Children in Nepal

As you can imagine, being a child in Nepal can be very difficult. So much so that statistics tell us that many children in Nepal still do not live to see their fifth birthday. Here are some statistics regarding Nepal from the UNICEF web site:

• More than 50,000 children die in Nepal each year, with malnutrition as the underlying cause for more than 60 per cent of these deaths.
• Half of the children in Nepal are underweight and three-fourths of the pregnant women are anaemic.
• The detection of a few cases of wild polio virus in 2005, following five years without any case, indicates the challenge for cross-border transmission along the border with India.
• Fifteen per cent of Nepal’s wells are contaminated by arsenic. Despite Nepal's high overall coverage of accessibility to drinking water, access to improved water for deprived, disadvantaged communities and conflict-affected rural and fringe urban areas remains low.
• Two-thirds of Nepalis are still without access to toilets.
• Maternal mortality rates are high due to weak health systems with limited access to emergency obstetric care, skilled attendance and the overall poor status of women. Neonatal mortality rates are also unacceptably high due in part to lack of community awareness on appropriate care of the newborn.
• The conflict has had a significant impact on education. Forced closures of schools due to strikes have cut the school year in half in some areas. Teachers have been threatened, assaulted and even killed. Thousands of students have been taken from school for political indoctrination, and some have been recruited into the Maoist forces or militia.

 http://www.unicef.org/infobycountry/nepal_nepal_background.html

That being said, it is interesting to note that there is a growing middle class and most people who can afford to send their children to private school do so. Even parents who are clearly not in the ‘middle class’ work hard to be able to send their children to private schools.

The kinds of children who cannot go to private school, and sometimes no school at all, include children from very poor families. One day my driver had mechanical problems with his motorcycle because some of the village boys had tampered with a tire and we had to take it to a nearby repair shop. The boys actually did the work.  

Boys will be boys and just like in the west, some boys cannot sit still long enough to study in a classroom or maintain long enough to help on the farm. Sadly, sometimes the parents get so exasperated with them that they take them to Kathmandu and leave them on the streets. Sometimes the boys are beat so badly they just run away and end up here. I can smell the glue on the boys as they come running up to get a hug and a possible meal. Hugging them or touching them is not advisable. The scam I personally fell for was the ‘Can you buy some milk for my little brother?’ scam. When you buy the milk, dry milk for 1,100 NRs., they will simply return it to the same store for about 50% of what you paid and buy glue. If you must buy food for these street urchins be sure to open it so they cannot return it, or better yet, take them for a plate of mo:mos. They may look like children, but they are actually drug addicts, so be forewarned.  That being said, I must confess that they captured my heart and I’m working on a project to help get them off the streets. Notice the plastic bag; it’s filled with glue.  

 

On this particular day we were to visit a social worker and orphanage that I had read about a few months ago. This young woman, Pushpa, comes from an upper middle class family. Her father has worked very hard with his business for over 40 years. Now they support this home where she takes care of about 40 children whose parents are in a Nepali jail or prison. You see, there is no foster care program in Nepal, so if a mother goes to jail she must bring her children with her or find someone to care for them. The children get neither food rations nor an education while they are in jail.  

I was very impressed with the way the children are taken care of. The home and grounds are quite nice and very clean. It is surely an upgrade to the life they would have even if their mothers had not ended up in jail. They are even placed in private school. 

 As harsh as I am in Nepal: On a Budget about NGOs, I think this is an amazing NGO. For one thing, Pushpa is a volunteer and lives with her parents who help to support the centre. That is way out of character for many Nepali NGOs. Generally the NGOs are run by overweight men who have no hands on contact with the children and who keep the lions share of any funding. One such 'social worker' told me he had tried to work with the glue boys, but they didn't want any help. When I asked him what techniques he used he replied, "I told them not to do drugs." No, I didn't make this up.

