Tihar was so beautiful. There were so many homes and businesses lit up and such a festive spirit. We took our 360 camera with us and took a walk through Thamel. I hope you enjoy the video, but there's always more to say. Please do subscribe to our channel if you haven't already. More subscribers will give us more exposure so we'll be able to help many more tourists to have a great time in Nepal. 

 

 Check out our walk through Thamel during this 'Festival of Lights in 360.

I often write about when to come to Nepal, but I’ve actually been suggesting people come after Tihar, the final big festival. The reason isn’t because it’s not enjoyable, but because so many people are totally distracted by it. People won’t work much between 2 week before Dasain and until Tihar is over. That’s about a 6 week time period. But Dasain is in October and Tihar is usually in November. This causes issues in the food industry more then anything. There is often no one to serve the food in restaurants in Kathmandu, so there are fewer items on the menu and longer wait times. But if you can eat the local food you should be fine. Just remember everyone is short staffed.

The lights were beautiful and the people were so happy during the celebration. But what is it? The celebration comes from Lord Ram returning from war and destroying a demon. As he returned people put candles out to welcome him and now people continue to do that. But there is a lot more to it than that. Many of the customs are carried out with families, so it’s difficult to get a clear picture of it.

The main date, which everything led up to, the festival is celebrated in the home and just about everyone welcomes Goddess Laxmi to come into the home to bring prosperity for the year. People actually leave the door open all night for her and keep the lights on. Next year we hope to do more to explore the festival a bit deeper. We also have another video coming up to help you understand some of the traditions that accompany the Laxmi Puja that is celebrated the day before the final evening. You’ll be able to see that on our new channel, It’s About Nepal: https://bit.ly/39iVJSp

I looked at some stores along the way, so here is the contact information for each of them that I got a business card for.

There is little in customer service and your only recourse would be the Tourist Police, but why bother them? Educate yourself well and be sure to get a receipt with the tax shown as paid. Keep the receipt for when you leave. If you show the receipt that has no store name you could get into trouble because it wouldn’t have the tax shown.

Another video you may like:

Our Kathmandu Guest House affiliate Booking.com link: Our Kathmandu Guest House Affiliate Link

Our goal for this channel is to save you time, money and frustration. I think these three affiliate links will help with these issues. We appreciate your support by ‘liking’ and subscribing and clicking on our affiliate links.

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Nepal is open. The government of Nepal has done away with mandatory quarantine for the travelers who are vaccinated. We have a library of helpful videos just for Nepal. Here’s one you’ll enjoy if you liked this one: Check out another of our videos to help you get the most out of Nepal.

 

GRK Traders

Satghumi, Thamel, Kathmandu, Nepal 977-1-4700003

Outdoorgearnepal@gmail.com

Manufacturer/wholesaler of outdoor clothing and rental service of trekking clothing and equipment

Ultimate Jewels (next to Kathmandu Guest House)

Mosen Khan, Proprietor

Thamel, Kathmandu, 5977-014701485

Blaze2extreme@hotmail.com

Om Shanti Handicraftg and Cold Store for trekking items

Shayam Dev Rajak

+977 9841612859

Omshantihandicraft@yahoo.com

Near Tibet Guest Hous, Nirvana Garden, Thamel

Royal Pashmina

Sanjeev Chapagain

9843210594Kathmandu-16, Satghumti, Thamel

royalpashmina27@gmail.com

MON-Museum of Nepali Art

Jenisha Maharjan (museum manager)

manager@mona.com.np

www.mona.com.np

977 9802020484

 

I had a great time at the Festival of Death in Nepal

 In spite of the challenging times we are living in, we decided to go to Bhaktapur to experience Gai Jatra or Cow Festival 2021. Seeing the long procession of chariots being carried, literally for hours one after the other, gives a person a sense of oneness and humanity. It’s deeply sacred, but also fun and a bit crazy. 

 

This is our latest on our new channel, 'It's About Nepal.' It's 360 so increase the setting to the highest quality and be sure to spin the screen around to see even what's behind the camera. If you see something interesting, just scroll in for a close-up. I hope you ENJOY and SUBSCRIBE. 

If you have an interest in what this festival is like on a normal year check out our video from the 2019/2076 celebration. I think you'll see the contrast in the atmosphere.

                                              This is what the festival looks like most years.

