Skip to main content

Escape from Kathmandu

Happy Nepali New Year 2082!

The morning of Nepali New Year 2082 started with a view of green hills and the Himalayas behind. My WhatsApp was flooded with wishes, many sent right at midnight. I read them in the morning, along with a walk in the green garden and steps at Haibung, Sindhupalchowk. This year, we decided to welcome the New Year differently—out of the city, up in the hills, with office colleagues and their families.

Our destination was Prakriti Resort, nestled beside the Dhaap Dam. Getting there, though, was no easy. The road was narrow, steep, and never-ending. At times, our bus was accelerating way up to a sharp, sharp-bending dirt road full of craters. But the three-hour grind was worth every bump. We escaped Kathmandu's chaos—the dust and noise traded in for fresh mountain air and, well, the joyful chatter of my daughter and her friends.


The rough road has its perks, it keeps the serenity intact. Not many Kathmandu folks are willing to scale a tough drive. The resort itself felt refreshingly organic - almost all the food is grown on-site. The rooms were simple: no air conditioning, no television. Which, in a way, was perfect. You had no choice but to step out, breathe in, and take it all in.

Evening came with live music and laughter. It was cold and raining outside, but the restaurant was warm and inviting. The food wasn’t fancy, but it was fresh and satisfying. And let’s be honest—as we age, staying up till midnight loses its charm. We celebrated the New Year at 9 PM and called it a night, no regrets.

The next morning was postcard-perfect. The rain had scrubbed the skies clean, and everything looked sharper, calmer. A slow hike down to the Dhaap Dam felt like the right pace to start the year. No rush, no stress.

We took a different route back home, via Sankhu. The road was better, but our luck ran out with a massive traffic jam. Apparently, a political 'Machha Bhat' program was underway. Trippers and motorbikes poured in from the opposite direction. The road barely fit two vehicles, and nobody felt like giving way. I muttered to myself, "This country deserves the leaders it chooses." A classic Nepali moment, I suppose.

We reached home by late afternoon—tired, hungry, but happy. The kids learned a little about patience and resilience. And I learned that even a bumpy road can lead to a perfect New Year.


Labels:

Comments

  1. BishwaApril 16, 2025 at 9:56 PM

    How lovely! What a beautiful way to welcome the New Year surrounded by friends, family and the beauty of nature. Wishing you and your loved ones a joyful, peaceful and happiness filled year ahead. Happy New Year!!😎

    ReplyDelete
  2. BClaireB.August 25, 2025 at 9:21 PM

    2082 woww

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Weekend Expedition

"The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page." — Saint Augustine "One must travel to learn." — Mark Twain "To travel is to live." — Hans Christian Andersen Travel quotes are beautiful. They make me want to quit my job, buy a backpack, and disappear into the mountains with nothing but a notebook and an unreasonable amount of optimism. Then I remember I have bills. I also admire the people who wrote these famous travel quotes. They all lived before commercial airlines, budget airlines, baggage fees, airport security, visa applications, and the invention of the middle seat. Back then, travel was a genuine adventure. You packed your belongings, mounted a horse, boarded a ship, or simply started walking. If you returned, you wrote a book. If you didn't, someone else wrote your biography. There was no climate guilt attached to every journey. Nobody calculated the carbon footprint of a camel. There were no traffic jams stretching for fi...
1 comment
Read more

My Morning, Their Midnight

Time is relative. I am not bragging about Einstein's Theory of Relativity. This is about several time zones within Kathmandu city. Five o’clock is not universally “early morning.” This morning, it was a usual morning for me. But the empty roads suggested that for many others, it was still midnight. Near the temples, devotees were already walking back from their prayers. Their day had clearly begun long before mine. I imagine they must be thinking, "Ah, the late risers are out." And the vegetable vendors? For them, 5 a.m. is practically late morning. Shops open, scales ready, transactions underway. Their workday was already in full swing while it was still dark. Then comes Thamel, lights still glowing, people spilling out of pubs, laughing, smoking. For them, the night was young. It appears Nepal’s little Las Vegas, blinking through a hangover. “Early” and “late” are not absolute words. They are relative to what we make with our own lifestyles. Time is less a clock and mor...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Pursuit of 3:59

I registered for my next marathon. The 18th Kathmandu Marathon is scheduled for Saturday, 10 October 2026, just one day before Ghatasthapana. The following morning, Dashain will begin. Families will gather, kites will appear in the sky, Dashain dhuun and smells of the festival. And for me, if all goes according to plan, it will also mark the end of a three-month break from alcohol. What a day to resume a glass of whiskey. I am giving myself three months to prepare properly. No shortcuts. No excuses. Clean eating. Consistent running. Adequate rest. I am breaking my last year's marathon record of 4 hours and 28 minutes. This year, the target is clear: sub-four hours. The difference between 4:28 and 3:59 is not only twenty-nine minutes, but it is also going to be what I do in these three months. My run, my food, my sleep and many more, all my small decisions will definitely make a difference. In many ways, the marathon itself is the easy part. The race lasts a few hours. The preparati...
Post a Comment
Read more

When a Job title becomes an identity

"Hello, my name is Bond, James Bond, and I am a marketing assistant." A 9-to-5 job holder, James Bond would be proudly selling a product. But James chose the right job: to become an assassin.  he is still a government employee, and much of his identity as 007 is as an MI6 agent. Our surnames are based on profession. My surname is Maharjan, which means a farmer. I no more do farming; nonetheless, the surname remains deeply embedded in social identity. My surname says what my parents and ancestors used to do for a living. Many government quota systems are still based on surnames. For me, I have a profession, and I have my Business cards, LinkedIn profiles, office door nameplate, email signatures, and my elevator pitch; all reinforce my profession as the centre of my identity. Have I blurred the line between my profession and personality? I have been a job holder for more than 25 years now. A job title is useful for me. It tells people what I do. It is comforting. It provides pu...
Post a Comment
Read more

The book Thief

I finished The Book Thief this week. The first thing that stands out about the novel is its narrator. The story is told from the perspective of Death. Rather than appearing as a terrifying force, Death becomes an observer, a collector of souls, and ultimately a storyteller. Out of the millions of lives that pass before him, he keeps returning to one ordinary yet remarkable girl: Liesel Meminger. Liesel is a foster child growing up on Himmel Street, a modest working-class street in Nazi Germany during the Second World War. Through Death's narration, we witness her life, her struggles, her friendships, and the quiet moments that unfold beneath the shadow of a devastating conflict. What impressed me most was the simplicity with which the story is told. There are no grand military campaigns or dramatic political speeches. Instead, we see football games in the street, the loyalty of her friend Rudy, the kindness of the Hubermann family, and the small routines of everyday life. Most war ...
1 comment
Read more