NEPAL - POST REFLECTIONS
Arriving in Nepal on October 24th, I really had no idea as to what to expect oy my Nepali experience. I knew there was good whitewater, a ten year Maoist insurgency resembling a civil war, the ich mountaineering history of the Himalayas, and had heard the inhabitants were extremly kind yet poor people.
Six weeks later I sit here in Kathmandu and mentally recap my experience, one loaded with plenty of solid adventure, new friends made, a further understanding of a culture vastly different than that of my Western upbringing, and feeling the true meaning of kindness in this tiny impoverished country.
Simply put, Nepal was amazing. From riding atop buses with our kayaks to crammed rickshaws in the streets of Kathmandu, one truly feels an overload of every sense. I traveled the majority of the country minus the far East. A country of differening peoples, cultures, and languages pending your region, I found this to be one of the more easy and friendly countries I’ve ever traveled in. Seeing that most people speak a far amount of English sans the extreme mountainous villages, the going is quite easy as all you need is a tiny bit of cash, a lot of patience, and positive attitude.
Running eight different rivers and over twelve complete sections, our various groups were blessed with seeing a portion of Nepal away from the beaten path, areas that tourist aren’t able to visit. For a country so intertwined with rivers both from a substinance and religous stand point, it goes without saying that this method of “travel” was a real treat. In addition, Nepal has hosted some of the most beautiful, continous, and exciting rivers I’ve ever paddled. Included all of aforementioned with meeting various wonderful groups of International paddlers from all over the world and one has an experience that will never be forgotten.
In addition to kayaking, I took some time to trek for five days in the Annapurna Sanctuary, taking some quality and perhaps needed mountain time.
Words simply can’t begin to describe the entire experience as one must really partake to fully understand what traveling to Nepal consists of, instead just go. I have no doubts that you’ll have the time of your life.
Pictures of of my various adventures can be seen in differening folders by clicking the link below.
http://picasaweb.google.com/home
Tomorrow, I’m off to New Delhi, India for a few days, then flying to Uganda, Africa for a few weeks of more kayaking and safari near the White Nile river.