left our jobs, went to Asia

View at the Himalaya from above

Noses into the glass.

Our last glimpse at Nepal's most famous - Himalaya - through the window of Thai airways aircraft.  READ MORE »

Hindu lady in waiting, Kathmandu, Nepal

We are leaving a place were people are fused by scores of beliefs and traditions from the past, yet confused by the unclear future.  READ MORE »

Evening in Durbar square, Kathmandu, Nepal

Durbar square, the heart of Kathmandu city, is colorful, vibrant and full of energy. If cars and motorcycles were forbidden, it'd be pleasant too.  READ MORE »

Bus station in Sauraha, Nepal

Bus stations in Nepal (also Laos, Myanmar and some other Asian countries) are mostly outside of the town center.  READ MORE »

Complete encyclopedia of wildlife and animals in Chitwan National Park, Nepal
Based on personal accounts and research by M and J during 2007 July 29th.

Coming to Chitwan area to study the mighty Rhinoceros, we were not able to find any during the never stopping rain showers. After the initial disappointment and even despair, were realized that there are still many exotic and exciting animal species roaming freely in the jungle of Chitwan and its surroundings. We present them here, classified retrospectively by order of discovery.

At first we met the Tout beast. They are aggressive creatures, mostly attacking on sight, their usual prey are unsuspecting tourist animals with belongings. Tout beasts have a well developed sense of vision. They hunt in a radius of 5-10 km from their hideouts. Touts are community-based and strongly dependable on it.

Tout beasts attacking the tourist animals' bus

Later followed our inevitable meeting with a Tourist animal.  READ MORE »

Bar by relaxing riverside of Rapti river, Sauraha, Nepal

Arriving to Chitwan National Park in the south of Nepal during monsoon, consequently - low season, we expected few tourists and throngs of mosquitoes.

Bearing in mind that some of the biting beasts carry a lifetime present of malaria, we at last managed to wake up out of half year's lazy "no anti mosquito prophylaxis" slumber and properly protect ourselves with a repellent. Either it was effective, or there were not much mosquitoes around, in any case we stayed there practically unbothered by the itchy bites.  READ MORE »

Small bird sitting on wires in Pokhara, Nepal

Like this small bird, we are sitting in dull and rainy Pokhara for a week already, during the monsoon. It's good to take a rest after the intensive period for "digesting" the impressions, but it feels even better to venture off to a new adventure.  READ MORE »

Gate with a pseudo swastika on it, Pokhara, Nepal

We were drivig with a bicycle towards a hotel after a long day of sightseeing, and spotted a gate, decorated with, well, quite infamous symbols.

We naturally went in to look what's happening. I'll tell you later, but but guess first.
Choose one of the options below and write it in the comments.  READ MORE »

Portret of Nepali waiter, Pokhara, Nepal

Mr. Ripa Rai works as a waiter in Pokhara steak house.

Apart from having a priviledge of being serviced by him on a highest level, I also owe him a huge gratitude for returning my passport, credit cards, ID card, driver's licence etc., which I forgot in a restaurant after the dinner.  READ MORE »

Lone flower living in a field of crops, Nepal

Departing to Nepal, I imagined to see grey rocks and more rocks and then some.

Arriving here I see a diversity of plants, birds, and even wild monkeys for the first time in Asia.
The land, even though not so colorful at heights more than 3000 meters in the northern part, is very green and thriving otherwise. And we still haven't been to the tropical Terai part.  READ MORE »

Juicy pepper beef steak waiting on the table of Pokhara steak house, Nepal

Some are driven forward by a desire to conquer a mountain, prove the capacity to someone or himself.
Yesterday we have finished a three day trek through tracks and paths of lower Mustang region, on the base of Himalayas.  READ MORE »

Nepali porter carrying a huge cistern up the hill, near Tiplyang, Nepal

I have said it before, I will say it again.

Next time I'll think my job is difficult and tiring, I'll force myself to reconsider.  READ MORE »

Landslide closing the road near Tatopani, Nepal

Seeing the road closed off by a landslide, I started looking at things differently. One thing is to watch a program on a Discovery channel, another - trying to cross the pile of rocks obstructing the way as quickly as possible, in order to not get hit by one more of them falling down on the head from above.  READ MORE »

Lonely tree overwhelmed by a Himalayan mountain near Kobang, Nepal

Himalayas do not need, nor can they be described by words.  READ MORE »

Cozy courtyard of a lodge in Tukuche, Nepal

Continuing the Annapurna circuit trek, I had time to think about supply and demand.

Not being an economist, I saw a few simple conditions of my questions.

There are three towns:  READ MORE »