this in. It was only the freezing water that constantly reminded me that this wasn't a dream. It was real.

This is a definite must do in Nepal. It is an experience of a lifetime. And do it with friends. You create memories that will not fade very easily.

3.        Chitwan Jungle experience.

     The drive from Pokhara to Chitwan was another beautiful experience. Scenic, but in a completely different way. Never ending plains of rice fields for miles and miles, reminded me of my all-time favorite movie Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge and made me smile. We passed through so many villages, saw images of what life is like, women milking cows, kids playing on swings, men fixing dish antennas, young girls washing clothes on the road side, even people showering out in the open.

We bought fresh fruits on the way, pumped water out of a water pump, sang and danced in the rain, all on the way to our resort. Now when you say resort to a girl from Dubai, you can understand what I imagine right? This was slightly different you see. It was a jungle. Yes I knew that already, theoretically, but now I was going to experience the real thing. The resort was very well maintained and we had a beautiful little hut, with a terrace facing a river and forests.

I didn't know night can get this dark, I didn't know how beautiful the moon can be in such dark nights. I didn't know there are so many stars for real. I didn't know creepy crawlers can be astonishingly beautiful. I didn't know such tiny creatures can make so many different sounds in the night. I didn't know a night could be that still. It was all so new and so different that while it made me uncomfortable, I was in complete amazement, every moment. 

Riding on the back on an elephant, sight-seeing through the jungle was exciting. It just felt safer being on the big guy in that jungle. We saw different species of deers, wild rabbits, rhinos and monkeys, all in their natural habitat, grazing and chilling. We saw a breeding farm for crocodiles and turtles too, which made me wonder why in the world would anyone breed crocodiles. Just showed me how little I know about the wild life. The canoe ride on this silent river was a little scary because of the close proximity with so many crocs. The crocs were everywhere. You could actually mistake them for dead or rocks because they were so still. Thank goodness we had naturalists assigned to us, otherwise I am sure, one of us would end up sitting on a croc for a picture, assuming it was a rock.

This is a must do experience for wildlife and photography lovers. But make sure you go with professionals like our tour guides from  GetupandGo to ensure you stay in a well maintained resort, because you never know what creature might show up in your room J

4.     Bakhtapur Durbar Square

This UNESCO world heritage site was a delight to the senses. With the right tour guide (and trust me that is very important. A tour book will not do enough justice), this was the most interesting history lesson I have ever attended in my life.

From the royal palaces, to the temples, the colors and intricacy were breath taking. The square is like a piece of land lost in time and space. You go back into history and with complete admiration and respect for the architecture, the wood work and the detailing. So many earthquakes could not destroy their structures. I was blown out of my mind. Not only is God creative in Nepal, people too are visionaries, from centuries ago.

Bakhtapur is paradise for a photographer. A place we should have spent a day or two in. It had an air of the past, felt like we were in a black n white era, except with rich color. Street food, and street shopping were just added delights to the evening.

Another place I will return to.

5.     Nagarkot

      This hill station was some seven thousand feet about sea level (I think).  The drive up the mountain was incredible. Nepalese beat the world at driving, and they are so polite at it too.
The hotel we stayed at was right on the tip of a mountain, with nothing around it except for the majestic view Himalayas, deep valleys, and green forests. We were in the middle of the mist. It was a dream that night. With a panoramic view of Kathmandu city, and apparently the most beautiful sunrise, which we missed out because of the heavy mist, this is unquestionably my honeymoon destination. I could just sit there in the balcony, wrapped in a blanket with a cup of hot chocolate, the man I love, and have the most beautiful time of my life. Absolute bliss!

Nine days in Nepal and I could write a book. There is so much to write about and to think that I saw just a tiny fraction of this beautiful country. The bazaars of Kathmandu, the walks through the streets of Pokhara, the restaurants, the buzz and best of all the people of Nepal. Such beautiful, genuine, honest, welcoming and humble people.

So many times during this trip, I wondered if all this was real. It made me realize that I know nothing about the world. It made me want to explore more, learn and see more. It made me realize how disconnected I was from God’s work of art, how much beauty there is in this world. It made me realize, how little we need to be happy and content and how our everyday concerns are merely specs of dust when you are one with nature.

Getupandgo definitely was the right choice, because we had nothing to deal with. We only had a trip to enjoy. Every single detail was taken care of as per our requirements and better than expectation. It is unquestionably the best way to travel. Exploring is always fun, but why waste time when there are professionals who can guide you to experience exactly what you want to experience.

You hypnotized me the first time. I wonder how the second time will be. Until then, God bless you Nepal. 

October 2013