After our visit with this home (not referred to as an orphanage) we stopped in at the Civil Mall. I had heard that there is an arcade on the fifth floor for children. I pictured video games and such. What I saw was more like a McDonald’s playground. The entire floor is devoted to entertaining children up to 12 years old. The tickets for the games are only 10 NRs. It was during school hours when we were there, but it looked like so much fun for children. If you come to Nepal with a child he/she will really enjoy the experience. 

While we were at the Civil Mall we took the escalator up to the 7^th floor for additional treats. This floor is devoted almost entirely to teens and I had no idea there were so many affluent teens in Kathmandu. One Nepali man who went to America came back with an American idea. If you go to the Civil Mall give Choco Berry a try. As you can see by these pictures Choco Berry serves soft frozen yogurt with a full, self serve sundae bar. My assistant, Bishnu, had strawberry flavor and I had the white, tart flavor. The cost for two small sundaes was 277 NRs., about $3.00, or about half the price as it would cost in America. 

 It’s a full-blown teen paradise up there on the 7^th floor. Whether you bring kids with you or you are a young volunteer/trekker with a little time in-between activities, particularly when it is a heavy monsoon day or a cold winter day, you will want to go to the mall. There is also a cinema there showing American and 3 D movies along with Nepali and Hindi movies. Again, you will pay about half of what you would spend in America. If you didn’t know you were in Nepal already, walking in the mall could fool you into thinking you were back home-that’s how western it is. For my fellow 'frugal' travelers you probably already know the mall is not a great place for bargain shopping. If you want to do shopping while you are in the area (Ratna Park) there are some great places nearby. 

There is the Chinese area and places the locals shop for great wholesale prices within walking distance to the mall. Ask someone to point you to Arson Chowk if you are up for major shopping. You just walk along the crowded streets until you see something of interest. One day I met a man with a stack of pashmina scarves that looked very plush. He wanted 2400 NRs. for six nice scarves that looked very expensive to me. The problem was twofold, they were all identical since it is in the wholesale area and I was completely down to my last ATM withdrawal for the month. That was the best buy I had ever seen on scarves, but you just never know what you might find there. 

I've been scouting around for more great bargains for my book, Nepal: On a Budget, so about a month ago I bought fabric to make a queen size sheet set for 750 NRs. The problem is, even though it only cost an additional 150 NRs. to have it made into sheets, they have no concept of a fitted bottom sheet. It was nice fabric-15 ft. by at least 6 ft.

It is not just for status, that private school is preferred. Government schools are not necessarily conducive to getting a good education. For example, about 8-10 months ago I visited a government elementary school. Although there were many children in attendance there didn’t seem to be much learning going on. They gladly disrupted class to get the paper and pencils I had brought them. The vice principle also stopped what he was doing for the photo op. One thing that seemed strange to me was that he was the English teacher yet he was unable to communicate with me in English. Unfortunately the pictures got destroyed.

Life can be very difficult for the people, but the children seem to take it all in stride. However, no matter what happens it always seems to hit the children and their mothers the hardest. The statistics quoted at the beginning of this blog post refer mostly to children in the rural areas of Nepal. Here in the valley the children have it much better. They seem quite happy and even a bit spoiled.These boys just stripped down to birthday suits and jumped into one of Bhaktapur's pokaris, the large natural ponds on a hot, summer afternoon. These ponds are not for swimming due to the 'quick sand' bottoms that can cause a person to drown if they go too far out. No one seemed to be supervising these boys and they were very well behaved. 

These children were playing Leap Frog on a nearby roof. They were unsupervised and seemed to have a great time. This scene could never happen in the US. There is no safety rail and no one to tell them to be careful. This is Nepal and the children learn very early to take responsibility for their actions. 

This is the view out my window and it looks quite different from a few months ago when the entire field seemed to be lit up with mustard greens. After the last of these plants were harvested the field began to look very dry. It is sad to think of one of the water richest countries on the planet having so many problems with water. But when it rains we get immediate rewards of more electricity and the people can live like they have for thousands of years by working the fields. Over 60% of the people in Bhaktapur earn their livings through agriculture. 

