Nepal
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We had wonderful weather with incredible views of the snowcapped mountains beyond the valley that we wound our way through as we headed to Paro. Paro is where Bhutan’s only international airport is, and the district has many sacred sites worth visiting. Our first stop was Ta Dzong, originally built as watchtower, it now houses… Read more
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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
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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
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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
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“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
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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
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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
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I awoke at 5am to a chorus of bells and barking dogs, with some bird songs chiming in. Being on the grounds of a monastery that sits in the midst of a huge and bustling city, I shouldn’t have been surprised at any of this. I’d had a restful night’s sleep in any case. The… Read more
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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
Living La Vida Loca 