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Bucketlist Bri

Bucketlist Bri

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At a Glance – Nepal Blog Post #3

Last Updated: October 20, 2021 · Nepal

At a Glance

August 21, 2015

Table of Contents show
The Best, the Worst, & the Coolest About Living in Nepal
Catching the local bus – an experience in itself
Boudha Stupa – round two – this time with a rooftop view
It’s the small things
Talking our way to Thamel
In the meantime..

The Best, the Worst, & the Coolest About Living in Nepal

The best thing I think so far is discovering life in a totally new way.  To open your eyes and see how culturally rich and diverse it is here. To realize there are truly only a handful of things you actually need.  To see your own prejudices and stereotypes begin to crumble before you, opening your mind to new opportunities to learn and grow from.

The worst is the knowledge that there will be a potentially bigger & badder earthquake to hit while here, and having no idea when or where it could happen.

The scariest is the frequent tremors/aftershocks that you feel.  The first time I felt an aftershock I was on my bed wondering what the heck was happening.  The most recent was when Paul & I were at the table and it started trembling and the small vase of flowers began shaking.  In those moments it’s like you freeze and wait to see what happens next.  Is it going to get worse? Will it stop soon? Luckily for now I could always answer the latter first.

The coolest is making friends from such culturally different backgrounds and learning about their individual lives, beliefs, experiences, and culture, and then seeing beyond these differences and being aware that we actually share so much in common.

The most fun (funnest – why can’t this be grammatically acceptable? Go away red scribbly line) is just putting on your backpack and leaving to go explore.

Catching the local bus – an experience in itself

The first time Paul and I went exploring we were nervous – foreigners waving down a passing bus on Ring Road (basically I would rather cross a busy street in NYC), who don’t speak more than 5 words of Nepali is not the ideal mixture.  We were going to Boudhanath Stupa again, so I could show Paul.  1, 2, 3 minibusses pass us yelling out “Boudha” (bo-da), but they were crammed full.  We decided if we wanted to go anywhere we were going to have to be more aggressive.

Then the next bus comes and it hardly slows down for us so we run after it, repeating “Boudha!”  The bus boy that collects the money jumps down and Paul, now “aggressive,” yells “teece” at him (which means 30…I think) and the boy just looks at us weird. We were making it more complicated trying to haggle with prices and trying to be sure of what we were doing.  It’s just better to go with the flow.  So we hopped on and were instantly greeted by 20 pairs of eyes just staring at us.  The only rule regarding the traffic here is that there seem to be no rules, just don’t purposely hit anyone. Buses, scooters, and cars were literally inches away. Rather than daily traffic, it’s more like a race to see who can fit in the smallest space and get in front of you first.  It’s fun – in an uncertain “I don’t know if I’m risking my life” kind of way.

Boudha Stupa – round two – this time with a rooftop view

We finally arrive – and this time at Boudhanath there were many more people circling the square touching all the prayer wheels.  When we went to go up on the lookout, there were about 50 people sitting all over the floor mumbling prayers aloud and in unison.  They all had their shoes off, cross-legged, and were passing around dried bread twists and pouring small cups of Mountain Dew – a fine mix between tradition and globalization.  One nice, smiling lady motioned for us to go upstairs past them and they all just continued to worship for I don’t know how long.

I then suggested we go to a rooftop café to see the panorama and to have a nice cup of coffee.  We were the only 2 there at this hour – Paul indulged in a locally brewed Everest beer with veggie soup and me – coffee and Indian veggie curry.  For the two of us it was around 1100Rs, or approximately $11. Not bad. Then it got dark, real dark, real fast.  We walked until we found a bus that would take us back to Dhumbarahi.