We have been experiencing the beginning of a possible drought and many people ran out of drinking water and the municipality provided a free truck of drinking water, not that it is the purest water. At one point they were lined up for quite some distance, but this picture was taken about an hour or so after the truck came. The sky seemed to have finally opened up and perhaps the worst of it is over. 

I woke up to the most joyful sound ever last night! It was raining so hard it didn’t seem like there was much air in-between the drops. I hope that was the beginning of a nice monsoon. 

Kids will be kids and it seems to me that the children in Nepal can have a lot of fun no matter where they are. Here is a group of children playing a gambling game on the street. It seemed like they were having a good time. 

As we finished up our day, we happened upon a woman street vendor cooking up some goat lung. I had to have a taste and it was less than spectacular for me. Bishnu enjoyed it. It didn’t taste quite like meat and the texture wasn’t quite to my liking, but the young woman cooked it fresh as we waited and neither of us got ill. I don’t remember how much the bowl cost, but it was well under $1.00. I did see a pile of really disgusting garbage not ten feet from where she set up her little restaurant, which was a little more worrisome.  Hey, it’s Nepal!

 

If you are planning a family vacation abroad and wonder if bringing youngsters is a good idea, I assure you that the children I’ve spoken to have really enjoyed their time here. I always try to ask families that bring children and I’ve yet to get a negative from either the parents or children. 

There are several suggestions in my book, Nepal: On a Budget, for activities with children. I also have excellent medical solutions should any problems come up. Coming to Nepal at an early age could be the most significant vacation a child could experience.

Bottom line: Come to Nepal and bring the kids!

Please take a look at Pushpa's NGO:
Early Childhood Development Centre 

Pushpa Basnet, Phone: 9851 101747, 9841 759870, office: 01-4370005, Kathmandu, Nepal. Info@ecdc.org.np  

Choco Berry
7^th Floor (QFX) Civil Mall, Sundhara, Kathmandu, Nepal www.facebook.com/chocoberry4u  

 

Did you know I wrote an eBook filled with tips on getting the most out of your visit to Nepal?

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 and the website you will enjoy the 299 page eBook. It is a well illustrated, easy read with over 1,000 tips to help you get the most out of Nepal.

Visit my website: Nepal: A Tourist's Manual

Political Situation in Nepal

I have to admit it. When the latest deadline approached for the new constitution last month, May 27, I was bracing for the worst. I walked to the old city and could count the white people on one hand. I worried about my neighbors here and the fate of this adorable, little country. One judge, said to be corrupt, was assassinated during the first few days after the deadline, but the strikes stopped now and I haven’t seen even one scary thing since they announced yet another extension. Things work surprisingly well when the government gets out of the way-sometimes. 

Prior to the deadline it did get a bit scary. One day my assistant and I were going to go to Kathmandu for something and when we got to the main road all I could see were people with political flags and I could not see one car or motorcycle on the entire road in either direction. “Oh my God! No!” I started to panic. I insisted that we get off that road and stay in Bhaktapur for the day, even though the young men monitoring the strike would let us pass, since I am obviously a westerner. They never want to involve a foreigner in their political issues. 

 

Even when there were roadblocks or other obstacles they usually just wave me through. For example, one day a Chinese dignitary came to Bhaktapur and they had to close off the old city for the person. I was motioned in and got to take a few pictures of the famous person. I was having fun trying to figure out which one was the famous person, probably the older woman with the hat and white jacket. If you know, please leave a comment.

 

They call all of us ‘tourists’ even when we have business visas and live here permanently. Another funny label they give all westerners is 'American.' Sometimes they get the US mixed up with the UK and think I’m an American from Great Britain. But their geography is admirable. I am impressed by how much knowledge many Nepali have about America.  

So, can I recommend Nepal for the vacation of your lifetime right now? Yes! Unless you are a fire truck chaser or you just happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time, I sincerely believe you will be safe. Take responsibility for your actions and be a smart traveler by following all the guidelines for safety abroad. Register with the embassy, know who you are walking around with and be in your guest house before 10 pm unless you have business late at night. In my book, Nepal: On a Budget, I suggest always carrying a torch of some kind. When the lights go out it is very dark and the streets are lined with potholes. I’ve seen some that a grown man could fall into. 