Our travel insurance link will take you to the best values for your money on travel insurance. This is a shopping platform similar to Booking.com or Tripadvisor.com. They are agents of the highest-rated international travel insurance companies. Not only are the policies the same prices as offered by the travel insurance companies directly, but if you do need to put in a claim Insure My Trip will provide you with an advocate who will help you get everything you can out of your policy. You really do not want to go through it alone. Our affiliate Travel Insurance link: https://www.insuremytrip.com/?linkId=8517  

Many of the chariots were quite elaborate, others were much more simple and if you look closely as the crowd passes you may see a person or two carrying a straw doko alone. They do this to show love and a deeper devotion to the parent who has died. Another reason is due to poverty. Making the 'Sancha,' which means 'cow' in Newari; I refer to them as chariots here and in the videos just for simplicity's sake. 

7 Best Temples/Stupas to Explore

 

 

Hope you enjoy this video

When you go to Nepal you really need to plan well, but keep your options alive. Be particularly mindful of the travel time. During normal times in Kathmandu it can take up to an hour or more to go from the airport, for example, to Patan. Few taxis have air conditioning and it can get pollution-hot even on a normally pleasant day. That means you really need to enjoy the area where you are staying and then pack up to explore another area. You will save time, as well as money and frustration. 

In this accompanying video and this blog I hope you'll be able to find the best destination for a day trek. It's my main aim to create the best videos to help travelers to get the most out of Nepal. I use this blog post when there is more to say than I can fit into a 10 minute video. 

There is forest all the way around the Kathmandu Valley, so it's best to think of the Valley like a grit and explore it in sections. That's why we did this temple trek video. Now, all you need to do is take a look and think about where you'd like to explore. There is a map at the end.

There really isn't a problem with guesthouses being over-booked; booking online will often cost a bit more. However, if there is a festival in the particular area there is a possibility that you could have a problem and you'll need to pay a bit more for a room and for food. So, do check ahead, especially if it's during a full moon.

Of these temple treks and visits featured in this video you can expect to pay the following: 

Please note: These prices can change at any time.

Chandragiri Hill 

Prices for Cable Car:
Round Trip Prices: SAARC 1120 NRs.       $15 (Chinese)   $22 (Westerners)
For more information: https://www.stunningnepal.com/chandragiri-hills/

Swoyambhunath/Monkey Temple 

Swayambhunath/Monkey Temple:
Admission is 300 Nrs. for westerners
Swamabu/Monkey Temple park at street level: Free

Kopan Monastery 

Kopan Monastery:
No charge to visit the grounds, but check for upcoming classes.

Boudhanath Stupa

 Boudhanath Stupa: 300 Nrs. for Westerners

Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur 1,500 Nrs. for Westerners

Patan

Patan: 1,000 Nrs. for Westerners 
 

Kirtipur 

 Kirtipur: 100 Nrs. for Westerners 

Although you could walk to Kirtipur it would likely be through the loud, polluted city of Kathmandu. I suggest packing up your things and staying a night or two here and take a taxi up to the ancient city.

I think we've all learned the value of Travel Insurance. If you get hurt or become ill in Nepal there are two distinct ways you'll be treated. If you have travel insurance you're much more likely to survive.

Our affiliate link Travel Insurance link: https://www.insuremytrip.com/?linkId=8517

Getting the Most Out of Nepal-Exploring the Postal Service

 After struggling for about 3 years to get 1,000 subscribers on our Youtube channel, What About Nepal, I realized that it surely must be shadow banned by the algorithm. So, I made a new channel and this is our first video on the channel. 

Please check out our new video, as well as the one we made in 2019. A lot has changed but for an extra 10 minutes I think you’ll find a tip or two that you can use in that video. There are tips on how to address the package and such in that video. 

Our new channel, Its about Nepal, our other channel, What About Nepal, and this blog have these advantages:
1. Positive, truthful tips.
2. Tips to keep you safe and help you to keep from wasting money.
3. Help to understand the culture and laws to help keep you out of trouble.
4. Help you to fall in love with Nepal so you’ll come back again and again.

As always, the underlying theme of the new channel, Its About Nepal, is to help you get the most out of Nepal. We’ll be updating videos from the old channel, as well as uploading weekly to the new channel. We use this blog to add things that cannot be illustrated so well in the video. 

