ESL Blogs

I love to travel. I was fortunate to be able to travel to a few countries due to business and also leisure. I have been to the United Kingdom, Ireland, Holland, Germany, France, Belgium, South Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore to name a few. Most these countries are "familiar" to me. I've read about them and more or less prepared.

However, in 2010, I was asked to follow a team from my Company to go to Kathmandu, Nepal and study some business potentials over there. It was a last minute decision and I do not know much about Nepal or its people. So, I went with the team with much trepidation. I felt so ignorant. I do not know what to expect and was so nervous even though I went together with a team of six people.

Kathmandu and it's people really opened my eyes to another world. We went there in February, during the winter season. I thought being in a valley of Himalaya, it must be freezing cold. But surprisingly, it was not. The weather was very nice.

Because it was winter, the Government of Nepal had imposed some restriction on water and electricity usage. The city was divided into a few grids of which the electricity will be cut off at certain hours everyday. So can you imagine a bunch of us arriving in the city in the evening and trying to go and shop and was encountered with a city with no street lights or even a traffic lights? The shops either lighted a few candles, yes candles, or had one light bulb which apparently came from their own generator. 

It was a total shock since I think I always took for a granted that electricity will be easily available anywhere. How totally IGNORANT I was.

But, with even with the hardship, the people of Kathmandu are very dignified. They greeted you and always smile at you. They were always willing to assist you. I was really humbled with their generousity and kindness.

On our first day in Kathmandu, our team was very lucky to witness a traditional wedding ceremony being conducted in the hotel garden. We do not want to intrude the ceremony, but the groom and his family were so nice and allowed us to be part of the celebration.

The traditional wedding ceremony. The dais used in the ceremony.

On the second night, we were invited to a business dinner by a business association. And once again, I was lucky to be entertained by some of Nepali's traditional songs and dances. The traditional Nepali foods were delicious.

One of the traditional dance. The character was played by a man

When I was there, I also had the opportunity to take a Mountain Ride - an hour plane ride excursion looking over the Himalaya and the Everest. On the first day that we were supposed to take the plane ride, the weather was foggy and windy. Therefore, the excursion was canceled. It was too dangerous for a small plane to take off and ride on top on the Himalaya. My team and I were disappointed, but hoping that the next day the weather would be nice and we would be able to take the plane excursion.

I think the Himalaya God took pity on our team because the next day the weather was nice and sunny.  The plane ride was awesome. The view of the Himalaya and Everest really breathtaking and humbling at the same time. The best part was when everyone was given the chance to go to the cockpit of the plane and looked at the marvel. One hour seemed too short for such wonderful excursion. You really feel you were on top of the World.

The Everest from the plane. The view was blue due to the blue glass of the plane.

Due to business matter, I did not have had the luxury to explore more of the beauty of Kathmandu. However, I was lucky that my colleague and I were given an extra day to stay behind when the other team members had to go back to Malaysia. 

We went to Bakhtapur, an ancient Temple City about an hour drive from Kathmandu. It has seven ancient temples of which one of the temples depicting "Kamasutra" at all its totems poles/pillars. (I would not explain what "Kamasutra" means in here, otherwise I will be banned for life). 

The Ancient Temple City. 

On our way back from the Temple City, we stopped at a few places. At one place we stopped and and had some tea while watching the sun set over the Himalaya. It was really breathtakingly beautiful and magical (For someone looking for some romantic idea, this is heavenly).

Sunset over looking the Himalaya

My Nepali friend said that not many people realised that Kathmandu offers more than a transit point for people who wants to trek the Everest. I have to admit he was right. Kathmandu is still for me the Hidden Valley of Himalaya. If given the chance to visit it again, I will not hesitate to go and feel the warmth and hospitality of its people. And I hope I will appreciate its beauty and its people more.