We are into the monsoon season, but you would never know it by looking out the window. It started with a bang but seemed to fizzle out for a bit. The locals have planted rice and are starting to worry about getting enough rain now. It isn’t all that hot when you consider how hot it is elsewhere in summer. If you want air conditioning in your guest house you will have to pay up to $20 a day for it. It’s probably best to get over it and just know you will be hot here sometimes. If you stay in Bhaktapur, Kapan, or any of the other villages higher in elevation you will really be glad you did. Less pollution and a nicer breeze. It always cools down in the evenings.

It is interesting to understand a little history of Nepal in order to understand what’s going on right now in the government. There are many ethnic groups in Nepal, all speaking their own language and having distinct and diverse traditions. It seems to me, just an expat living in Nepal, that many of the Nepali are their ethnic origin such as Newari or Chhetri first and Nepali second. In this very small country there are so many divisions that it is very difficult to get everyone to agree on anything. There is a need to federalize the country, but the groups seem to see this as a threat to the individuality of their caste. I read in the newspaper last month that a man from a homeless, nomadic tribe of forest dwellers came to Kathmandu to protest and make sure his people would not be left out of government representation.  He wasn’t asking for land for his people or anything like that, just to have his nomadic way of life guaranteed for future generations.

Next is the issue of a country with a very long tradition of monarchy. Up until about 10 years ago there was a king that the people loved. Now, with no education in politics many of the Nepali see the chaos that the country struggles with now and longs for the return of a king, as if that were the only choice. So, with these things in mind, it is easy to understand how the situation is progressing. They are almost all Hindu or Buddhist so there is no religious struggle like elsewhere. When I ask if a person is Hindu or Buddhist I often get an answer like, “Same, same.” There doesn’t even seem to be a prejudice toward Christian or Muslim either, probably because there are so few of them they are unable to make much noise. They do have a lovely mosque and several Christian churches here in the Valley. During the Christmas season last year I finally found a Christmas tree. The Christian man at the guest house assumed I identified with Christianity and said, “We believe in the invisible god.” Religion here is a matter of choice, not ‘my invisible friend is better than yours.’ So, there is little or no animosity from one group to the other; they are just trying to make their own way and get their needs met.     

As far as I can tell, there is no hatred for anyone by the Nepali people, except maybe towards the politicians. And that brings us to the actual problem within the problem. When the people finally get to vote, when the constitution is finally written, there isn’t likely to be a Politician left standing in Parliament. And, in my humble opinion, that is at the core of the issue, staying in power.

I don’t actually expect any problems that would affect tourists’ safety until just before the October 27 deadline, and even then it would not be very likely. Fall is when Nepal is at its best. So, for now, please do not worry about coming to Nepal, but if you are really worried you should probably come in September and plan on leaving a couple weeks before the deadline. But, if you are an adventurer stay for the show. I do not see any danger that cannot be avoided by a prudent tourist. These are very peaceful people. Maybe they are bit enthusiastic about helping a westerner out of some of our excess money, but seldom does a tourist actually come into any kind of real danger.

If saving money and learning your way around society here is important to you, you will enjoy my book, Nepal: On a Budget. There are several pages you can read and the table of contents under the ‘Sample of the Book’ tab. This part of the book that I really want to share with you are the three lists that will help you get your vacation off to a great start. Following the advice from the lists will net you some real savings.

Did you know I wrote an eBook filled with tips on getting the most out of your visit to Nepal?

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 and the website you will enjoy the 299 page eBook. It is a well illustrated, easy read with over 1,000 tips to help you get the most out of Nepal.

