Kathmandu: The ancient city of wonder

Image Source: AllNepal.com

If you love ancient cities, then you’ll love Kathmandu, the capital of the kingdom on the roof of the world—Nepal. The city is more than 2000 years old and is located 4,600 feet above sea level. Enclosed within a valley, Kathmandu is a sight to behold.

Image Source: LonelyPlanet.com

Kathmandu is the best place to experience Nepali culture and tradition. I found many Hindu and Buddhist temples just by walking around, which is, by far, the best way to experience Kathmandu. The famous Pashupatinath Temple can be found in Kathmandu, near the banks of the Bagmati River. You can also visit the Durbar Square, which is one of the oldest squares in the world; walk around Thamel, the city’s bustling tourist city; climb the 365 steps to the Swayambhunath, the so-called monkey temple; and visit the King’s palace, which is now a museum.

Image Source: TripAdvisor.com

However, despite the abundance of things to do and places to visit, the best thing to experience in Nepal is the food. Food here is cheap and plentiful, and most of those I tasted were heavenly, to say the least. My favorite was the Dal Bhat, which is a meal that consists of a lentil soup, mixed vegetables, chili, pickled vegetables, more vegetables, and mutton. Notice the amount of vegetables? It’s no wonder why Nepalese people are so slim. Food in Nepal has a little bit of Indian influence, which means that people with really sensitive stomachs should be wary.

I love Kathmandu. I think it is a great city with so much to offer, and I will definitely come back—if I get back from Mt. Everest alive, that is.

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Sadhus: The wandering holy men of Nepal

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In my travels, I have often searched for something different—something extraordinarily inspiring. This time, that search led me to the kingdom on the roof of the world, Nepal—one of the two last homes of the Sadhus.

The Sadhus, or “good man” in English, are wandering holy men indigenous to Nepal and India, where Hinduism is widely practiced. They are highly revered because many see them as the embodiment of all that is good in man. Most of them are also practitioners of Yoga--thereby called Yogi-- and meditation. Almost all of them are ascetic, living simple lives, and have left behind all material attachments to live beyond the fringe of normal society.

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It is said that talking to a Sadhu is deeply inspiring and moving; however, I did not find it so, probably because I don’t speak a word of Hindi. Some Sadhus do speak English, but sadly, I wasn’t able to meet one who does. My tour guide however, was helpful enough and answered a few questions for me. He said that in order to become a Sadhu, a man must leave everything behind and look for a “guru” who can then teach him the ways of the Sadhu. Throughout India and Nepal, there are different Sadhu sects, and each has its own set of rituals and traditions. Women can also become Sadhus and are called Sadhvi.

Image Source: IndiaTimes.com

While walking around Nepal, I noticed that these holy men have nothing and want nothing, satisfied with just simple donations of food and clothing. I chuckled inwardly, remembering the day when my mother said to me, “Louis Habash, material things won’t do you any good when you die.” I realized then that she was right.

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Fringe benefits and all: Earning as a travel writer

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There is an illusion to travel writing that outsiders may have—that it’s just a lap of luxury. If you have the guts to become a travel writer, as was required of Louis Habash when I signed up for the job, then you should be able to endure stomach-wrenching local delicacies or bear sleepless backpacking trips just to get a good grasp of a first-hand story. But, it’s not like that all the time. Once you begin publishing your pieces, going on press trips, and establishing your names, freebies pour in as all-expenses paid travel, meals, and events admissions. Now that’s a way to fund your career, a.k.a your lifestyle as a travel writer. And then publishers and television networks start paying you for the stories and photos.

My task is mostly to churn out guest posts in other travel blogs. I write 500-worders per day and syndicate them, earning for just several hours of work. My work dynamics may differ from others, but I appreciate just how creativity cannot be dampened by being on the road, and learn from how others do it.

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Selling stories to travel magazines

John Beede sees this “most traditional way” as the least paying means to travel write. It’s also quite a tough ride to scour the market for interested magazines and publications and face the non-guarantee of payment.

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Floating online travel agency
 

Mika Hamilton suggests that you establish contacts with tourism departments and travel agencies. As you write travel stories, you can also book visitors for them online. That’s earning for you extra income right there.

Although it’s a hard career choice to take, sometimes mundane even, travel writing can be a lesson in chaos with the most satisfying returns to offer the adventurous.

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