Whether you're coming to Nepal to trek, meditate, volunteer, get awesome medical values, get certification for yoga, healing bowl or meditation, our blogs, websites and social media posts will help you every step of the way. Is Nepal on your bucket list?
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.
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
Amogha Handicraft and Healing Bowl Center Amogha Bajracharya, 9860569934 Haseena Shakya, 9869726819 AmoghaHandicraft@gmail.com Illanai, Patan-Backside of Golden Temple
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I stated in my book, Nepal: A Tourist's Manual, that the Thamel district in Kathmandu can be very ruthless to unsuspecting tourists. The merchants seem to be waiting for you to walk by with too much money and not enough brain cells. I have to admit that I wasn't prepared to purchase my first pashmina scarf and that scarf's price seemed to be determined by the country I came from.
I learned a lot about pashmina since that day and I've found a few places to buy silk and wool scarves/shawls at excellent prices. One of those places is just outside of Thamel in the Arson Chowk area and one is in Bhaktapur. However, there are some bargains to be found in Thamel and if you have the energy for it, it can be a lot of fun to shop and haggle with the merchants.
The best way I've found to shop in Kathmandu is to just walk down the street and see what you pass along the way. Have a mental list and see what you can check off. I have a habit to peak into any box or sales rack I see along the way. It isn't unusual to find out of season hats and gloves, scarves or paper products at the front of many stores in boxes from about 20-100 NRs. However, sales and clearances can be a bit of a let-down. "30-70% off entire stock," for example, will not necessarily yield the savings you'd expect. Also, there is no shame in the merchant's mind (at least as far as I can tell) about lying. They do not even apologize to you when you catch them in a bold faced lie. So, don't be shy to call them on what they say, put a match to a thread to check the fiber or just just challenge them with a bluff.
Tip: If the item is a natural fiber like wool you can take one strand and put a match to it. If it acts like your own burning hair would it's a natural fiber. But if it gets a black ball at the end it is not natural. When you take a lighter out the merchant will either come clean to the 'miscommunication' or he will help you with the lighter.
I came upon a Gorkha Knife shop on my last shopping trip and really enjoyed the day. The shop keeper was so enthusiastic, proud to be Gorkha. The Gorkha people have been known for their fighting abilities for centuries and the Gorkha knives are high quality and beautiful. I noticed a very impressive knife with an inscription and realized what a lovely gift one of these knives would be for a veteran or police officer. The knife shop is called Ex-Gurkha Khurkuri House, located in Thamel and Lazimpat. Tele: 977-01-4005079, www.nepalkhukurihouse.com Email: info@nepalkhukrihouse.com
This sign says, "If a man says he is not afraid of dying he is either lying or he is a Gurkha."
As I walked down the street I noticed a little shop that had some lovely rose quartz and other simi-precious stones in crystal-ball shapes. They were about 30% or so of the price I remember from the US. They also have some nice necklaces of varying quality. That is what interested me about this shop. Not only was the proprietor kind and not pushy, but he has enough of a selection to help you chose the price and quality you are looking for. He can help you to understand the differences in quality in stone, seed, bone and resin. The proprietor, Mr. Baniya, is from Lumbini and is quite eager to encourage tourists to see that part of Nepal.
Lumbini Export House is a manufacturer and wholesaler of Bodi Mala, Rosary Beads in crystal coral, Lotus seed, Sandal, Rosewood, Guru beads, Bangles and bone, Horn, Wood beads, Neclesh and Handicraft items. 563/8 Thamel Marg, Kathmandu, Tel: 01-443 0395, 984 127 7516 or Email: lumbinirosary@hotmail.com
If I were a young person coming to Nepal I'd get lots of stuff to take home; a down jacket and sleeping bag, trekking poles, wool hat and gloves, etc. There is actually the official North Face store, but it has what looks like western prices. I'd almost be tempted to get a knock-off and then have someone take a picture of me coming out of the North Face store. That store is at the entrance to Thamel near the Garden of Dreams.
There is a plethora of shopping and money saving tips for just about anything you will need while you are in Nepal in my book, Nepal : A Tourist's Manual. You can even learn where the king had his suits made and have something tailor made for you and high quality for so cheap! You can get a peak of the book to help you get your vacation off to a great start at: http://bit.ly/2bO9zkC
Where Can You Find My other Blog Posts? You can find a lot of money saving things to do in the Kathmandu Valley and get insights into the culture of Nepal and learn about projects I'm associated with and get some great shopping values at https://WhatAboutNepal.com If you are on Youtube just #WhatAboutNepal to get tips for Nepal that you won't find anywhere else.
Money saving tip from my book, Nepal: A Tourist's Manual This shopping areas is near a temple or chowk. These places are where the local people shop. Although the merchants seldom speak English, they are a bit easier to work with since they are unable to negotiate well enough to play games. The problem can be that they may have never done business with a tourist before and don't speak English well, so they will say a price they don't mean or maybe they believe the myths about us that we have so much money we just throw it around. Either way, it can be difficult, but enjoyable if you know what to expect. You can find great prices on peacock feathers 20-50 NRs. each, incense 1-2 NRs. each stick and some nice local sweet shops in these areas.
Satisfaction Guaranteed: NO FINE PRINT. If you don't truly love Nepal: A Tourist’s Manual, please send for 100% money back. If you are not completely satisfied just send your purchase information along with a note to: FrugalTravelsNepal@gmail.com
Nepal: A Tourist’s Manual-For more information check out our website. If you enjoy this blog you will enjoy the over 200 pages in the eBook. It is a well illustrated, easy read with over 1,000 tips to help you get the most out of Nepal.