Visit my website: Nepal: A Tourist's Manual

Nature in Nepal-Flowers

Pine Forest just outside the Kathmandu Valley

I love nature here in Nepal. Even in the Kathmandu Valley there are incredibly beautiful places. There are even nice parks with flowers from all over the world. It's hard for someone like me to know which flowers are native to Nepal and which are exotics, so when I'm out enjoying nature I am always looking for familiar flowers and herbs. I even saw tulips in bloom last week and I'm pretty sure they aren't native to Asia.

 

Here is a field where many people work their own little patch of dirt. I see this view out my window. A few weeks ago the mustard greens were all in bloom and it was so colorful. The people grow various kinds of 'spinach,' cabbage, onion, cauliflower along with some unique edibles. One unique vegetable they grow here is radish, but not like back home. These radishes look like white carrots and they are very spicy. One day a Serpa friend invited me to a bowl of their traditional soup. It was primarily made with radishes and was so hot I couldn't even get a bite down. My friend admitted they had made the soup for themselves so it was a bit hotter than usual.

This little cluster of ground cover looked so familiar although I have no idea of the names. It just reminds me of how small this planet is and how there are really no borders. It's just one lovely home without any lines that divide. I guess that's what I like about seeing these flowers.

Rhododendrons are the national flower and they are very beautiful. I had never seen them growing on the trees before. There is so much wild life everywhere you look in Nepal. Yes, I know it's the same back home, but it just seems so manufactured back home and so natural here. This rhododendron tree was out in the wild. I doubt that anyone actually planted the tree. I imagine that a seed sprouted where the tree now stands.

 There is another plant that I see everywhere here that is seldom destroyed like back home. No, this plant may cause some irritation for the government because in order to get funding from my country I think they have to agree to use the money to destroy the plants, but it is a lost cause. I'm talking about ganja, marijuana, of course. It grows just about everywhere and because Shiva was a big ganja fan when he walked the earth as Shambhu people generally leave it alone. It isn't illegal on Shiva Rotri. You can take a look at my blog post for this celebration for more information. 

Nepal has the most varieties of birds on the planet. Nature is everywhere, familiar and unfamiliar alike. I hope to do a blog post about the birds because I am fascinated with the birds here. If you see no other bird in Nepal you should see the fabulous crows in Nepal. They are more beautiful than the crows in America and the Hindus in Nepal even have a special festival to celebrate the crow. However, it is seen as a harbinger of bad news during the rest of the year. 

Nepal, no matter how you look at it, is just beautiful. You do not have to go trek to Annapurna or Everest to enjoy Nepal's amazing beauty. It's just everywhere.

Did you know I wrote an eBook filled with tips on getting the most out of your visit to Nepal?

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 and the website you will enjoy the 299 page eBook. It is a well illustrated, easy read with over 1,000 tips to help you get the most out of Nepal.

Visit my website: Nepal: A Tourist's Manual

The Royal Kumari

This may be one of the most powerful beings walking among us. I love how the Hindu religion is full of oxymoron. This is one of the most beautiful examples of how this is what is impossible to be. 

You may be wondering what this 'little girl' did to make me so much of a fan. Keep reading because she actually showed me her power on a couple of occasions. 

Kumari Cho

Anyone who has read my book, or even the first chapter, will notice my fascination with the Royal Kumari, the only living goddess on the planet. How I came to the conclusion that this young child is in fact a living, breathing goddess was strange, even for me. I was riding along on my assistant's motorcycle through Darbur Square in Kathmandu. I noticed a figure in the window of the Kumari Cho and just asked myself, 'What is the Kumari? An abused child kept captive?' Just then, like a cosmic download, I understood. I became so fascinated by her that I clapped my hands like a child when I first saw her come to the widow. That was just a little bit embarrassing.

I would go see Kumari every chance I got and one day she looked at me briefly in the crowd; that was pretty cool. I could feel an energy I had never felt before. There seemed to always be a Nepali guide that would be spouting off some horrible things about Kumari and I got quite the reputation for confronting these men who try to make it something it isn't. "If she ever gets married it will be cursed. When she hits puberty she gets fired." First of all, the gods probably do not abuse children like that. Second, other than becoming a bit spoiled, the girl can live a full and productive life. No, she is not held captive. She could abdicate her position at any time by simply allowing her feet to touch the ground or by letting them know. 