For example, here’s the brochure from the Post Office that will help you to know what you can send, as well as the current, 2021 prices. I think this is all I needed to add to the video.

As always, please check out our travel insurance affiliate link to shop for the best prices from many major, international travel insurance companies. If you take a look at the platform and don’t like it, please let me know in the comments so I can find a better affiliate partner, but I liked the simplicity of the site and that they promise an advocate if you need to put in a claim. That way they can deal with some of the details if you are too ill to deal with it. Seriously, when does an insurance company willingly pay the full claim? Insure My Trip isn’t an insurance company, but a marketing partner, so they are on your side if you have to put in a claim. 

https://www.insuremytrip.com/?linkId=8517


I’d like to give a special thank you to all our subscribers. I know you might not want to follow us after your trip to Nepal is finished, but I hope that isn’t the case. If you’re finding this blog and our videos helpful please hit the like button and subscribe.

 

 

Exploring Kirtipur, an Ancient City Worth a Visit

 An exploration of the Kathmandu Valley could never be complete without a visit to one of the oldest kingdoms here, Kirtipur. Each time I've visited this city I've been amazed by how oblivious the local people are to tourists. We seem to be tolerated, appreciated and then ignored. It's their town and life goes on with or without tourists. 

On our latest visit we focused on sharing our incredible drone footage and explored the Baggbgaurav Temple. Here's our video: 

History records Kirtipur as being from the 12th century, but it is clearly much older than that. Anyone interested in Buddhism will enjoy learning about this city, as it has a deep history blending Hinduism and Buddhism. 

The temple itself has a unique legend behind it that involves a tiger, a tiger's tongue and Lord Bhirab, an incarnation of Lord Shiva. Rather than my telling the tale, I'd rather see you come to Nepal, the Kathmandu Valley and then to the city itself to learn its rich history and mythology. 

 As is mentioned in the video, Kirtipur is a 'foodie's' dream. You'll find so many possibilities such as these: 

I certainly hope, as always, that your curiosity will be piqued and you'll be coming to explore this amazing, little country for yourself. Kirtipur is just one lovely example of the rich history and culture you'll find in Nepal. 

Getting the Most Out of Shivaratri in Nepal

Shivaratri is a unique festival in Nepal, first because it isn't held on the full moon. It's held on the no moon or new moon phase. It's an exciting festival in that people all gather at the Shiva temples, particularly Pashupatinath. Typically, marijuana is smoked or eaten in the form of candy balls during this festival.

 

We took our 360 camera with us to enjoy this celebration and did a live shoot. Check it out to get the feel of what the festival is all about. Be sure to adjust the quality to the highest so you can get that 'being there' feeling. If you have 3d goggles it's really nice. Spin the screen to see what's behind the camera. 

Please do not let these warnings below stop you from enjoying this festival. I really wanted to use this as a way to educate our readers and viewers about drug use in Nepal. It isn't dangerous; just don't let it get you into trouble.

Tip #1. Do not eat the balls. There is a treat that's readily available at this festival made from ganja. Many hands were working on these and there may not be running water anywhere in the area. You can easily become ill if you eat them.

Tip #2. Although the Nepali police are polite and helpful for tourists, please obey the laws. If you do want to smoke ganja it's best to not have much on you at any time. Just pack a few cigarettes. The police have enough to do without dealing with problems from this.

Tip #3. Drug Warning: Be very careful about partaking of anything stronger than marijuana or organically made hashish. Sometimes they make hashish with things like petrol, so smell it to make sure there isn’t petrol or something worse. Generally, hashish is made by a process of shaking and rubbing to get the THC out of the plant; I’m not sure of the exact methods used here.

 

Tip #4. Be sure to leave your valuables, passport, etc. in the guesthouse. I accompanied a tourist one time to a festival and she got pick-pocketed within minutes of paying her ticket.

Tip #5. It's best to stay near the airport and walk to Pashupatinath for Shivartri. They often close the road so taxis and buses are unable to get you close enough. But when it's time to go back you can walk a ways and find a taxi. It isn't so far but you'll be walking the entire day. Here's a guesthouse by the airport that we stayed at that was nice and moderately priced.

Tip #6. Understand what is expected of you, what to do and what not to do. You are welcome to join in just about anywhere. You'll find Nepalese are so welcoming you will have a great time.