It’s the small things

On the way, we stumbled across a Bhatbhateni supermarket which is the closest thing to a “Wal-Mart” here.  This Bhatbhateni seemed luxurious compared to the one we use most.  This one actually had aisle signs! It was clean and products weren’t all over the floor in boxes in front of the shelves.  Haha, we laughed at how such small things can make one so happy.  Which reminds me — the other day before picking Paul up at the airport I was expecting a cold shower, (since that’s been the reality for 3 weeks) and then all of a sudden the water got warm…warmer.. and then hot! I could actually stand under it normally without having to stick my right foot in and take my left arm out and shake it all about.. I was so overcome with happiness!

That shower ended up being quite pointless though.  When I went to meet Paul at the airport I tried going on my own, taking a taxi, on my own, and all that, on my own. It began raining cats and dogs and there I was – in the dark, in the rain without an umbrella, trying to wave taxis down and when I finally got one he tried robbing me (no, not literally)! He wanted to charge me 800Rs ($8) because of course, I am a foreigner. 1 hour later I retreated back to the apartment soaking wet and my roommate and I took a bus to the airport – which only costs 15Rs (15 cents) per person.

Talking our way to Thamel

Saturday is my day off, so Paul and I decided to venture out again and just walk to the famous area called Thamel, which is about 45 minutes from where I live.  You discover so much more by traveling on foot.  One of the most memorable moments I’ve had is when, on our way there, we walked past this area that was obviously very damaged by the earthquake. There was a pagoda-style Hindu temple in the middle of rubble, dirt, broken bricks, and mud, and walking across it all were two little girls; they both stared at us as we did them when all of a sudden they both started giggling. The eldest of the two held up a smartphone she was carrying.  She was taking a picture of us taking a picture of them.  To her, we were the interesting folk to look at; with our foreign clothes and hair, backpacks, and face masks.  And to us, there were two little Nepalese girls walking alone through the earthquake rubble and mud that contradicted a beautiful, old temple standing in the background.

Getting closer to Thamel you notice the streets get (a little) cleaner, shops get fancier, and there are more signs in English and not to forget more foreigners too, which was interestingly quite nice. It’s almost as if each time we looked at one another we said, “Hey! I know what you’re going through, we understand each other, white traveler,” when nothing was actually said. Yeah, it’s kind of weird. There’s so much to look at walking through the streets in Thamel; the atmosphere is so lively and colorful, it just makes you go, “Whoa, Asia.”

On our way back we paid 200Rs each to get into the “Garden of Dreams” which, compared to the streets, is a beautiful green oasis.

It really separates you from the hustle and bustle of the city.  There are fountains, ponds, statues, critters, palm trees, benches, etc. I mean it was worth the visit.

We sat down for overpriced coffee at a fancy restaurant inside the garden. But it was probably the best cappuccino I’ve ever had, considering I wasn’t really a coffee person until I got here ^^ Nonetheless, it was well worth the visit. When we left to walk back home, we were “attacked” to put it harshly, by a fake holy man.  It was a money scam, but we didn’t have the time to figure that out.  An old man just walked up to Paul and put a red dot on his forehead and said “it okay I am a holy man.” Uh, I don’t think so, sir. He “blessed” us both with a wilted flower on our heads and with a quick ring of his small bell. Then he said “Money, money, money.” Feeling so awkward with our ridiculous thumb-sized red dots I took out a one-dollar bill, which he wasn’t too happy with.  Hey, money is money.

In the meantime..

When not out and about, time here is spent waiting out the monsoon rains by playing Spongebob monopoly or a game of chess, maybe even watching a movie or two, playing with Yoda, chasing Yoda, cooking dinner, writing, read, and working of course from 10-5, except when there are announced strikes/protests (bandhs/banda).  Hope you enjoyed reading a little more about life so far in Kathmandu!

Hi Grandma & Grandpa! Just wanted to give a quick shout-out if you’re reading this to tell you we miss you and love you both so much!!! <3

By: Bri · In: Nepal · Tagged: kathmandu

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What a Week – Nepal Blog Post #2

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I’m Bri, an adventurous digital nomad living abroad full-time since 2015. It is my hope to inspire you to live a life of adventure, seek out meaningful experiences, and travel slowly and mindfully!

