ETHNIC JOURNEY

Somewhere Over the USA

Newark Airport, NJ 

February 8

It's been 49 days since I've last inhaled the sweet pollutants of Kathmandu air, since I last wandered the bare white halls of the Tibetan Buddhist monastery, and ate my last plate of dhaal baat. The air was cold, dry, and thick with dust in Boudha when I left, making it quite difficult to breathe outside without a mask, and the bitter nights of winter were falling upon the valley.

Tea With The Tulku

Boudha Stupa, Boudha

October 16

Where to even begin the story of these last few weeks in this incredible valley in the heart of Nepal??? This city is shrouded in thousand-year old legends and mystical traditions, all still very much alive in the present day. After a sleepless night fending off a big old roach in my room, the first to be seen, I woke up this morning tired but itching for our field trip to the ancient city of Patan. 

Om Sweet Om

Rangjung Yeshe, Boudha

September 3

My breath shallowed as Ramprasad and I unloaded the taxi and lugged my truckload of bags past three iron metal gates with enormous silver padlocks. I followed Ramprasad up three flights of stairs, huffing and puffing, beads of sweat rolling down my face as each stair seemed like a mountainous victory. 

Just Keep Calm and Curry On

Boudhanath, Nepal

August 24

At breakfast Tuesday morning, Patty, Dylan, Andrew, Ben and I mull over our first night in Kathmandu. Our Nepali crew was picked up in a small white pickup truck carrying our luggage (mine bombarding most of the trunk space.. thought I packed light… OY!!). Our driver, Raju, a sweet young Nepali man bursting in smiles, would soon become one of our close friends. 

Beautiful Boudha

Boudhanath, Nepal

August 19 

My jetlagged eyes burst open at 6:36am. I wake up this morning to the bright rays of a Himalayan sun beaming through translucent gold window curtains. The warmth of the new day and noisy ruckus of chirping birds and local Nepalis, barking stray dogs, honking buses and motorcycles fills me with radiant joy. 

Bittersweet Kisses

August 17 

As I take one last glance at my bedroom, newly decorated with buddha and zen paraphanalia,  I mentally try to prepare myself for the months ahead. I blink a couple times in utter shock, trying to grasp the reality that I will be spending the next four months of my life with a Nepali family in the heart of Buddhism itself. . . Nepal.