Tip #7. Be careful about dealing with sadhus. These are the people walking around with painted faces and dressed in orange. Many are con men, so always negotiate the money issue before you allow them to put a tika on your forehead, get a picture with them or let them tell your future. Then, after you think you are finished, they ask you for money to help them get back to India. Keep in mind that a local bus to India costs less than $25.

If you ever think you are being taken advantage of just look for a police officer or call the tourist police. You should have that phone number logged into your cell phone. 014247041

What not to do: If you take a picture with a sadu, street beggar or vendor please give them a bit of money. Usually 50-100 rupee is fine. Otherwise, ask before taking a picture or video where a person may be uncomfortable. 

Do not take pictures of burning bodies or mourners close up. If it's a picture of the grounds and there are bodies burning, that's fine, but don't feature that in the picture without asking permission. 

If you have a tip for travelers who want to enjoy this festival please leave it in the comments.

8 More Tips to Get the Most from Healthcare in Nepal

As we were finishing our video about healthcare tips for Nepal I realized there was a lot more to share on the subject. I hope you enjoyed the video, and if you haven't watched it yet be sure to check out our channel.

Medical Tips for Nepal: 

1. Always buy medications from a pharmacy attached to a good, private hospital. If that isn't possible, be sure to inspect the packaging to make sure it's a quality product. Look for a hologram, something in English and a paper that tells the contraindications and such. If this isn't possible, take special note of any adverse reactions to the medications after you take it. 

The pharmacist, once you establish a relationship with him, can send any medications to your country via UPS, FedEX or insured Nepali mail. Getting a delivery in Nepal is next to impossible, but sending is excellent and really cheap. for example, a bubble-wrap manila envelope will cost less than $50 to ship no matter where you live. 

 2.Sometimes you'll see a pharmacy that has a doctor that offers a free check up. Although it sounds nice, these guys are notorious for over prescribing medications. 

3. After we finished compiling all the footage for the video I noticed the 'morning after' pill, which is easily found in pharmacies without a prescription for only 80 Nrs. I always laugh to myself when I think of a solo female traveler bringing some of these home as souvenirs for her friends.

Surprisingly, you need a prescription for things like sleeping pills, and Benydryl is not available in Nepal.  If you are allergic to bees, peanuts, etc. be sure to bring the medicine from home. Although you should check first, if you are on long-term medications Nepal is a real bargain for just about anything you need. 

4. If you go trekking above 4,500 meter be sure you have a plan for high altitude sickness. If you are someone who doesn't like to take meds stop into a Tibetan clinic to check out what they have for it. You can find these clinics around Buddhist areas,such as Boudha. I can recommend our friends at Snow Region Welfare Clinic. They can also find Yasha Gumba, this amazing little animal turned fungus is said to be a natural Viagra among having many other health benefits.

5. If you are on an official trekking route you can often find a free health clinic nearby, which is always available and can provide medications for this. This is where you would likely need to be air-lifted to Kathmandu if you have a problem. This ride will cost over $5,000 if you have to pay for it; another reason to get travel insurance. Our affiliate link: https://www.insuremytrip.com/?linkId=8517 

6. You can find a shaman or other local, spiritual healers by inquiring with your guesthouse manager or Nepali friend. They are quite common and can really work miracles. After I arrived in Nepal I pulled my shoulder while riding around on the back of a motorcycle. After a few months of it not getting better I went to a shaman. It was cured immediately. 

 7. It's probably best to avoid the sadhus at Pashupatinath, which would seem like the perfect place to find a spiritual healer. Although some of the painted-faced holy men are amazing, remember that some of these people are known to cheat tourists. Always negotiate the price before you allow anyone to do anything with you. I know it seems obvious, but they will get started before you can say, 'no thank you.' Also, keep in mind that you are not supposed to ask a sadu for change. If you negotiate for 200 Nrs. and in the end you only have a 500 rupee note you need to give him the entire thing without asking for change. 

 

8. If you become ill and need to go to the hospital be sure to have a Nepali friend accompany you. It's impossible to navigate any of the hospitals without a local person. If you cannot find anyone else, your taxi driver can easily help you; just make sure he speaks English well enough. You can offer an extra 500Nrs. if it doesn't take too long. Even Nepali take someone with them to the hospital.

