Nepal on Film // What is home?

[LONG- READ]

I went on a trip to Nepal during March as some sort of solace from the hectic city I call home.

Unlike my previous trips, which were with my parents. This time I ventured off to the country my family calls home; alone.

I think the concept of ‘home’ has always been confusing for me, I didn’t know whether home was my mother country; a place where my grandparents were born, the city I was born and raised in or the country in which I'm currently residing.

And with many 'third culture kids' like myself, it's hard to find a sense of belonging. I'm mentioning this because although, I've had zero-to little emotional connection with Nepal, divulging back into my roots was therapeutic for me. Amidst the culture shocks were tingles of recognition and innate understanding, I can't really put it into words but, I get it. I don't have to be the most culturally aware person to admit how beautiful my mother country is, and even if I don't regard the country as 'my home' , it will always be a sentiment I carry around in my heart.

My trip started out with a flight from Hong Kong to Kathmandu, leaving my ever-so worried parents behind with doubts of whether allowing me on this trip was a good idea.. oh well?

The first stop was Pokhara; where majority of my family were from. During the long, six hour bus ride from Kathmandu to Pokhara, I found myself constantly looking out the window; seeing glimpses of Nepal in which my parents had described some of their fondest memories of. One scene that struck out to me in particular was of the many young girls walking around in their blue uniforms and blue-ribboned pigtails, it reminded me of my mum; a picture of her and in a very similar uniform back when she was in her 10's. Pokhara My overall stay in Pokhara was short but sweet. My paternal grandparents were luckily visiting Nepal at that time, making them my tour guides.

Weirdly enough, I managed to visit both of my grandparents' villages on this trip. The visits were very brief but rather interesting. During a trip to my grandmothers village, my uncles (who had all decided to visit Nepal at that time as well) showed me around and even took me up a hiking trial they used to walk when they were kids. I remember seeing the excitement on my dad's face, when I FaceTimed that night telling him about the intense hike up the village, reminiscent of my dad and my uncles' childhoods.

Thanks for reading this awkwardly long post, I hope anyone who stumbles upon this, enjoys the images~

{I've also curated a youtube video on my trip - the link is somewhere on my blog}

two ladies doing their early washing

view of mt.anurpurna from the balcony

the flag, on our balcony

Kathmandhu

My time in the capital was mainly spent doing the utmost touristy activities. I spent whatever time I had visiting temples and shopping for little trinkets.

It was surreal seeing the remnants of the 2015 earthquake, historical monuments and road paths still in it's rubble state.

in the streets of patan