As I dig out these photos I am reminded of what a fantastic trip this was with an unusual group of people. I traveled with other members of Hands in Outreach, a non-profit social services organization. I had been sponsoring a young girl at a boarding school in Kathmandu and I wanted to meet her. This was my first international trip abroad and it lasted nearly 3 weeks.

Our hotel was close to Swayambunath, the great monkey temple. I remember the road clearly that led to the 365 steps required to reach the great stupa. I journeyed there more than once for the fantastic views it offered. Vajra Hotel was not a typical tourist choice. Rooms were simply furnished and showers were provided down the hall. Since warm showers were considered a luxury, I treated my sponsored child one day. On another day we took the sponsored children from one of the boarding schools to the Kathmandu Zoo. The zoo was pitiful with dusty caged bins. However the children enjoyed the day, especially taking turns riding the ferris wheel manually powered by the arms and legs of a man who kept jumping up the side of the wheel to keep it in motion. I recall another occasion where the children performed for us with traditional song and dance.

Apart from the schools and children, we toured, spending time circumambulating Bodnath stupa, shopping in Thamel, walking through Thimi, Bhaktapur, Patan. A day was spent at Pashupatinah on the Bagmati River. Unforgettable. Bagmati’s water is considered holy and people bathe there. Various Ghats, cremation Ghats, temples of great cultural and religious value are located along it’s banks. I saw many holy men and the sick intermingled amongst the throngs of people (most were not tourists by the way). I came away feeling not healthy and revived but drained and dirty and sad. Another day was spent journeying to Nargarkot so we could see the sun rise over Mt. Everest. Unfortunately it was cloudy and we couldn’t see the Himalayan mountain caps. However the journey outside of the city was worth it to see Nepal’s countryside. Nargarkot was a speck of a town, probably larger now, with few buildings and homes and a meditation center (where we stayed overnight). It is higher in altitude than Kathmandu.

My choice to visit a third world country as my first trip abroad was intentional. I wanted a distinctly different cultural experience. In retrospect I recall I wasn’t so shocked by the poverty as by the pollution and deforestation of the area. My visit took place just after the Nepalese government changed from being the only Hindu monarchy in existence at that time to being a constitutional monarchy. Shortly thereafter the royal family met with great tragedy.