If you are wondering how hospitals are handling this global pandemic, here's an illustration that answers any questions:

Our aim is to explore Nepal a bit differently with tips and tricks to make Nepal touch your heart. Come along with us as we help you to get the most out of every minute and every rupee while you are here. We want you to fall in love with this unique place. If this is of interest to you I hope you subscribe and hit the like button. The world has changed since this COVID-19 pandemic began, so we strive even more to become the Premier Travel Channel, providing travel tips for Nepal, keeping you safe so you can enjoy Nepal even more. 

 ALERT: Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, you must have $5,000 of COVID insurance before your arrival to Nepal. Click on the link below to shop for the best values. Things change all the time, so be sure to check the pinned comment to see an update on changes when they finalize. Our affiliate link Travel Insurance link: All profits go to Kay Garnay for Nepal, our NGO.

Our blog and Youtube channel serve as a Travel Guide for Nepal, helping tourists traveling to Nepal. Our Nepal Travel Guide is a growing collection of travel tips covering a wide variety of topics to help travelers to get more enjoyment out of their time here. We are here to encourage and support Nepal’s tourism and our channel is quickly becoming the Premier Travel Channel for Nepal providing practical Travel Tips for Nepal and Travel Tips for Kathmandu, showing you the best Nepal values for anyone who might have a desire to travel in Nepal. 

Our travel insurance link will take you to the best values for your money on travel insurance. This is a shopping platform similar to Booking.com. They are suppliers of the highest-rated policies from international travel insurance companies. Not only are the policies the same prices as offered by the travel insurance companies directly, but if you do need to put in a claim Insure My Trip will provide you with an advocate who will help you get everything you can out of your policy. You really do not want to go through it alone. Our affiliate link for our agency: Our affiliate link to fund our outreach projects.

Learn more about Ama’s work in Nepal. (http://WhatAboutNepal.com​) 

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Learning the Nepalese language-Can You Do It?

Many travelers enjoy learning languages along the way and learning a bit of Nepali is a great way to ingratiate yourself with the local people you’ll meet. Merchants and other Nepalese you meet will appreciate it if you speak a word or two of their language. When you make a phone call and the person isn’t available the recording says, ‘Mof garnuu ho la.’ ‘Sorry about that.’ If I’m walking in a crowd and accidentally bump into someone I like to say that. It puts a smile on their face every time. Nepal has many spoken languages, over 120. In fact, Nepali is not the native language of the majority of Nepalese, even though its the national language. It’s actually a pleasant language, though. Sometimes when I hear people outside talking the chatter just sounds like my native English. I’ve heard languages spoken that were more guttural and one that reminded me of the spitting sound. Nepali is much more pleasant. That being said, I have to confess that it is the most difficult language for me to learn. I learned enough Italian in just a few weeks to be able to understand a conversation, but Nepali is much harder for me. I still don’t know many words, and when I try to say something in Nepali it seldom comes out right, but I have fun with it and have incorporated a few words into my vocabulary. Surprisingly, I can read Sanskrit, which uses most of the same symbols. If you speak Hindi you won’t be able to understand Nepali, but most Nepalese will be able to communicate with you in Hindi. Here’s our Doodly video on just a few words to know if you are coming to Nepal. If you would like to stay in Nepal for a longer time you can get a student visa to learn Nepali. If you do take this visa you will need to take you studies very seriously; if you fail to pass the class you may be denied a ‘tourist’ visa. There are some similarities to Japanese, so if you speak Japanese you may have an easier time with it, but it has a reputation for being a difficult language for most foreigners. If your reason for wanting to learn Nepali is to stay in Nepal longer, I noticed there is an Ayurveda Department at the university, which may be less of a challenge. This would be an international degree, taught entirely in English, an awesome addition to anyone in yoga, coaching, massage therapy or other healing kinds of professions. Note that there is COVID insurance required, so if you haven’t shopped for your travel insurance please click on the link below. Proceeds go to fund our NGO, Kay Garnay for Nepal.

9 New Regulations for Tourists Coming to Nepal : COVID-19

 Short answer is 'yes' and 'no.' Yes, it's open for organized trekking and mountaineering, but not for much of anything else. However, this is only step one. The last festival of the year has just finished. This will probable cause the cases to spike, but then the cases should subside. 

We were fortunate to have found a wonderful administrator who helped us to understand the new regulations. Here's her interview. Stay tuned for more information as things change. 

The written regulations are in the description of the video below. Please like and subscribe.

