People of Nepal

Our sherpa team

One thing that distinctly stood out during our trip was the kindness and goodwill of Nepali people. They are some of the kindest I’ve ever met in any trip.

Everyone I met - whether it was the hotel staff, the tea house caretaker, the Sherpas walking with us, or the traders in mountain villages - were genuinely friendly and happy to help. It wasn’t because we were tourists, or because they wanted something from us. They genuinely wanted to help us and make sure that we were comfortable.​

On our way to Kathmandu, there was a lady who was in the same flight as us from SFO to Doha to Kathmandu. At the Kathmandu airport, we walked up to her just to say hello and she said that she is a trek guide with a famous Canadian company. She said something that stuck with us: You come to Nepal for the mountains, but stay for the people. And I couldn’t agree more.​ I’m sure many others feel the same way.

We met a lot of amazing people during the trip - the guides, Sherpa team and everyday people.

Premdai

Premdai was our lead guide and the most knowledgeable about the trip, route, and trail. Most of the time, he acted as the sweep guide, walking at the back of our group to help anyone having trouble keeping pace. He would remind us to take deep breaths, show us how to bend our heads, breathe deeply, and drink water.

During our bus ride from Pokhara to Kimchee on Day 2, George was stuck in a tight spot and had trouble stretching his legs. Premdai came up and offered his own seat, even though all the other seats were taken. He was willing to stand for the rest of the ride so George could sit comfortably. This shows just how thoughtful and caring Premdai and many Nepali people were to others around them.

Asmer

Asmer Bandari is quiet, kind and smart. He would share a lot of information about the mountains and the trail along the way. He would remind us to take micro steps so we wouldn’t get too tired during the climb. Whenever we asked how long it would take to reach the next tea house, he would say we are almost there. He never misled us about the distance or time, but always tried to keep us motivated.

Apparently, he started his career as a sherpa with his dad, did many such treks and now is a guide. He said the job is very difficult and risky - they are going up and down these mountains every single day. But they don’t get any support of pension from the government. That’s really sad.

On the summit day, after 3 hours of climbing at the high altitude of about 13000 ft, I was exhausted. The low oxygen made every step harder. It was also playing tricks on my mind, urging me to go back to the campsite.I thought if I went further, I might collapse and cause trouble for everyone. I also wanted George to not be stuck with me and go ahead to reach Khayar Lake.

So I asked Asmer if I had the option to go back. He told me that I can definitely go back, he will send a guide with me. But he also told me to try to walk slowly, again micro steps, until the small peak we were seeing in the distance. What he did there was to break down the long challegne to a tangible manageable challenge. He said it should take 20 minutes, but I could go slowly and reach there in 40. This made the huge challenge feel possible.

I agreed and started walking slowly. It was still hard, but felt lighter in my mind with the confidence given by Asmer, with George, Roshini and Prakash right beside me. Throughout that trek, he walked beside us. He could walk fast and reach the destination in no time, but he walked with us. When we reached that peak, he said it was another 40 minutes, mostly flat terrain, to Khayar Khola. This motivated us to keep going.

For the final 20 minutes or so, George, Roshini, and I walked a little ahead, while Asmer stayed with Prakash. When we reached Khayer Khola, we were exhausted. I waited for Asmer to reach the khola (he was walking behind Prakash), and when he did, I was in tears, my heart full of gratitude for his support. I walked up to him and thanked him, I hugged him, not bothering to hide my tears. He cried too. It was an unforgettable moment, beautifully captured by George in this photo.

Our sherpa team

Our sherpa team at Khopra Ridge

The sherpas were the star of the trip - a group of seven young men full of enthusiasm, drive and hardworking mentality. During the day, they carried our offloading bag - two per person. Every time we got to a tea house, they followed a protocol: they joined the kitchen staff, helped with final food prep, and served the meals. They made sure we ate well before sitting down themselves, even if it meant cooking more after we’d finished. I felt humbled seeing how much they cared about us.​

It really seemed like helping others is simply part of the way people live in Nepal. That sense of community is invaluable to a society.​

Sherpas serving us food at the tea house

Most of them are still in school. Sagar, one of the Sherpas said that he is 19 years old and is studying in ninth grade. He is doing this trek during his school vacation. Many others were in the same situation. It shows their willingness to work hard while still continuing their education.

*Sagar, xxx and yyy*

At night, when all their work was done, they would sit around and sing Nepali songs - traditional folk tunes and newer popular songs. They played the drums and danced to the music. We had a lot of fun singing and dancing with them at the tea houses and on the bus.

Staff at Hotel Dashain

The manager and staff at the Hotel Dashain - the hotel where we stayed in Pokhara. On the morning of the first day of the trek, right before checking out, we realized all our Nepali currency was packed in the bag we planned to leave at the hotel. We were already running late to join the rest of our group at the Top and Top Hotel. We asked the manager if we could pay part of the bill now and settle the rest after our trip. He agreed, and it helped us settle everything and get going quickly. The trust that we showed us was timely and impressive.

Unfortunately, we forgot to take a photo with him 😢.

Everyday people

Wherever we went - whether resting in the tea houses or passing through villages, the people greeted us with warmth and smile. They have a genuine sense of calm and warm hospitality. They seem happy and content with their own life, which felt welcoming to us.

The surroudings even in the tourist city of Pokhara was calm and quiet, no loud noises, children screaming or loud traffic. Even the village dogs seemed laid back and friendly - a detail I especially appreciated as someone normally scared of dogs. It felt so different from busy city life; it was slower and very welcoming.​​

Here are some photos of the wonderful people we met along the way:

Overall, this was a unique experience with the Nepali culture and people. It reminds me that happiness is often found in simplicity, community, and kindness.

My shift in perspective

Before this trip, Nepal felt unknown and abstract to me, but spending time with Nepali people changed that and made it real for me. I saw that the people are kind and helful, even with everything going on in the country. I wish them the best to have a prosperous future for themselves and the generations to come.