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Tips from a long-time nomad ⬇️✨ 💻 WORKIN Tips from a long-time nomad ⬇️✨

💻 WORKING ONLINE
While not all nomads/remote workers have online-specific jobs, it’s the easiest way to sustain an income for full-time or long-term travel. Here are some jobs you can do as a digital nomad!

• Blogging (This is what I do full-time!)
• Content Creation / Brand Sponsorship
• Virtual Assisting
• Social Media Management
• YouTube or Podcasting
• Graphic / Web Design
• Coding / Development
• Photography / Videography
• Freelance Writing (How I started)
• Marketing / Amazon FBA / Ecommerce

📍PICKING YOUR DIGITAL NOMAD DESTINATION
There are many countries out there offering digital nomad visas, but you don’t even need one to just travel as a tourist and stay in-country for 30, 60, 90, or 180 days. Nomads go everywhere as long as there’s a Wi-Fi connection, some countries you may consider are Portugal, Mexico, Costa Rica, Thailand, Vietnam, Croatia, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia, Brazil, and beyond! Even lesser-known places such as Namibia are starting to offer nomad visas to entice long-term travelers to visit.

🏡 FINDING HOUSING ABROAD
Read my blog post for the full guide on this, but basically, check local Facebook groups for renting local housing for extended stays and then use Airbnbs for shorter stays or to negotiate longer contracts with the owner. There are even more “nomad rental websites” these days to make finding accommodation even easier. Don’t overlook co-living/working spaces too like Selina where the digital nomad community tends to congregate.

💛 EXPLORING LOCALLY/RESPONSIBLY
As always, be mindful and respectful when you visit these communities. Many small towns are struggling with rapid growth and overdevelopment so be mindful of your choices of where you stay, how you spend your money, and who you support.

My best advice + detailed guides are all on the blog, free for you to use! Let me know if you have any questions about digital nomad life! 

Lastly, don’t overthink it. Moving countries isn’t as intimidating as you may think! It’s become second nature for us now after several years! 🐈‍⬛💃🌎✨
I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to discover t I’ve had the wonderful opportunity to discover this incredible country beyond the resorts and beaches, having lived temporarily in 5 out of the 32 Mexican states (Nayarit, Quintana Roo, Chiapas, Oaxaca, and now Baja California Sur) as a digital nomad who’s been slow traveling/living in and out of Mexico since 2018. 

There is so, so much cultural and natural beauty in Mexico — I wish more people could experience this country for themselves and not through the eyes of the media.

***Please visit Mexico as a digital nomad (or tourist in general) responsibly and mindfully. Stay local, eat local, drink local, shop local, support local. Leave No Trace and be conscious of your choices and impact!*** 

Here are the cities/towns we’ve slow traveled/lived in for extended stays.

• Oaxaca City — a colorful, historic open museum rich in indigenous culture and gastronomy 
• San Cristóbal de las Casas — an endearing pueblo mágico in the Chiapas Highlands
• La Paz — the capital city of BCS teeming with marine life, diving, fish tacos, and desert vibes
• San Pancho — an eco-conscious town in Nayarit famous for its sunsets and community
• Tulum — no introduction needed (and I wouldn’t go back here as a nomad due to overdevelopment)

Other great cities/towns/destinations for digital nomads are:

• Guadalajara (state of Jalisco)
• Santiago de Querétaro (state of Querétaro)
• San Miguel de Allende or Guanajuato City (state of Guanajuato)
• Playa del Carmen (state of Quintana Roo)
• Valladolid or Mérida (state of Yucatán)
• México City/CDMX (state of México)
• Sayulita (state of Nayarit)
• Puerto Vallarta (state of Jalisco)
• Puerto Escondido (state of Oaxaca)

I’d love to know what you think about Mexico and where you’ve been in the comments! 🇲🇽💛

And for the detailed guide of 13 places to live/visit, read my blog @bucketlistbri .com (just type in “places to live mexico” in the quick search bar if you can’t find the post under my “Mexico” category).