Patan’s Lovely Durbar Square, Exploring Local Life in the Kathmandu Valley

The Kathmandu Valley had three kings during its long history in the Malla Dynasty and each of these kingdoms had a palace and lovely square that surrounded it. Each of these historical sites are worth spending a few days to explore, depending on your time constraints. On this particular day we visited the Patan Durbar Square. 

Tips on getting the most out of interactive 360 5K videos: 

1. Use the mouse, screen or rotate a mobile to see in any direction.
2. Use VR goggles to actually get a 3D feel.
3. Adjust the setting to the highest possible video quality.
Let us know in the comments how you enjoy this format and if you had any trouble navigating.

Although there are still several temples under construction from the earthquakes of 2015, there is still so much history and beauty to explore. We took our new 360 camera with us and filmed a post for our Youtube channel, ‘What About Nepal?’  I hope you click on the link above to watch the video. Remember, it's 360 interactive, so be sure to scroll around.

We began our time by checking out a local restaurant, The Cafe Du Temple. Due to my ‘granny’ stomach, I had pizza, but Sujit chose better; he had a delicious dumpling noodle dish. Both meals were prepared well and came in a timely manner-something that doesn’t always happen.

There is a lot to see at this UNESCO site with temples of various styles. We strolled through the square just to give you an idea about what’s there to see. The people are friendly and the shopping prices are incredible bargains that you can easily have shipped back home. Spending time here will allow you to explore this community on a variety of levels. There are many interesting things that go on here that you just won’t see anywhere else. The customs in Nepal are localized, so even if it’s a festival to celebrate a particular deity it’s done in a unique way.

Travel Tip: Be sure to check the calendar to see if there is a full moon during the time you’ll be in Kathmandu. Most festivals are done during the full moons from February-March to October, but the last one is more for family like Christmas is done in the west. If you come during this festival time it can be difficult to find businesses open in Kathmandu due to everyone going home for the holiday. It’s not as much of a problem as it used to be, but it can become a scheduling issue. Additionally, it would be good to ask your guesthouse managers if they will be fully staffed during Dashain (pronounced ‘Dos-I’). I’ve heard plenty of stories of health problems due to restaurants being under-staffed.

How to overcome the food service issue in Nepal?
1. Make sure the food is thoroughly hot when it’s served. I don’t suggest sending food back; just be gracious and order something else if it isn’t to your liking.
2. Be gracious and patient; don’t complain in a harsh way.
3. Order local foods instead of western foods.
4. Be very careful about street food and local eateries.

Enjoying the local culture ends up being at the top of most travelers’ list of most memorable memories. You do not need to leave the Kathmandu Valley to find amazing, local experiences. Just explore one of Nepal’s ancient Darbur Squares. Patan’s Durbar Square will leave you with a deep appreciation for the local people, history and their customs.

Our business contacts in this video:

Roshan Handicraft Center, Manufacture, Wholesaler & Exporter of Nepalese, Tibetan & all kinds of Goods
Roshan Kumar Shakya, Proprietor

Showroom:

Mahapal, Patako-16
Lalitpur, Nepal
+977 9841220216

Healing Bowl Center Showroom:

Amogha Handicraft and Healing Bowl Center
Amogha Bajracharya, 9860569934
Haseena Shakya, 9869726819
AmoghaHandicraft@gmail.com
Illanai, Patan-Backside of Golden Temple

__________________________________________________________
Thanks so much for subscribing. Whether you’re subscribing today or you’ve been watching our videos for a while, we really appreciate it. Check out our merch. in the description, if you plan to do any traveling. See you next time. 

Our Links: Our travel insurance link will take you to the best values for your money on travel insurance. This is a shopping platform similar to Booking.com or Tripadvisor.com. They are suppliers of the highest-rated policies from international travel insurance companies. Not only are the policies the same prices as offered by the travel insurance companies directly, but if you do need to put in a claim. Insure My Trip will provide you with an advocate who will help you get everything you can out of your policy. You really do not want to go through it alone.
Our affiliate link Travel Insurance link: https://www.insuremytrip.com/?linkId=... Girl Merch (our affiliate link): Moon cup: https://www.mooncup.co.uk/?
Learn more about Ama’s work in Nepal: http://WhatAboutNepal.org

Exploring Gokarna Forest-Day Nature Hike

Exploring Nepal is always full of surprises, sometimes in a good way and sometimes not so good. When we moved into our new home near Lazimpat I could look out the window and see the lovely hilltop where the famous, Kopan monastery sits. I wanted to go explore the area since March,  but shortly after we moved in we were in and out of Covid lockdown for 5 months or so.

