A gentle reminder to be grateful.
We are so grateful for your patience during this break we had and we are swiftly getting back.
Sending the good energy from the Khula Akash Niwas as our dear friend Menuka would like to put it 🌸
Reposted @tamu_menuka
Dancing away 🍃🍃
Yesterday was a busy day for fellow environmentalists.
Currently in Nepal's lockdown, I pondered on what I miss, and what I will continue to miss post lockdown.
The rampant housing, the rusty water, dough of sewage flowing beside the road, sticky air with powdered dust, all of this has blurred my childhood memories, my romantic idea of home in Kathmandu.
The golden paddy fields, the clear view of Swayambunath and Dharara from our rooftop, life without a face covering feels like a distant dream. Now our balcony faces walls of neighbours, that stand twice as tall as us.
Green parks, the rare gem here, has become a sightseeing space, locked away in shackles. I realised how much I missed the lushness of greenary, even a sight of a tree would have done. So I cornered further from the city, to live at my aunt's, where the bamboos dance with air. As I let the wind blow my hair, my face, I fear this too might turn out to be a dream.
I went through videos on my phone, my misty morning walks, the chirping birds, where I could walk and breathe greenary for free. My lungs, my mind drools at this clip, as this feels like a luxury now. May be I will plant a tree on my roof. May be if my parents allow it. May be I will move further away. Well, until then, I shall enjoy this moment, the bamboo dancing away.
🌳🍃🍃
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#khulaakash #nepalitravellers #nepalitraveller #chirpingbirds
#nature #park #environment #environmental #environmentallyfriendly #nature_obsessions #environmentalist #nature_featuring #nature_captures #environmentalimpact #naturelover #naturelove #nature_fantastically #prilaga #nature_beauty #nature_brilliance #naturepics #forrestpark #NatureCollection
बुद्व जयन्ती पावन अवसरमा यहॅाहरू सबैमा सुख, शान्ति र समृद्धिको लागि हार्दिक मंगलमय शुभकामना 🙏
बुद्व जयन्ती पावन अवसरमा यहॅाहरू सबैमा सुख, शान्ति र समृद्धिको लागि हार्दिक मंगलमय शुभकामना ।🙏🍃🍂
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#khulaakash #nepalitravellers #nepali #travelphotography #traveldestination #travelstories #travelcommunity #travelchannel #nepal #nepaltravel #nepalnow #nepaltrekking #nepal8thwonder #nepal_visuals #visitnepal #travelnepal #explorenepal #discovernepal #nepalese #dolpo #phoksundo #trekking #trekkingadventure #trekkinginnepal #himalayas #explore #adventure #adventuretravel #beautifuldestinations #naturephotography
Cage diving with Great White Sharks in South Africa
Largely due to popular films and sensationalised media, sharks have a scary reputation - they are generally feared rather than revered. On the contrary, most sharks are not dangerous to humans and they play a critical role in a thriving marine ecosystem.
According to WWF, there were only 5 shark-related deaths in 2018, compared to tens of millions of sharks killed annually by humans.
From our experiences, beautiful and elegant creatures.
Location: Mossel Bay, Indian Ocean, South Africa
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#khulaakash #nepalitraveller #nepali #travel #travelphotography #travelling #traveller #traveltheworld #traveldiaries #travelphoto #travelinspiration #southafrica #southafricaza #southafricathroughmyeyes #southafrica🇿🇦 #southafricatravel #capetown #capetownsouthafrica #capetownlife #mosselbay #sharkcagediving #sharkcage #sharkdiving #shark #sharks #sharklove #traveldestination #explore #beautifuldestinations
Sandboarding in Peru 😎
Let's go for a quiet romantic walk in the desert, they said (Part 2)
Instead, bouncing over sand dunes in a high-speed buggy and experiencing sandboarding in the Peruvian desert was truly worthwhile. If you're comfortable with heights and speed, we highly recommend the above 😎😁
Have you visited the deserts in Huacachina? Is traveling around Peru and South America on your bucket list? Let us know in the comments section below. We would love to hear your thoughts and stories.
