Postcards from Nepal (p.1)

Editor’s Note: This is the first post in a series about Chelsea’s recent trip to Nepal. Words and photos by Chelsea Phillippe.

Namaste

Every fall/winter I persuade Jason to leave the country for a trip, of 2-3 months so to really experience a new country, its people and culture, and to get the most out of the expensive plane ticket. Jason chose Nepal and quickly persuaded me- beings he has several friends from Nepal. At his river job in Idaho Springs with Clear Creek Rafting Company he works with many foreigners, a few of which are from Nepal. These men stay here for our summer, sending their money home to their families in Nepal. In the fall, they head home to Nepal where they get more work and get to be with their families.

Another two guides, who work for Clear Creek Rafting in the Royal Gorge, ended up in Nepal too. Of course we knew each other, but didn’t know they were also traveling to Nepal, for almost exactly the same time we were. One guide, in particular, knew several other Nepali guides and company owners, who quickly became friends with all of us. (small world)

The logistics were a dream. We bought our plane tickets and then just listened to Jason’s Nepali friends telling him the things we had to do, where they would take us, the meals we would enjoy, etc. The only other planning that took place was flipping through the guide books we purchased the morning of boarding the plane.

We brought backpacking gear with the idea/hopes of trekking in the Annapurna and Everest regions. Our big gear was 3 barrel pumps we brought for a friend of a friend who owned Drift Nepal, who we ended up doing most of our river trips with.

The amount of people we met, and friends we ran into was amazing. We ran into a friend who owns the Payette River Company in Idaho who happened to be teaching guide instruction in Nepal…he was standing outside our hotel waiting for other friends. Small world.

After the 1st month we realized we missed the ease of American lifestyle, like a stove, couch, hot water, etc. It’s amazing what you take for granted. But into the 2nd month we got used to not having such amenities and constantly tried to adapt to the food, learned how to cook some of it!
I guess the learning lesson is to appreciate what you have, no matter what it is.

Fireworks, Locals, Everest still to come…