The day after my boys left Oman on Saturday, January 12, 2013, the University of Nizwa finally announced that IF we worked REALLY hard invigilating final exams and marking papers during the week, we would get a semester break from January 17-25.Β I had been waiting for this announcement and was about to give up hope that we would get a break at all. Β I had researched six places I could visit if we got a chance to escape: Sri Lanka, Prague, Kathmandu, Morocco, Beirut and Zanzibar.Β When it came to decision time, Kathmandu had the best prices, the shortest flight, and the promise of cool, but not freezing, weather.Β So, on Sunday, I booked a ticket to Nepal for 166 Omani Rials ($432).Β I would fly out Thursday the 17th at 12:45 p.m.
I had just finished reading one of Pico Iyerβs travel essays from Video Night in Kathmandu: “Nepal: The Quest Becomes a Trek,” which, inspired me to visit Nepal, much as his Lady and the Monk inspired me to visit Kyoto, Japan in January 2011.
I had no plan and no idea what to expect.Β I hoped to bring home lots of pictures.
*January 2013*
~ wander.essence ~ 
How could you not? A dream destination π π
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It was very interesting indeed. π
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You must be so pleased you took those opportunities to visit those exotic places before the world went mad. And you have all the photos to remind you of the adventures
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I’m so glad I did all those travels in Asia when I lived abroad, Pauline. Who knows if I’ll ever get back that way again. And the world, well, who knows what will become of us.
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Iβm happy that I travelled when I did. Wouldnβt want to travel now
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That’s for sure. I still want to travel, but I’ll just have to be patient.
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You certainly made the most of being abroad.
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I tried my best, Jude. It was a very productive travel time for me; I miss it all so much, now that I’m stuck at home for who knows how long!
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I have a friend in her eighties who every year goes trekking in Nepal, staying at the home and in the village of her guide whom she’s had for many years. Her tales of derring-do are amazing and she absolutely loves Nepal. She has also travelled extensively in Bhutan which is a lesser-known country but one with wonders for the tourist. Look forward to reading your experience there, you certainly made the most of your time working abroad, but then you still do so in your own country, a born traveller.
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That is amazing about your 80+-year-old friend! I don’t even know if I could do those high-altitude treks! I would also love to go to Bhutan. As for being a born traveler, I came to it very late, after getting married, working and having kids. I had to make up for a lot of lost time. π
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It is a beautiful & colorful country. My last visit was in 1993 and still fresh
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It certainly is colorful and interesting, Indra. It’s nice you remember it so well from 1993. π
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What a fascinating choice for a destination, Cathy. Since it’s in the past I’ll ask, doesn’t the airport into Kathmandu have the shortest runway in the world?
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Have you been to Kathmandu, Christopher? I don’t remember much about the runway, but when I look back at my notes, I’ll probably remember then! π
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Iβll be interested to read about what you got up to and compare to our experience. We were there in 2000.
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So you weren’t there that much earlier than I was, Anabel. I’ll write about it in a month or two. Then we can compare notes. π
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Gorgeous photos ! Looking forward already to see Nepal through your lens.
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Thanks, Sheetal. I got some of my favorite photos ever from Nepal, Ethiopia and Oman. I look forward to sharing them. π
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I love your boat photo!
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Thanks, Carol. I loved those boats. I have another photo of them that I love even more. π
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sharing with you my Call to Placewrite-up https://travtrails.com/2020/06/23/cyprus-bubble-in-the-sea/
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Thanks, Indra. I’ll check this out soon. π
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