From Kathmandu to Pokhara | Nepal Diaries

Tiffany Ammerman (author) and her husband, Justin Ammerman, of Atlanta have shared tales of  their experience in Nepal for www.washingtonpost.com. 

Excerpts:

Where did they stay?

Tiffany and her husband spent one whole week in Pokhara and Kathmandu. Reminiscing her experience in Nepal, she writes:”We stayed in Kathmandu and Pokhara for one week and ate traditional Nepali street food, drank masala tea every day and trekked in freezing temperatures for a tremendous view of the deadly and beautiful Himalaya Mountains.

 

Features and high points:

Waking up before the sun in Sarangkot was her best moment in Nepal. Tiffany writes :”Eventually, we made our way to an opening that overlooked the city of Lakeside. At that point, we hadn’t seen the Himalayas at all because of the dense fog. I could barely make out an outline of something in the star-filled, inky dark. Incrementally, the moon and the stars slowly disappeared from view and the sky ever so slightly began to get lighter. We could see the sun start to rise on our right, and the massive silhouette began to turn into mountains. Slowly, the sun climbed higher and changed the mountains from black to orange to pink to white. It was the biggest, most humbling thing I’ve seen.”

  Cultural Similarity or Dissimilarity:

They visited a Tibetan Refugee Camp about 20 minutes outside of Pokhara. Recalling the time spent in the monastery, she writes,”We were invited into the monastery, asked to sit on a threadbare rug and listen. We sat there for nearly an hour as the monks switched from praying to chanting to throat singing and back again. It was a cycle that seemed to build and build and culminate into this fervor of drums and horns and voices. ”

 

Biggest laugh or cry:

Trekking up Sarangkot seemed never ending for them. Every time we would come upon a break in the trees we thought, “This is it! we’ve made it!” but no, not so.

 

Fondest memory:

Tiffany writes*: “I think that one of the greatest things I took away from my time in Nepal wasn’t a physical item, but a feeling. It left me feeling small, and for that I’m thankful. I’m thankful for the change in perspective and for an understanding that there are things in this life that are far beyond our imagination and comprehension.”*

Throughout her stay in Nepal, Tiffany was surprised and overwhelmed by the generosity and hospitality of Nepali people. She found them very kind, warm and helpful. A visit to Nepal has transformed their perspective and  has made them realise that there are things which are beyond our imagination and understanding.

Courtesy:The Washington Post