My birthday was coming up and I needed a new cell phone. I wanted to get one with a camera so I could take a picture of Kumari when she came out for her upcoming celebration. I got my new mobile and the day before the festival was to be, I accidentally dropped the phone down the stairwell at the guest house where I was staying. My first and only thought was that I would not get a picture of Kumari on my new phone. When I picked up the phone five stories below it worked perfectly. I know it was impossible for the cell phone to survive the fall, but it did and it still works and I have the pictures above on my own mobile. I know Kumari heard my disappointment and gave me my own miracle. No little girl could do that, so when you look at Royal Kumari look twice-once at the little girl and once for the goddess within. She is a loving goddess that doesn't need anything from humans. She just loves and gives like the benevolent goddess she is. I'm not even Hindu and she blessed me so freely because she is love, the personification of love. Many people pray to Kumari for help with their children when they are sick.

I had an idea about alum stones being used as a hand sanitizer and took the package of paperwork to Royal Kumari for a blessing. I am not allowed to be in her presence because I am not Nepali, but she came to the window just for me (and the crowd that had gathered) and it was pretty amazing. She just saw me, really saw me. It was like getting my entire soul read. I couldn't pray, think or anything. I just stood there drinking up her energy and feeling such power from this beautiful little girl/goddess. 

Another day I was going through some things and found a card game I bought a few months prior and thought Kumari might like to learn to play Uno. I took her the deck of cards and left it with her manager. I asked him if there was anything I could do for her. He explained that there was a festival coming where she would go outside. This actually happens with each full moon, I think. He said I could bring a sacrifice of fruit for the young men that would pull her chariot during the upcoming festival. I happily accepted and brought plenty of fruit  for the young men that carried Kumari the day before so she could bless it. 

We sat up on the temple while we watched her being carried out and around Kathmandu. Then we went to the Cho to pass out the fruit.

Here she is coming back

If you would like to read a book written by a former Royal Kumari I recommend From Goddess to Mortal by Rashmila Shakya and Scott Berry. If you've had your own Kumari miracle please leave a comment. 

My money saving tip for this blog post: If you are a student be sure to bring your student ID. Show it at UNESCO sites like Darbur Square and you can quite often get a reduced or free admission.

Did you know I wrote an eBook filled with tips on getting the most out of your visit to Nepal?

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 and the website you will enjoy the 299 page eBook. It is a well illustrated, easy read with over 1,000 tips to help you get the most out of Nepal.

Visit my website: Nepal: A Tourist's Manual

A Nice Surprise in Datteraya Square and a not-so-nice Surprise

It was chore time for me and I really didn’t know where to get business cards, one of the items on my list. Getting things done in Nepal can be a real adventure. So my assistant and I were pointed down the street to a place called The Peacock Shop. This factory is located in Datteraya Square, the largest of the centers in Bhaktapur. Look for the Peacock Window and the Peacock Shop is on the opposite side. There were pottery makers working outside in the back. This area is considered to be the mini pottery square. If you have only a short stay in Bhaktapur this area will serve you well. 

One of the reasons I hadn’t had cards made yet was because I wanted to get cards made on a natural fiber. Plastic coating is not attractive to me and this paper factory held the answer. After sitting down with the owner and his daughter who served as a translator, he invited me to have a tour of his paper making factory. This family owned factory also specializes in wood carvings, pottery and handcrafted paper masks. I was surprised to learn the paper masks are twice the price of the clay masks. They have a nice selection of woodcarvings and do custom work. The carved elephants  in the store were almost life size with bodies were made from one piece of wood.

 

Although pottery doesn’t always travel well, I found an excellent bargain to take home. Instead of buying the expensive thanka paintings a person could purchase a lovely silk screen print on rice paper that would be lovely in a frame. Instead of buying an expensive mat you could simply buy a color poster board and place the print on top of it in the frame. The prints were only 500 NRs. for 24X36 inch size.  Like most shops  carrying this type of item, The Peacock Shop provides shipping tubes at no charge.