Location: Huacachina, Ica, southwestern Peru
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#khulaakash #nepalitravellers #nepali #travel #travelgram #travelling #traveller #traveltheworld #travelphotography #traveldiaries #travelinspiration #travelcouple #peru #perú #perù #perutravel #peruadventure #perutrip #huacachina #huacachinaoasis #sandboarding #adventuretime #desert #backpacking #southamerica #southamericatravel #southamericatrip #beautifuldestinations #nature #naturephotography
"उमेर त फारममा भर्ने सङ्ख्या त हो । " - फ्रेडी, दक्षिण अफ्रिका
"I am 81 years old, but I feel 30 and dance like 20. We're all brothers. I'm the third youngest in the group. We've been together for over 32 years, can you believe that? You weren't even born. Things were hard before, I worked in a factory when I was your age. It was backbreaking work and we didn't always get paid. My parents wanted me to be a teacher, but we blacks couldn't go school then. I like what I do now. Cape Town is beautiful and most people are nice. I love performing and making people smile. That's why we do it. Life's too short to be bitter. Young man, always be happy, and make others happy. So, do you have a song request?" - Mr Freddy (centre front) a Capetonian perfomer
Location: Seals Harbour, Cape Town, South Africa
Have you travelled to South Africa? From mountains, savannah wilderness, deserts and oceans - South Africa has it all. Tag a friend with whom you would love to backpack around Africa. Let us know in the comments section below. We would love to hear your thoughts and stories.
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#khulaakash #nepalitraveller #nepali #southafrica #southafricaza #southafricathroughmyeyes #southafricatravel #southafrican #southafrica🇿🇦 #capetown #capetownsouthafrica #capetownlife #capetownphotographer #capetownvibes #capetowntourism #capetownliving #travel #travelgram #travelling #traveller #traveltheworld #traveldiaries #travelinspiration #travelpics #travelphoto #africa #travelstories #backpacking #backpackingafrica #beautifuldestinations
❄चिसोले गर्दा ५ महिना बन्द, अहिले विद्यार्थीहरूले भोगेको लकडाउन, डोल्पालीहरूको वार्षिक भोगाई ।
❄चिसोले गर्दा ५ महिना बन्द,
अहिले विद्यार्थीहरूले भोगेको लकडाउन,
डोल्पालीहरूको वार्षिक भोगाई ।
Full Video 📽⏩: https://youtu.be/XVLDpxJXbMs
We then made our way toward Dho, via Tokyu village 4,100 m (13,450 ft). Not Japan's Tokyo, Dolpa's Tokyu.
At around 4,050 m (13,287 ft), Dho Tarap is one of the highest permanent settlements in the world. With 50 - 100 dwellings, Dho was mostly empty when we arrived, as most had migrated south to Lower Dolpo to escape the harsh winter. Enormous Chorten monuments, and Ribo Bhumpa monastery perched on the hill.
"In spring and summer, Dho looks different, with beautiful rows of green and yellow.", dai explained. "The same, in Saldang and Bhijer further north.", Hari dai added. In Dho village, we stayed at Utkin lama didi and Jamne lama dai's. They also refused to take payment. I literally had to force them.
That night, we tried packaged chicken feet, bought over from the Dolpo-Tibet border market. The sound and sight of Chinese bikes in Dho was something else.
Another amazing sight in Dho Tarap was Crystal mountain school. The school was established in 1994 by the French non-profit organisation 'Action Dolpo'.
Children from all over Upper Dolpo were taught English, Tibetan, Computer Science, and much more.Currently, over 200 students were enrolled but due to the cold winter, the regular school was closed for 5 months, from December to May.
The lockdown during the pandemic is an annual feature in the lives of the Upper Dolpo children. Thankfully, the alumnis of the school & volunteers sometimes conducted 3-month winter classes.
After grade 7, students were transferred to Snow Leopard Residency in Kathmandu to study further. We learned that many had returned back to Dolpo after their education. Some as teachers, some as nurses, while some as project manag
कबड्डी कबड्डी दौडी दौडी लाग्थ्यो कुनै फिल्ममा थिएँ , तर कट् भन्ने निर्देशक बिनाको सिनेमा ।
कबड्डी कबड्डी दौडी दौडी
लाग्थ्यो कुनै फिल्ममा थिएँ, तर कट् भन्ने निर्देशक बिनाको सिनेमा ।
(Translation: We ran away from the snow as if it was chasing us. It felt like a movie, but without direction and intermissions)
⏩https://youtu.be/XVLDpxJXbMs
For more stories, and to watch the full video, please click the link above. We would love to hear your thoughts and stories 🙏🏼🌿
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As it had started to snow, Tenzing baba decided to return and we bid our goodbyes.
