Hello: Namaste
Currency: Nepali Rupee
Exchange rate: 104 rupees to $1 USD
Home to the tallest mountain the world. Mount Everest- duh.
(I also saw the movie Everest while in Nepal. So now I can say “I saw Everest in Nepal…. Half true right?)
(This is a photo of the Movie Garden that we went to at least two nights a week. Great pizza, cool atmosphere, sweet movie selection, and free popcorn if you check in on FaceBook.)
The majority of people are Hindu.
Nepal is a tourist/backpacker hot spot. They have many western foods and amenities.
(Such as, organic restaurants that sell sourdough bread, home-made Kombucha, and Shakshouka.)
It’s illegal to carry more than 500 Indian rupees in Nepal.
There are tons of street dogs and for some reason they all have short legs.
(This is not a street dog BUT her name is Maya and she lived at our house.)
They make dumplings called Momos. They are a must eat in Nepal. They are filled with either chicken, buffalo, or veggies. I’m a meat eater and liked the veggie the best.
(I forgot to take a photo of momos because I was always just too excited to eat.)
Also, if you are balling on a budget you have to try ChopPot. It’s a combination of dried ramen, potatoes, chick peas, puffed rice cereal, carrots, lettuce, and soy sauce. It’s about .50 to $1! You can buy it at small fruit/veggie stands. DON’T GET SPICY. It will kill you. Just trust me.
(I also didn’t get a photo of chot pot because— I was always too hungry.)
Crepes are the hot new trend in Pokhara.
It isn’t cold and snowy everywhere like you would think after watching the film “Everest”. I know I know, shocker. Turns out I didn’t need the beanie or down jacket I packed. Bummer.
(This is a photo of Pokhara where I was in Nepal.)
They have a restaurant in Pokhara and Kathmandu call OR2K. Just go. It’s an amazing vegetarian restaurant.
Buttered Coocan otherwise known as buttered cocaine. It’s a desert that looks like garlic bread and cake had a baby. It doesn’t taste anything like garlic bread though. It’s a white cake with buttered coconut on top. That’s the best way I can describe it other than to say our host gained 20 pounds in three months from this desert. Hahaha.
(buttered cocaine. I miss you and think of you almost everyday…)
Guys will walk up to you and whisper in your ear “you want that weed”? It’s uncomfortable but extremely funny. Sometimes they walk by quickly and say it in a hushed tone. I guess they expect you to follow if you want it? Not sure of the sales techniques as how effective they are.
If you are an outdoorsy person, Nepal is the place for you. In case you haven’t already been dreaming of going there your entire life.
(I jumped off a bridge. Yes, my friends also did it.)
(I also ran off the side of a mountain. I got a little wild in Nepal.)
Many women are employed in the sex industry. They either work in Cabin restaurants (undercover brothels) or dance bars (clothed strip clubs). They make lots of money and it’s hard for them to find other jobs that pay better so they get stuck in these jobs that they hate.
Most locals frequent the cabin restaurants and dance bars. I never saw tourists in these places.
There are many organizations in Nepal that empower women and give them jobs making textiles. It’s so cool and I’m obsessed. My favorite store that does this in Pokhara is called Woven. I’m pretty sure I went in there at lest 17 times.
Nepal- Home to the tallest canyon swing! This was the most frightening 6 second free fall drop of my life!
(There is a very embarrassing video of Britt and I screaming bloody murder out there somewhere.)
There is a river in the middle of Kathmandu that the people burn bodies in. Sometimes there are full dead bodies floating in the river. Because of this the water is not drinkable. People get really sick and apparently you can die from drinking the water.
Kathmandu has really bad air quality. Almost all the locals where face masks. You can see the smog in the air.
Even with the smog, Nepal is a beautiful place.
XOXO,
EM
