Living La Vida Loca

A Global Adventure

Nepal

  • On to Bhutan

    We bid farewell to Kathmandu and to two of our travel mates – Tara and Claudia – who were heading home. We had quite an adventure getting to the airport and getting to our departure gate. First, our van was delayed as the first driver bailed out because he didn’t want to attempt driving up… Read more

  • The Road Back to Kathmandu

    We had to take a bit of a detour 😬 when trying to head back to the city we started in. Because of significant rainfall, all flights from Chitwan back to Kathmandu were cancelled. As a collective we opted to hire a van to drive us rather than stay another night in Chitwan as some… Read more

  • Into The Jungle – for Real!

    I would be terribly remiss to not introduce two Nepalese women I met while traveling – thanks to Laura’s connections and existing friendships. Shova is a young woman who was engaged to help our fellow traveler, Tara, so that navigating the crazy and potholed streets of Kathmandu along with rough terrain in Chitwan was not… Read more

  • Can You Canoe? How about a Jungle Jeep?

    Unfortunately, I’d been fighting what seemed to be a combination of a cold and reaction to the polluted air in Kathmandu. I wasn’t the only one suffering sniffles, dry throat, and less energy. The group of us took to drinking loads of ginger honey lemon tea and sharing cards full of throat lozenges. All manageable… Read more

  • The Vulture Restaurant & Elephant Conservation

    “Until we extend our circle of compassion to all living things, we will not ourselves find peace.” – Albert Schweitzer Today was our day to learn – up close – what some of the animal conservation challenges are in Nepal, and how some people are working hard to reverse negative impacts of “man meets nature”. We set… Read more

  • Into the Wild: Sauraha and Chitwan National Park

    The next stage of our Nepal journey was very different and equally memorable to our time in Kathmandu. We traveled to a lovely town called Sauraha that sits on the border of Chitwan National Park. Sauraha is the main entry point to Chitwan National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for incredible biodiversity and… Read more

  • Monkeys, Monkeys, and More Monkeys!

    This is a bit more in depth on the Monkey Temple mentioned in an earlier post. One of many memorable moments on this Nepalese adventure was to Swayambhunath – also called the “Monkey Temple”. Let me explain. Swayambhunath is an ancient religious site built on a hill overlooking the Kathmandu Valley with incredible views (on… Read more

  • A Day Filled with Buddhist & Hindu Learning

    After a good night’s sleep of more hours than I’d had in a while, I thought I’d try my hand at early morning meditation. On the rooftop of the guest house as I sat on my yoga mat, I found myself very frustrated that I could not quiet what’s been called the “monkey mind”. It’s… Read more

  • Getting My First Taste of Nepali Arts & Family Traditions

    Staying at a monastery guest house was one of the most peaceful, serene experiences I’ve ever had. Smack in the middle of chaotic Kathmandu sits this oasis of spiritual grounds, devout monks going about their business, and spartan but very quiet hosting rooms and cafe gardens….except this morning when a concert of what sounded like… Read more

  • Nepal & Bhutan: The Adventure Begins

    Our dear friend Laura, who used to be our next door neighbor in Carlsbad, has remained an inspiring and beloved partner in “Tikkun Olam” (Repairing the World) activities both Andrew and I are passionate about.  Laura has started food programs for homeless communities, builds houses in Mexico, and now has created Culturekova with the goal… Read more