We just got out of lockdown, so I decided we’d check it out right away.  After being turned away at the Kopan monastery we made our way to the other side of the area to  a lovely part of the Gokarna Forest. We were quite surprised to find the Peace and Martyrs’ Park and quiet nature trail.

The best part of the day was that we brought our 360 camera so we could share the day with our viewers. This camera features high speed, 5K videos that can be seen in 3D if you have VR goggles. But even if you don’t have the goggles, just turn the prospective of the screen to see the sky, behind the camera or look to the side as we walk. If you don’t see an incredibly clear video you will need to adjust your Youtube settings using the button on the bottom of the video. Bring it up to the highest setting.

Although the park isn’t quite open yet, I think it will be completed within the next year or so. That means you can see it as a work in progress and enjoy its familiarity when you come to Nepal and spend that all-important day on your warm-up trek.

This area, Gokarna Forest, is huge and holds some relaxing resorts and and a trekking route that surrounds the Kathmandu Valley. We are planning to do more exploration in this area so I hope you subscribe to our channel. Beyond the Gokarna Forest, the Kathmandu Valley is surrounded by forest, either rural villages or government conservation areas of undeveloped regions.

What I’d like for you to consider is to take a few days at the beginning of your time in Nepal doing a few practical things to get the most out of your time here. In this video we explored the warm-up trek, but in the upcoming videos I’m going to focus on some ways you can benefit from your trip in some surprising, financial ways.

Let us know in the comments how you enjoy this format and if you had any trouble navigating. Thanks so much for subscribing whether you’re subscribing today or you’ve been watching our videos for a while, we really appreciate it. Check out our merch. in the description, if you plan to do any traveling. See you next time. Our Links: Our travel insurance link will take you to the best values for your money on travel insurance. This is a shopping platform similar to Booking.com or Tripadvisor.com. They are suppliers of the highest-rated policies from international travel insurance companies. Not only are the policies the same prices as offered by the travel insurance companies directly, but if you do need to put in a claim Insure My Trip will provide you with an advocate who will help you get everything you can out of your policy. You really do not want to go through it alone. 

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Insects of Nepal

Wherever you go, the local people know what to avoid and what’s not a problem. Insects are one of those things. They are life forms and fellow earthlings, so please be gentle with them. Just like humans, they just want to live their lives in peace.

If you come to Nepal you may have some reservations due to the insects and other natural critters. Here in the Kathmandu Valley there really aren’t any insects you need to really worry about, although there is a yellow caterpillar that can cause quite an irritation, which I haven’t heard of any tourists to be effected.

There is little to worry about here in the Kathmandu Valley, but I have to disclose a neighbor in the village where I lived got bit by a spider on his big toe and it caused pain and swelling all the way up to his groin. He was in a village home without a good floor or even glass in the windows.

Insects can be pretty scary, but they are so important for life on our planet. Scientists say that if just the bees die we will also; that’s how important they are for life on our planet.

No, I don’t like them to crawl on me or anything, but I sure do admire them from afar.

To understand just how the insects will affect you, you’ll need to realize that Nepal has 3 very different climates. First, Chitwan is in the flat elevation like people think of as India. You really can’t tell just where Nepal ends and India begins and it’s full of all kinds of problematic critters-from the very small insects to the occasional wild bull elephant. If you go to Chitwan be sure to bring a pair of binoculars. The birds and wildlife are amazing there.

Then, there is a more temperate climate like in the Kathmandu Valley. It’s great for farming. Although there have been reports of Dengue fever even in the higher elevations, there isn’t a big likelihood that you’ll be affected by it unless you are volunteering and living where people have it, usually by the river or at the hospitals.

Then there is the higher country where there really isn’t a need to worry at all about insects, but be sure to keep your distance from the larger animals, such as cows and mountain cats.

If you go to Chitwan you will need to take a few precautions or at least heighten your awareness about insects. Here are a few tips for you to consider.

1. If you have an aversion to insects or an outright fear you’ll want to stay in a bit better guesthouse and stay as high up as you can-3-4th floor will make a big difference.

