Hiking the Poon Hill Trail: Part 2

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Soon we were descending into the Deurali Pass, a narrow canyon filled with lush, green vegetation. This was one of favourite parts of the hike.

Hiking the Poon Hill Trail: Part 1

We did Kathmandu. We did farming. Now it was time for mountain trekking. A trip to Nepal seems almost incomplete without at least one hiking adventure in the Himalayas, and given that Angela and I were not at our best level of fitness, we decided to try the Poon Hill Trail, one of the shorter beginner treks in the area. From Pokhara we took a taxi to the village of Nayapul, and begun our trek without a guide, using only a map and the advice of local villagers to help us find our way. We got lost at first, going the wrong way round the trail, which meant turning back on ourselves and adding two hours of unnecessary hiking to an already long hike!

Pokhara - Nepal's Lakeside Trekking Town

On our way to an adventure in the Himalayas, Angela and I recently stopped in Pokhara for a few days. It's a pretty lakeside town just south of the Annapurna Conservation Area, with three out of the ten highest mountains in the world located within 30 miles of it. As such, it has grown into a popular trekking hub, where backpackers congregate to buy their hiking gear, hire guides, and browse maps. We stayed there for a few days, preparing for our own five-day trek in the mountains.

Patan

During our return to Kathmandu, Angela and I made a daytrip to the nearby satellite city of Patan. It has its own Durbar Square, which is very similar in appearance to the one in Kathmandu, but when the architecture is this stunning we thought we'd check it out anyway. We also took a walk around the streets nearby, admiring the russet-coloured buildings and bustling markets.

Eco-Farming in Chitwan National Park: Part 2

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Every day we woke up at 6am, often greeted by an eerily beautiful sunrise.

Eco-Farming in Chitwan National Park: Part 1

A few months ago, Angela and I did some volunteering at a hostel in Tanah Rata, Malaysia. It was an amazing experience that allowed us to help a local businessman with his newest project, see some off-the-beaten-path places we wouldn't have discovered by ourselves, and immerse ourselves in Islamic culture through Ramadan meals and Bangladeshi dress-up sessions.

Cremations, Stupas and Dream-Gardens: Part 2

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Local Buddhists turn a prayer wheel, which contains a mantra written in Sanskrit. According to Tibetan Buddhist tradition, spinning the wheel will have the same effect as orally reciting the prayers.

Cremations, Stupas and Dream-Gardens: Part 1

Having thoroughly explored the labyrinthine streets of Thamel and the beautiful palaces of Durbar Square, Angela and I had a few more places to visit in Kathmandu before leaving for the countryside. First, we went to Pashupati, Nepal's most sacred Hindu shrine, where local funerals and cremations take place along the Bagmati River. Then we went to magnificent Boudhanath, one of the largest stupas in the world. Finally, we visited the Garden of Dreams, a European-style garden providing a peaceful respite from the chaos of Kathmandu.

Kathmandu, Nepal: Part 2

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Durbar Square must be one of the most aesthetically spiritual places we've seen. The architecture, the prayer flags, and the Hindu clothes of the locals all come together to create a scene from a mystical fairytale.

Kathmandu, Nepal: Part 1

It's taken a while, but Angela and I finally made it to Nepal a couple of weeks ago. Southeast Asia was the six-month-long centrepiece of our journey around the world, and there wasn't a single country there that we didn't enjoy. Now, though, we were ready for something a little different, and that meant moving on to the colourful delights of southern Asia.