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Bucketlist Bri

Bucketlist Bri

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Welcome to Kathmandu, Nepal – Nepal Blog Post #1

Last Updated: October 20, 2021 · Nepal, Travel Blog

July 26, 2015

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step” – Lao Tzu

I took that “one step” on July 21st as I bitter-sweetly stepped away from my family’s embrace. I have now experienced this moment several times and each has its own unique sentiment. It’s that single instant where you let go of what you have to leave behind and look ahead to what you have to do. It’s like looking over a cliff deciding whether or not to jump into the vast blue below; you hesitate, you anticipate it, and then it happens – all of a sudden there is “no going back.”

I have found it to be the same with traveling.  After losing sight of my family at the airport, waving goodbye several times over, I was focused on getting to where I needed to be so the emotions didn’t come to me immediately.  It wasn’t until a few hours after in the plane surrounded by sleep and lit-up mini-screens that I found myself in a, particularly quiet and reflective moment.  Two years is a long time, I thought. What in the world am I doing, came the next thought. But then I remembered my family’s loving and encouraging words and thought about my passion for a life of travel and adventure.  No, it’s not easy but the rich experiences one discovers while traveling makes it all worthwhile.

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” – Andre Gide   

After several exhausting flights, the pilot announced our arrival in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Time: 15:25 with a temperature of 27 degrees Celsius. I peered out the small oval windows as best as I could bring in an aisle seat.  I saw lush green rollings hills and tucked away in the valley was Kathmandu.  Thousands of colorful, strange buildings piled on top of one another, spreading farther than my eye could see.  The airport itself was like that of my high school; brick building, one long hallway with windows.  A “Welcome to Nepal” greeted me in multi-languages. I knew life was going to be very different for me the instant I saw construction workers carrying baskets on their backs to deliver dirt to the worksite.  “Wow”, I thought.

Following the crowd, I entered the airport, obtained a temporary tourist visa, and rushed to collect my bags and Yoda, who had been in cargo for the past 15-20 hours.  A Nepalese man who I thought worked for the airport took care of my cart, leading me past the crowds to outside where there seemed to be hundreds of people, taxis, noise.  Thankfully, in little time I was spotted by the people who came to pick me up, fellow students and future colleagues from the Institute of Crisis Management.

The Nepali men harassed me for tips because they helped me get outside.  I have no Nepali rupees they told them, what’s a girl supposed to do? I hopped into the truck in the front passenger seat which is our driver’s seat.  What? I had no idea they drove on the left.  Learning things already.  Out we go of the parking lot.  One word – hectic.  Cars were nearly running into each other, people seemed to not care for their lives as they cross the streets freely, hundreds of motorbikes zooming in and out of traffic.

The drive to the institute overwhelmed me – I was in culture shock.  Within 15 minutes I saw a level of poverty I’ve never seen before, live animals freely roaming about everywhere; cows, goats, chickens, dogs, even monkeys were running across the road, climbing on the sidewalk walls, just inches from me.  Dirt, destruction, street markets, trash, people everywhere, temples, there was even a bridge with smoke coming from it.  They told me it’s a tradition that on this bridge over the water they cremate people in public.  Public cremations? What?  I kept saying “oh my gosh”, “whoa”, “wow”, “this is crazy”.  The two who came to pick me up giggled at my “first impression” remarks.

In the days since my arrival, I’ve come to realize even more how my Western lifestyle has conditioned me to expect everything (basic human needs speaking) to be easily accessible.  Now I’ve learned I have to be careful and think twice or maybe even three times about what I’m about to do.  Here are some examples of what I’m talking about.

Want to enjoy a bowl of cereal? Only after you boil the milk first, just to be safe.  “Don’t drink the tap water!” There are big blue jugs of drinking water for 100 rupees, the equivalent of $1.  Ahh, ready for a relaxing hot shower? Sorry, expect mild to cold instead.

Let me guess, you would like to dry your hair after right? Well, I tried that with a (tiny) hairdryer and blew out the electricity in the whole house (because of load shedding, we are given certain hours during which we can use higher-voltage products i.e. hair driers, printers, etc.) Ready to return home to your cool, air-conditioned house (or heated)?? Nope, just forget about that.  You bet I’m excited about winter…right next to the Himalayas.. woohoo.  But on the bright side, learning is the outcome of all of these experiences.  After all, I am pursuing a Master’s degree in Crisis Management, so I should be able to handle this lifestyle eventually.  I’ll go ahead and give it a few months. 🙂

Thank you so much for reading !!!! Here is an amazing quote I stumbled upon.

“I beg young people to travel. If you don’t have a passport, get one. Take a summer, get a backpack and go to Delhi, go to Saigon, go to Bangkok, go to Kenya. Have your mind blown, eat interesting food, dig some interesting people, have an adventure, be careful. Come back and you’re going to see your country differently, you’re going to see your president differently, no matter who it is. Music, culture, food, water. Your showers will become shorter. You’re going to get a sense of what globalization looks like. It’s not what Tom Friedman writes about, I’m sorry. You’re going to see that global climate change is very real. And that for some people, their day consists of walking twelve miles for four buckets of water. And so there are lessons that you can’t get out of a book that are waiting for you at the other end of that flight. A lot of people — Americans and Europeans — come back and go, “Ohhhh.” And the lightbulb goes on.” – Henry Rollins

By: Bri · In: Nepal, Travel Blog

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Comments

  1. Afsha khan says

    July 4, 2021 at 11:57 am

    Your information and photos are amazing I love to read about places in Nepal defiantly try to visit these amazing places, and there is anything else that you want to share with me about these lakes.

    Reply
  2. Amit Bhagat says

    February 4, 2021 at 10:23 pm

    Nice to read the post..
    Remembering the times in 2015..
    Umm..u should visit here once again…and you will find some quite interesting changes!!!☺️☺️

    Reply
    • Bri says

      February 5, 2021 at 7:54 am

      Hahah right! I really wish to visit Nepal again. My year there went by so quickly but I would be so thrilled to revisit again soon and see everything that’s changed! Like I heard honking your car wasn’t allowed anymore lol! I’d like to possibly go trekking again! The last time we went did the ABC trek and it was amazing!

      Reply
  3. Arun says

    February 4, 2021 at 8:45 pm

    Great blog, Bri! Having lived in the US for nearly 14 years, I returned to Nepal about 2 weeks ago. All the shocks you’ve listed resonate with me. (Heat and hot water, oh, how I miss them. And the second thoughts: am I making a mistake?). I visited home every now and then, and things here didn’t seem too different. Now that I have returned for good, things seem very different, probably because I cant escape them this time. I am still adapting- I joke around saying “ I am unamericanizing.” But, despite the discomforts and the feeling of being lost, it feels great to be at home.

    Wishing you many insightful adventures. Please keep up the good work!

    Reply
    • Bri says

      February 5, 2021 at 7:52 am

      Hi Arun, thanks so much for your comment and welcome home! I hope you enjoy it to the fullest. I dearly miss it there but am enjoying life elsewhere now. I have yet to see the Buddha Stupa all finished (it was under construction the year I was there due to the earthquake). Take care and eat some momos for me!

      Reply

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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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