Jul 12, 2015

#TRAVELGOALS : Himalayan Views, Sunrise and Masala Tea

At Nagarkot, Nepal, I had one of the best mornings of my life: Waking up to a great view while sipping a fresh brew. That's the kind of experience I always look forward to each time I have the chance to travel to unique destinations. Hence, 7 months had passed, my recollections are still vivid; Freezing mornings made warm by the generous servings of freshly brewed masala tea while the sun is rising and feeling exultant whenever some Himalayan peaks came to view.
Nagarkot, Nepal
Sun is up, but still in my jammies at the hotel's terrace savoring my masala tea while enjoying the view of the Himalayas
One of my happiest feelings in the world is waking up to a great view while sipping a fresh brew.
Nagarkot, Nepal
the moon is still visible while the sun's slowly rising

Here's what my gopro caught; a short timelapse of the majestic sunrise.

 
We stayed at Peaceful Cottage Resort, standing at about 7200 feet above sea level, it has a beautiful terrace that boasts awesome views of the Himalayas on a clear day or a sea of clouds if not. In either way the scenery is stunning.
Nagarkot, Nepal
Sea of Clouds

For 3 days, we spent time lounging at the terrace, catching the sunrise and the sunset, eating and chatting, and just basking in the glorious afterglow of the sunlight. 
Nagarkot, Nepal
Some Himalayan peaks appearing over cloudy skies.

Peaceful Cottage Resort, Nagarkot, Nepal
hearty breakfast that comes with the hotel stay

Nagarkot, Nepal
Peaceful Cottage Resort

Nagarkot, Nepal
beautiful sunset


We enjoyed breakfast the most and the generous servings of chai masala tea or cappuccino every morning. An afternoon stroll around the farming village gave us a short glimpse of the simple lives of most village folks. During cold, foggy nights, we would crawl up inside the restaurant, order the most appetizing but cheapest meal on the menu and just hang out with some of the hotel guests, warming up to the glow of candle lights, while busy tinkering our smartphones to update our Instagrams and Facebooks. One hour electric power cuts are normal scenarios in Nepal, and most hotels and some households shift to solar power during brownouts. Sleeping time was challenging; apart from the thick blanket provided, I still put on several layers of clothing to insulate me from the cold. The stone wall interior of our room contributed to our shivers. Under any circumstances, the thought of waking up to stunning vistas of the Himalayas, that glorious sunrise and some hearty breakfast are more than enough reasons to visit Nagarkot, Nepal. From Kathmandu, a taxi ride would take around 45 minutes to reach Nagarkot.


A video posted by Shie (@shykulasa) on


Nagarkot, Nepal
Pic1 - a little cutie manning their souvenir shop, Pic2 - trying spicy Nepal snacks at this market store, Pic 3 - pine trees and cool weather stroll


But so much had happened since I visited Nepal; lives were lost, some villages were flattened, many people became homeless and some UNESCO heritage sites vanished as a result of the devastating earthquake that struck Nepal on the 25th of April this year. The first thought that crossed my mind is the nice people I met during my visit and hoping that they're all safe.

Thank God, the ones I have a way of contacting are fine! The people from Peaceful Cottage Resort are all safe. From what I've learned the hotel was also spared from some major damage. 

If you want to help Nepal, you can do so by visiting Nepal. Their tourism industry is down because of the misconception that Nepal isn't travel-worthy for now. Here are some important facts after the earthquake that people should know about Nepal.
Help Nepal by visiting Nepal
photo source: Derek Freal (from Global Bloggers Network Group)
 

 

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