👀👂👄👃 2D1N sensory overload in Nepal

🇳🇵 Nepal was the last destination I visited before I left my airline job and it was also one of the places I always wanted to visit. So we made a short and sweet getaway for 2D1N, visited 📍 Kathmandu, 📍 Nagarkot and 📍 Bhaktapur. Although it was short, it was eye opening. I’m thankful and very fortunte to be where I am and with everything that I have. What’s there to complain about once you visited Nepal⁉️ — one of the LDC, lease developed countries.  

🇳🇵 The flag of Nepal is the world’s only non-quadrilateral flag that acts as both the state flag and civil flag of a sovereign nation. Stepping off the plane into Kathmandu is an extraordinary experience and leading to sensory overloaded. It’s like you’ve travelled back in ⏳ time. The aftermath of Nepal’s devastating earthquake in April 2015 didn’t ruin the ✨ spirits of its people.

We’ve met the world’s friendliest and happiest people. Everywhere we go, we saw 🙂 smiles and a 🙏🏻 namaste. Nepalese are super eager to show you around too.

📸 Few snapshots below, click here for trip album or feel free to continue 👀 reading.

On the contrary, the earthquake destroyed several UNESCO-listed templates. Stroll through the streets and the damages are very much visible. I’ve to say though, the environment was out of our expectations. The city was chaotic — the traffic was horrible, the city was dirty with dust everywhere. Everywhere, everything and everyone were busy❗ Butcher’s shop preparing fresh cuts of 🥩 meat just on the side of the road, next second 🛵 motorcycle and 🚚 trucks driving by and millions of people walking by at the same time. ✨ All in all, was a great experience.

📸 Few snapshots below, click here for trip album or feel free to continue 👀 reading.

A quick stopover at Kathmandu for half a day and went off on our 2-day trekking tour to Nagarkot and Bhaktabur.  

🥾 2-Day trek tour
The tour includes transfer, accommodation and guide for the 2-day. Driver was super friendly, he picked us up at our hotel at Kathmandu and began our 🚐 ≈2hrs drive to 🏨 Club Himalaya. Nagarkot, known for its view of the Himalayas, including ⛰️ Mt Everest. Staying at Club Himalaya, we watched the 🌅 sunrise.

🥾 Trek to Changunarayan
A mini hike, I would say and we trekked to Changunarayan from our hotel. With our guide, 👣 ≈4hrs trek passing through stunning views of Himalapyan Valley and many wooden houses along the way. Villagers lived a simple life on the hillside and up at the hilltop with their 🐓 rooster, 🐐 goats and 🦆 ducks running wild. Changu Narayan is said to be the oldest Hindu temple of Nepal and was also affected by the earthquake.

📸 Few snapshots below, click here for trip album or feel free to continue 👀 reading.

Next was a 🚐  ≈30mins car ride to Bhaktapur — an ancient city for its elegant art, fabulous culture, colorful festivals, traditional dances and indigenous lifestyle of Newari community. Bhaktapur was once the capital of Nepal and many of its greatest monuments were severely damaged by the earthquake. We made our way around the Durbar Square for awhile and ended this trip with the last 🚐  ≈1hr car ride back to Kathmandu airport. 🙏🏻 namaste