Nepal, here we come!

The plan for Nepal began in 2019. We were to trek the Himalayas in 2020, but covid had other plans. We were grounded for nearly four years.

Now a little bit older, we embark on our journey half way around the world. We pack last minute as work commitments keep me busy until the last day, then haphazardly throw everything into our overstuffed bags. We survey the final product and wonder what is missing and what is a waste. Time will tell.

We have a new puppy, Rosie and two kittens, Kevin and Tony, which adds another level of planning. Our daughters have agreed to watch Rosie and our neighbor and eldest daughter will also care for our home and Kevin and Tony.

We wake on the morning of travel to discover our flight to Montreal has been delayed three times. Luckily, we can chill at home. Too soon, it’s last minute cuddles, hugs and we begin the process, multiple time zones and a 36 hour journey.

We are the group of seven, five of us have climbed Kilimanjaro together, one has hiked the west coast trail with three members of our group. The final member is our youngest member, who is certain to bring her own flair to the experience.

We fly Montreal to Doha, then Doha to Kathmandu. We are fed well on Qatar airlines, complete with free liquor. We marvel at silverware, the thick napkin and bottle of water. We are given a multitude of items, socks, toothbrush, toothpaste, headphones, pillow and blanket. It is reminiscent of travel from years gone by.

We arrive in Kathmandu at 0600. At home, it’s yesterday evening, which in our current state is too much of a calculation.

We enter the visa hall and stand in 3 separate lines to complete a convoluted process that works. Visa in hand, seemingly we go backwards through security to collect our bags. Such joy to be reunited with our bags, this moment of travel never gets old.

We leave the area, following the route out and are met with our guide, Raju who welcomes us to Nepal with red silk cloths he drapes around our necks. The scarf is called a Khata and red is a gesture of welcome, blessing, or gratitude. It signifies the pure intention and good wishes of the giver towards the recipient. What a wonderful welcome to Nepal! The gesture reminds me of my Grandma who travelled to Hawaii in the late 60’s and was always greeted with a lei. I smile, we are here! I turn to our traveling companion, Maxine and say, “when we return here, we will be different people for the experience.” She smiles in agreement.

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cherylsmit

Writing and photography are my first and second loves and thanks to technology I have the ability to share with a larger audience, including family and friends. Gone are the days of lugging around photo albums after a trip and of keeping a written journal of the experience that only I would view. The days of the handwritten letters are gone, but blogging provides a chance to share ideas, thoughts and photographs with a few mouse clicks and to receive instant feedback from around the world. It provides an opportunity to research a new place and to see that place through the eyes of a multitude of people each with their own unique way of viewing and experiencing the world. It opens the world wide and allows us a front row seat. Blogging connects us and creates a family of support. It provides an outlet and a chance to perfect the craft of writing and story telling. When I sit in my living room drinking my coffee and see that someone from another part of the world has read my words, and then I read theirs, the world is much smaller and more attainable. We are more alike than different as we share uniquely human experiences. Once I had a dream of becoming a Journalist, but somehow life got in the way. I currently have a fantastic career in healthcare and know that I have made a difference so I have no regrets. Still, I wonder if there is time to explore the road less travelled?

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