#mexicomagico #digitalnomad #visitmexico #livingabroad #fulltimetravel #mexicotravel #mexicodestinations #nomadadigital #nomada #mexicomaravilloso #slowtravelling #mindfultravel
PSA: Your anxiety, problems or (bad) habits will f PSA: Your anxiety, problems or (bad) habits will follow you around the world until you face them no matter how much you travel or move countries 🙃 

I know I’m not the only one that feels restless at times and idolizes moving to a new region/country/continent to shake my feelings of anxiety or self-doubt or fear! (Also, I tend to think about moving to another country even when I just moved to a new one 😅)

I know because I have lived abroad for 8+ years. I used to try to drown out my icky feelings and past traumas with lots of alcohol but now I carry them with me like I do my mismatched socks — they add to the quirkiness and remind me I don’t have to be, and am not, perfect. 

And that life is more interesting that way, anyway. 

Anddd that most importantly, whenever I get lost, I can and will be found again — I just may look and think differently after new adventures but I am still loved and never lost forever 🧦 ✨💛 

In sum, whether you travel full-time or not, take care of yourself ✨💛

#nomadness #nomadlife #lifeofadventure #livingabroad #fulltimetravel #offbeattravel #remoteworklife #homeawayfromhome #slowtravelstories #mentalhealthawarness
The 4 core ingredients to a recharged Bri: 💛 P The 4 core ingredients to a recharged Bri:

💛 Paul
😻 Yoda
🌍 Traveling & adventuring
👩🏼‍💻 Blogging & writing

Among other things like nature, photography, reading, animals, journaling, art, playing Zelda/games, dancing/music, culture/languages, enjoying rly good food and drinks! 😋 

What about you? What recharges you?? 

#rechargemysoul #blogging #adventures #writing #soulfulliving #mindfulliving #mindfultravel #nomadcouple #creativeliving
1 WEEK COSTA RICA ITINERARY👇🦋✨ 🌋 ARENA 1 WEEK COSTA RICA ITINERARY👇🦋✨

🌋 ARENAL // LA FORTUNA (2 days)
- Hike in the Arenal Volcano National Park
- Indulge in a local chocolate/coffee tour (s/o to @northfieldscafe)
- Go on a wildlife safari float (s/o to Raúl for pura vida vibes!)
- Lounge in natural hot springs (highly recommend the budget-friendly Relax Termalitas in Fortuna)
- Visit La Fortuna waterfall
- Check out the Butterfly Conservatory

🦥 QUEPOS // MANUEL ANTONIO (2-3 days)
- Take a guided or DIY tour of Manuel Antonio National Park
- Chill out on the Espadilla beach
- Explore the cute towns
- Watch for wildlife in the trees!

🌿 MONTEVERDE // SANTA ELENA (2 days)
- Visit/hike in the Monteverde Cloud Forest
- Go ziplining
- Birdwatching on a canopy tour
- Monteverde coffee tour
- Do a nature night walk

My sister and I surprised our mom with this bucket list trip on her birthday, and we had a blast! 🥹

Send this itinerary to someone you know who has always wanted to go to Costa Rica 🦋💛✨🌿🦜🐒

#costarica #bucketlisttrip #puravida #costaricaitinerary #lafortuna #manuelantonio #monteverde #ecotourism
Swimming with the biggest fish in the world is a q Swimming with the biggest fish in the world is a quite a humbling experience, and one that’s been at the top of my bucket list for ages! 🥺

Right now is prime whale shark season in La Paz in Baja California Sur, Mexico, so Paul and I made sure to go before we jetted off to see family for the holidays! I’m still in awe of these gentle giants and the fact that we got to swim alongside them!

Read all about the best whale shake tours in La Paz + ethical whale shark tourism in my latest blog post! Link in bio 💛

Send this to a friend who loves whale sharks! 🐳🦈

#whalesharks #lapaz #bajacaliforniasur #ethicaltravel #responsibletravel #ecotourism #golapaz #mexicotravel #bucketlist #seaofcortez
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