"You don't have much time to cross the 2nd high pass. Take care and be careful.", he warned us. It felt like a movie, but without intermissions and direction.The snowing started getting heavier.
We pushed ourselves and crossed Naure Lekh pass 5,200 m (17,060 ft) at 6:00 pm. As it was getting dark, we hurriedly made our descent wearing head torches.
On the descent, it snowed harder, as if it was chasing us. Even to date, I feel if it wasn't for Hari dai, I would have lost my way in the snow.
We reached our destination around 8:00 pm. Taking photos and videos were the least of my worries. All we cared about was finding a safe, flat ground to set our tent.
The next morning, we were woken up by the cold wintery breeze. You can't run away from mother nature. There was snow everywhere, inside and out. Shoes, socks, and thermos - all frozen. Elsa's frozen world is only romantic in movies and imagination.
There, I fondly remembered and missed, clean socks and clothes, family, home, Kabita, friends, hot food, and a warm bed.
That morning, we crossed Dingle Duwa 5,300 m (17,388 ft) and made our way to Takse. It had snowed heavily overnight. All that was brown and barren yesterday was now white in snow. We were lucky and at the mercy of the weather yesterday. Had we not pushed ourselves at Naure Lekh Pass (5,200 m),
🌻खुशी भनेको आत्मपरक हुँदो रहेछ । आज अहिलेको समयमा उपस्थित हुनुमा नै खुशी रहेछ ।💫
🌻खुशी भनेको आत्मपरक हुँदो रहेछ ।
आज अहिलेको समयमा उपस्थित हुनुमा नै खुशी रहेछ ।
(Translation: Happiness is a choice - it is within us. To be present at the moment is to be happy)
▶️ https://youtu.be/XVLDpxJXbMs
For more stories, and to watch the full video, please click the link above. We would love to hear your thoughts and stories 🙏🏼🌿
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Happiness is a state of mind. It is within all of us. To be present at the moment is to be happy.
Our plan was to travel from Shey Gompa to Dho, via the villages of Namgung, Saldang, and Tinje. But, news of high snow in Saldang forced us to change plans and take a difficult route to Dho.
It was an old caravan trail to Dho - not shown on the maps, where we had to cross three 5,000+ m (16,400 ft) high passes.
Tenzing baba helped us cross to the first high pass at Shey la Pass 5,010 m (16,347 ft). While, Angmo aama's home-made, Phapar roti (buckwheat bread) was a godsend. Growing up in the harsh environments of Upper Dolpo, even at the age of 60, Tenzing baba was strong and fit.
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#khulaakash #nepalitravellers #nepali #travelphotography #traveldestination #travelstories #travelcommunity #travelchannel #nepal #nepal8thwonder #nepal_visuals #visitnepal #travelnepal #explorenepal #discovernepal #nepalese #dolpo #phoksundo #trekking #trekkingadventure #trekkinginnepal #himalayas #explore #adventure #adventuretravel #beautifuldestinations #naturephotography
१५ दिन चीनसँग जोडिएपनि ३५० दिन नेपालसँग जोडिनपाए🇳🇵🇨🇳
❌बन्देज लगाउन जतिकै सजिलो,
🛣🚃बाटो, घाटो, अन्नपानी, सुविधा पुराउन पाएँ,
👮♀️☎️ती हराएको आफन्तको चिन्ता बिसाउने ठाउँ भएँ,
👩🏫👩🎓बालबच्चाहरु सररर कुनै बन्देजबिना पढ्न पाएँ,
🇳🇵🇨🇳१५ दिन चीनसँग जोडिएपनि ३५० दिन नेपालसँग जोडिनपाए । म पो रहरले आएँ।
▶️ https://youtu.be/XVLDpxJXbMs
For more stories, and to watch the full video, please click the link above. We would love to hear your thoughts and stories 🙏🏼🌿
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On the flight, I made acquaintances with Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP), Adbesh dai. "Bhai, did you just trek back from Phoksundo lake?", DSP Abdesh dai asked, to which I replied that I had trekked back from Shey Gompa and Dho.