2. You can have your guesthouse staff check your room with you in the evening. You will need to lift the bed up to check for spiders and snakes. Yes, if you are staying in a resort with the thatch roof you will need to check under your bed nightly.

3. Use a sleeping bag liner to help keep insects and spiders away from you in bed. You can find them in Thamel or just about anywhere they sell trekking supplies.

Ants: Interestingly, we are not bothered by fire ants here in the Kathmandu Valley. Although originally from Africa, these aggressive ants are difficult to avoid in many parts of the US.

3:27 in the video: Unfortunately, this blue bee got lost in our apartment and I was unable to get a good video of him. These are rare and beautiful, so I’m including her.

2:47 in the video: This beetle was about 4 inches long. We also have some smaller ones that buzz around the lights and bang into walls. They are fun to watch and completely harmless.

5:55 on the video: If you do hiking during the monsoon season you may get one of these leeches on you. Don’t worry if you do. They are gross but perfectly harmless.

Mosquito: If you are concerned about Malaria or Dengue Fever check out the video on that subject for more information. 

Our travel insurance link will take you to the best value for your money on travel insurance. This is a shopping platform similar to Booking.com or Tripadvisor.com They are suppliers of the highest-rated policies from international travel insurance companies. Not only are the policies the same prices as offered by the travel insurance companies directly, but if you do need to put in a claim Insure My Trip will provide you with an advocate who will help you get everything you can out of your policy. You really do not want to go through it alone.

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How My Health Has Been Effected By Moving to Asia

One of the biggest reasons to stay home in the West is the belief that health care in developing nations is scary. I agree that it can be. I was a person who spent about $100 a month at the health food store and went to farmers' markets to buy vegetables as often as I could afford. My doctor wanted to give me a plethora of vaccines, which I started to comply with but then decided not to. Many tourists get everything they can, hep. B, polio booster, etc. and I wondered if I had made the right decision.

I had been in a home and had taken a meal with a woman who shortly afterward was diagnosed with TB. That was scary, but I think you have to be a bit unhealthy in order to contract it. Everyone spits and then the run-off water is collected and put on roofs in those big, black containers. I remember reading that some viruses can stay dormant on a cold dry surface for months. So, how has my health been affected by living in Nepal for 4 years?

I've gotten sick on a few occasions. The first time I just stayed in my guesthouse room until it passed. It was pretty horrible. I learned from that experience, but not enough to know what to do the next time.

The next time I got sick my assistant de jour had been taking his 'rake' every time he did anything or took me anywhere. I didn't have enough money to go to a proper hospital without having to juggle money around. This time I had to go where the local people go. It was pretty scary, but they tested me, said I had a bladder infection and I was fine in a couple days. This time I learned a couple of lessons, the first being to pull back on the trust factor.

I write about health care in Nepal in my eBook, Nepal; A Tourist's Manual, but since it seems to be 'out of print' again I will provide one huge tip from the Health chapter. Do not go to CWIC, the tourists' clinic near the British embassy unless you have travel insurance that will allow you to get treated without having to take from your budget. It's a fine medical provider, but expensive if you have to pay out of pocket. At CWIC you will over-pay by about 400% or so. Instead, you will need to find the right hospital. For example, if you have a heart issue there is a wonderful, new cardiac care hospital in the Lazimpath area. If you pulled your back out or broke your leg you would need to find the proper hospital for that. Bottom line: make sure it isn't a government hospital. 

You should also be sure to bring a local Nepali with you to the hospital. Although the doctors do speak English, the procedure is quite chaotic. The hospitals don't provide anyone to help so it would be $10 well spent to have a local person accompany you. Just ask your guesthouse manager or staff for someone. 


So, what do I use for a health food store and farmers' market? There are these wonderful, little franchised store called Patanjali, a creation of Baba Ram Dev of India. I get coconut oil 1 NRs. per gram, healthy cookies, alternative flours and many other interesting things. We buy local vegetables so there are seldom any chemicals, although they are not certified organic. There are farmers' markets weekly throughout most of the year, too.   

This blog post is supplemental to our video channel. If you enjoyed this post, you'll enjoy our videos. We explore one topic at a time with the intent to help you to have the best time in Nepal. Subscribe to our Youtube Channel to get travel tips and tricks for travel through Nepal and other parts of Asia.

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