The factory is located in a tall building and on the top floor is a beautiful, huge, temple with a near life size Buddha inside. Ganesh and Kumar are built into the structure at the front pillars. Due to the way the sun was shining I was not able to do the temple justice in this picture, but it was a lovely final touch on the tour. I am amazed at how intertwined Hindu and Buddhism are. To compare it to  Christianity it would be like seeing an Eastern Orthodox cross in a Baptist Church.

I was very impressed with how well the employees seemed to be treated. The women were chatting casually as they worked on the sewing machines or paper trays. They all had good chairs to sit on. If you are not impressed with this as outstanding, take a look at the following picture to see how employees are treated in other professions.

The Peacock Shop
Tattatraya, Pujarimath, Bhaktapur, 977-1- 6610820
Email: peacockshop@yahoo.com  

As it turned out, they over-charged me by double what the business cards should have cost. This led me down a long and dark path into the inner workings of the Nepali mind. Don't go there...it doesn't make any sense at all. 

  

Did you know I wrote an eBook filled with tips on getting the most out of your visit to Nepal?

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 and the website you will enjoy the 299 page eBook. It is a well illustrated, easy read with over 1,000 tips to help you get the most out of Nepal.

Visit my website: Nepal: A Tourist's Manual

Meat, Eating Out and Farming in Nepal

When I walked down the street and saw pig heads and blood sitting on tables open to flies and dirt, I decided to eat vegetarian. I just didn't think too much of the way I saw food cared for here in Nepal. I just ignore meat. Do I miss it? Sometimes. Especially since apartments don't come equipped with ovens, cooking can become a bit dull.

Eating in Nepal is just different. For example, this picture of me below is one of the best places to find a samosa in Kathmandu. Never mind that you have to stand up to eat it; it's worth it. There is a sink for washing hands and some cocktail type tables attached to a couple of the walls inside, but it's just plain rough. This is the same favorite place I talk about in my book, Nepal On A Budget. There isn't even a sign outside. Just look for Tip Top Tailors while you are in the New Road area (very close to the Peanuts building) and go into the alley behind it. It's amazing! You can also get a great selection of Nepali sweets there, too. 

Here is another one of my favorite places to eat. This one is next to the Tourist Information Center and Tourist Police office in the Ratna park area. It's amazing. Two people can eat for about 100 NRs. That would include rotis, rajma (bowl of delicious bean soup) pickle and milk tea. It's served fast and hot. It isn't very hygienic but I've never had a problem there. Go at meal time and enjoy. Just sit where you can find a seat and the boy will come over to take your order. You can have them prepare something, but I think it's safer at places like this to eat whatever is fresh and hot. Really, this is a great place to eat when you are in the mood for it. Some days I am just not up to seeing people wipe with a rag that is dirtier than the table.  But life on the planet is shared with many bacteria and most are harmless. 

So, back to the meat issue. Living in Bhaktapur, one day I saw a pig farm and had to stop to check it out. Why? Because if I hadn't looked over to see a pig I wouldn't have known I passed a pig farm-no odor at all. I was so impressed I almost went back to eating meat. Imagine a clean pig farm!

Isn't this impressive? They were just so happy at this farm. I'm in a third world country and the pig farms are cleaner than back home. I walk past a chicken house every day on my way to the old city of Bhaktapur and I didn't even know there were chickens there, they were so quiet and little to no odor. 

So, on the one hand, Nepal is a third world country where westerners need to take a few extra precautions to keep from getting ill, but on the other hand the way some things are done are an improvement over the west. It's a country of opposites.

Did you know I wrote an eBook filled with tips on getting the most out of your visit to Nepal?

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 and the website you will enjoy the 299 page eBook. It is a well illustrated, easy read with over 1,000 tips to help you get the most out of Nepal.

Visit my website: Nepal: A Tourist's Manual

Shopping Values in Thamel - No, I'm not Kidding.

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.

Read a sample and purchase here