Nepal 2023 in 11 photos: Engagement, Marriage and More

I had been considering how I could possibly document this Nepal trip in a blog post format (without it being ridiculously long and time-consuming for us both, me the author and you the reader), and the idea came to me today: choose 11 of the most memorable moments, one photo each, and tell their stories.  This sounds pretty straightforward, except for the fact that I took over 1,000 photos on this two month trip (excessive, I know, but these memories are precious to me so I have no regrets).  I hope you enjoy the 1%, the highlights that made this year’s Nepal trip truly unforgettable.

Reading time: 15 minutes

Life Updates

Hello my friend, how are you?  It’s been awhile.  I have some life updates to share with you, in the form of this YouTube playlist.  Explaining about my most recent Nepal trip would take limitless words.  As they say that a picture is worth a thousand words, I figured videos must be worth… well, certainly more than a thousand!  So, here are a set of videos that paint the picture of my two, truly life-changing months in Nepal this year.

Life Updates Video Playlist

Open post or video playlist for other 3 videos.

I made a MUSIC VIDEO!

 So... I made a music video!  This was an absolutely unintended feature of my most recent trip to Nepal, a side-effect of going viral and recording a song.  Life is certainly an adventure.  Watch the video here!

Link to video

Culture Shock: What I Wish I'd Been Told About Nepali Culture

Living in a culture completely different from your own can truly rewrite your preconceived notions about people, the world, and even yourself.  When I lived in Thailand about 3 years ago, I shared a blog post about the culture shock I experienced living in Thailand, and it remains one of my most highly read blog posts to date.  Now, after nearly 2 years spent in Nepal, I want to share some aspects of Nepali culture that have shocked me, inspired me, and truly re-shaped my worldview.  

(Please note: I absolutely love Nepal; Nepali people are some of the most genuine, loving people I’ve ever known.  This post is for informational purposes and I don’t intend to come off seeming critical of the culture.  Every culture, including my own, has traits that are challenging and wonderful.  Be sure to read this post to the end to understand that there are more features of Nepali culture that I adore than those that are sometimes challenging for me.)

Reading time: 12 minutes

Going Viral: Becoming a Celebrity Abroad

My second trip to Nepal included a very unforeseen event: my partner and I became celebrities.  Truly overnight, we went from being an anonymous (albeit unique) couple in our village town to being dubbed the "viral couple" who couldn't go anywhere without being recognized and stopped for a photo.  Read on to learn how we became famous, how I ended up recording an original song/music video, and more!

Reading time: 10 minutes

Back to Nepal: Wild Reunion

13 months after departing Nepal, leaving my love, my Nepali family, and much of my heart behind, a dream came true: I got to come back.

Read on to learn how my first two weeks back in Nepal have been after spending a year growing re-accustomed to life in my U.S. home.

Reading time: 15 minutes

Life in Nepal: Q & A #2

Here comes the long-awaited "Life in Nepal: Q & A" Part 2!!  Read on to learn updates on life after Nepal, my history with Buddhism, birthplace of Buddha and more...

(Missed Part 1?  Read it here.)

Reading time: 5 minutes