He didn't believe me, because a hiker had sadly passed away in Dho a few weeks ago. It was saddening.
I showed Abdesh dai some of my photos. "Bhai, you are a fearless person.", said Abdesh dai. Then he promised me something.
"As fearless as you were - the extreme winter conditions in Upper Dolpo should not be taken lightly. I promise you, under my watch, I will restrict all winter trekking to Upper Dolpo.", DSP dai proceeded.
I wished, if as easy as it was to put restrictions on the Dolpo people,..
..if only it was easy to push for new roads, opportunities, and developments.
..if only the Dolpo people had access to security and assistance to find their missing loved ones..
..if only the children in Dolpo could freely go to school for 12 months, rather than just 7.
Although connected to Tibet for 15 days, if only Dolpo was better connected to Nepal for 350 days..
पन्ध्र दिने खुल्ने चिनीयाँ ढोका 🇳🇵🇨🇳
पन्ध्र दिने खुल्ने चिनीयाँ ढोका 🇳🇵🇨🇳
(Translation: A 15-day open border between Dolpo and China)
https://youtu.be/XVLDpxJXbMs💙
For more stories and videos, please click the link above 😊 We would love to hear your thoughts and stories 🙏🏼🌿
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Traditionally, people in Dolpo predominately traded salt and raised crops for a living. Agricultural produce for Tibetans in the north and Himalayan salt for hilly people in the south.
But, with the increasing prevalence of goiter in the iron-deficient Himalayan salt, the salt trade in Dolpo diminished and people started importing salt from India. Despite this, we still preferred the taste of Himalayan salt in our tea.
Nowadays, the Dolpo people make a living by trading Yarsagumba - an aphrodisiac, caterpillar fungus. Farming in the summer, and harvesting Yarsagumba in the spring. Used in herbal remedies & traditional Chinese medicine. Also, popularly sold as 'Himalayan viagra'. Between 2001 and 2011 alone, the value of Yarsagumba increased by an astonishing 2300%. In meadows above 3,500m, over 70,000 people arrive in spring and camp to search for Yarsagumba.
In such a harsh and inaccessible environment where rivers are frozen, I could not mentally comprehend those numbers. Such a remote and isolated place - devoid of roads, phone reception, and electricity, I could not mentally comprehend those numbers.
"Next time, we should visit the Dolpo-Tibet border in spring", explained Hari dai.
A 15-day trade fair in the Dolpo-Tibet border, where the Dolpa people trade Yarsagumba and buy supplies for 6 months.
A 15-day border market where both Nepali and Chinese currency are used.
A 15-day open border and trade with China.
The thought of a busy, border market brought a smile to my face, Then, I am reminded of the adversity and lack of choices for the Dolpo people.
Far and forgotten by the government o
भोक तिर्खा, सबैको एउटै ।
भोक तिर्खा, सबैको एउटै ।
(Translation: Hunger and thirst is the same for everyone)
https://youtu.be/eN74HeVFSz8
Episode 4 is out on 2nd Jan, Saturday ⏰💙
For more stories and videos, please click the link above 😊 We would love to hear your thoughts and stories 🙏🏼🌿
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When we reached the lake again, the dead yak from a few days ago was missing its tail. We then saw a moving shape in the distance.
"Look! There's a Bhote (Tibetan) coming down.", Lal dai pointed. He approached me and asked in broken English, "Ma'am, hungry. Food?"
To which I replied, "Dai, I'm also Nepali. Go and ask the dais.", pointing to Lal dai. Lal dai hesitated at first. Later, he had agreed to feed the Tibetan dai, in return for raksi (local alcohol).
One's stomach full of rice, the other with alcohol.
Later, we discovered he had travelled all the way from Saldang village, in search of a missing relative. I hurriedly showed him the nagarita (citizenship document) we'd found a few days ago. His face was overwhelmed with sadness. Deep in his thoughts and woes, he strolled back and forth along the banks of the lake and pine woods.
There was not much we could've done there in such a remote place, void of police, security, and law. It was saddening.
