21st of April, 2023.
Hitchhiking in Nepal.
I came all the way to this place called Nagarkot, only for its views, and that’s all I didn’t get. Laugh. The weather was foggy and rainy. I encountered a lot of rain on my way here, and had to stop and wait for a while. Once I got to the top of a mountain… well, the result is what you can see in the photographs…
But first things first! When I left Batase yesterday morning, I got a lift with a teacher in his motorbike, all the way to the intersection which leads to Balefi. Then a car to Dolalghat Bridge. Another car to somewhere outside Dulikhel. And for last, the manager of a hotel in Nagarkot, and his friend, drove me all the way to the top of the mountain.
Once there, I meet a photographer, Logan, and we start chatting. He is with his motorcycle and gives me a lift all the way down, to Bhaktapur, a town famous for its temples. We have some coffee and some delicious brownies and donuts. Then Logan takes me a bit outside of town, where I can carry on hitchhiking to Pokhara. Or at least, it should be…
It is almost dark now, so it is really not much sense to start hitchhiking. I better just find a place to camp for the night. The problem is, I am in a neighbourhood, and there are houses everywhere. I decide to ask in one of the houses, if I can pinch my tent in their garden.
How life can be amusing, isn’t it? Of all the houses I could’ve asked; or out of all the moments I could’ve passed by Renimeni and Menu’s house, I had to pass it right while they were outside talking, so I could see them, daughter and mother, and decide to ask them. These two lovely souls would listen to me, and by speaking a great English, tell me that I should not camp, but stay with them in their home.
They are both full of a good and bright energy, and I am so happy and grateful to the universe for put them on my way! They live in a beautiful house, and have a super cute black dog called Blackie. Menu’s brother, Jeewan, also lives with them.
The three of us chat for a while and it is so nice to meet them and learn so much from them, and also tell them my stories. I stay in a lovely room upstairs, with a bathroom where I can finally get a shower.
Next morning I get to see even more of how the house is wonderful. Their garden is gorgeous, all much cared by the girls. And there is a wonderful space on the rooftop too, with more plants.
I get directions to where is the best place for me to hitchhike. I’ll have to walk for quite a while. After an amazing breakfast prepared by Renimeni, I must carry on, so I say goodbye to these incredible women, and resume my journey towards Pokhara.
I get a lift until an intersection which will increase my chances of getting someone going to Pokhara. But once I am walking outside there (there wasn’t really a place where the cars could park), Hari stops for me, and then everything changes.
Hari is going to Chitwan. Yeah, the same Chitwan where I was doing my volunteer work. He is an accountant but works now, and have worked, with many different things. But I think in sum, you can say that he is a counsellor, due to the fact that, in all these cases, he advises people in what is the best for them. He is also a vegetarian and that’s one of the reasons why he is so surprised that I came across his way. Apart of my travels, of course.
At first, Hari offers to drive me half way to Pokhara, to a place called Mugling, from where he can then carry on to Chitwan and I to my destination. But after some chatting, he invites me to come with him all the way to his farm in Chitwan, where I can see his land and have some rest; and tomorrow, when he is returning to Kathmandu, he can drop me off exactly at the same spot. I think with myself – why not? So, I decide to come along.
We stop to have some tea and one of my favourite snacks in Nepal: Sel Roti.
The farm is nice and big, with an old farm house which is quite charming. Hari is planning to grow many fruits and vegetables here, and he shows me around. I will be staying in a room upstairs and Hari will stay with some relatives in the village. There are some boys working here, helping Hari around.
I quickly wash myself and some of my clothes. By the time I’m done, dinner is ready. We have jackfruit curry, the first time I have it, even though I heard a lot about it in India. It is sensational! Really delicious! The texture of jackfruit cooked is impressive and I love it! I can’t stop eating it!
Next day, not so good news. Due to some elections going on in Chitwan, the roads are closed. Well, at least the ones which lead to Mugling, and consequently, Pokhara. But Hari can take a secondary road and go back to Kathmandu. How unfortunate for me!
So, here’s what we do: Hari brings me to his neighbour’s house, where I can stay today and spend the night, and tomorrow morning, they can drop me off out of town. It is really not as great as before, when I would be at least half way to Pokhara; while now, I will be basically leaving from Chitwan, but what to do?
The neighbours are nice people, and I have a chill afternoon with them. The father owns a school nearby, and he confess he would be happy to have me as a volunteer teacher there. I explain to him that, unfortunately, now I cannot help him, even though I would like to. What can I say, some things are just not supposed to happen, I guess…
I take their German Shepard, Tip, for a walk. He is lovely! I even watch a movie on their tv! In the evening, I meet the son of the owner, who was at work. He is the one who will take me to town tomorrow morning. I had only met his wife during the day. They make some arrangements so I can take one of the rooms, while I tell them I would be happy staying in the living room.
Next morning, we live in the motorcycle and soon enough I am hitchhiking again.
10 Years Around the World 