After 2 exhausting but exhilarating weeks in Japan and 1 1/2 weeks back in Korea of farewells, visa follies, mountain peaks, and good eats, I have made it to Kathmandu, Nepal with my newest travel companions, Emma & Mike. I spent my first 24 hours here in child's pose, lotus and savasana recovering from the heat and stress leading up to now. Today is day 3 in Nepal and it gets crazier here every minute. As per Nepali Government Regulation, today we went to the Nepal Travel Board to get a trekking permit and Annapurna Conservation Permit so we can proceed to the mountains on Friday. We're currently waiting to hear back from a Sherpa who is a personal acquaintance of a Jeju friend. If that doesn't pan out, we'll take a bus to Besi Sahar, hire a few porters and take off on Saturday or Sunday. Tomorrow will be final shopping preparations as each of us has come to Kathmandu with a different list of "To-gets" for the trek, from down jackets to sleeping sacks to batteries and ace bandages. We plan to be prepared but not over prepared, appreciating that we're hiring men to carry out packs for about 20 days and trying to be humane about it.
Kathmandu itself is quite overwhelming but in a beautiful way. Of course there is poverty and begging, mostly children but also adults and elderly people. A chorus of "Yes, please!" follows us through the streets as we are offered taxi rides, woolen goods, and other wares and services. Emma summed it up nicely yesterday when she said, "Every cool shop or thing we've ever seen comes from HERE." Though it may be a slight exaggeration, it is, in essence, true. When you go to that shop that sells pashminas, tie-died sarongs, hand-stitched mandalas and gloves, and Himalayan crocheted hats, at least the idea comes from right here in Nepal. Looking out my guest house window, though, I mostly see muddy cobbled or dirt roads, open windows and brick building fronts, stray dogs, and the occasional beggar wandering by. Endless chanting, honking, bell ringing, and children's cries are the soundtrack as I fall asleep or meditate. I look forward to moving on to real Nepal soon, not the buzz of the city but the ancient civilization that birthed the Buddha and the world's most spectacular mountains.
As for me, I'm happy to be free from a time commitment, punch card or cell phone. I expect this to be my last internet usage for about 25 days which also excites me. I love and appreciate technology as much as any other 20-something with friends and family around the world, but I also appreciate an absence of it as it gradually takes over too many moments of my time. Emma and Mike have just come from 2 weeks on Indonesian tropical islands and are as chill as might be expected. Whereas I'm coming from the two biggest, fastest cities in the world and am wound about as tight as might be expected. But slowly I'm unwinding, sinking back into my yoga practice and my breath, and giving a hefty thanks for this opportunity.
Kathmandu itself is quite overwhelming but in a beautiful way. Of course there is poverty and begging, mostly children but also adults and elderly people. A chorus of "Yes, please!" follows us through the streets as we are offered taxi rides, woolen goods, and other wares and services. Emma summed it up nicely yesterday when she said, "Every cool shop or thing we've ever seen comes from HERE." Though it may be a slight exaggeration, it is, in essence, true. When you go to that shop that sells pashminas, tie-died sarongs, hand-stitched mandalas and gloves, and Himalayan crocheted hats, at least the idea comes from right here in Nepal. Looking out my guest house window, though, I mostly see muddy cobbled or dirt roads, open windows and brick building fronts, stray dogs, and the occasional beggar wandering by. Endless chanting, honking, bell ringing, and children's cries are the soundtrack as I fall asleep or meditate. I look forward to moving on to real Nepal soon, not the buzz of the city but the ancient civilization that birthed the Buddha and the world's most spectacular mountains.
As for me, I'm happy to be free from a time commitment, punch card or cell phone. I expect this to be my last internet usage for about 25 days which also excites me. I love and appreciate technology as much as any other 20-something with friends and family around the world, but I also appreciate an absence of it as it gradually takes over too many moments of my time. Emma and Mike have just come from 2 weeks on Indonesian tropical islands and are as chill as might be expected. Whereas I'm coming from the two biggest, fastest cities in the world and am wound about as tight as might be expected. But slowly I'm unwinding, sinking back into my yoga practice and my breath, and giving a hefty thanks for this opportunity.
