Nepal
Saving Girls From Slavery in Nepal
Olga Murray spends half her time in Sausalito and the other half in Kathmandu, where she works to buy girls out of bondage in a rural farming district in southern Nepal. Poverty forces families to sell their daughters, as young as 7 years old, as domestic slaves or worse. She learned about the practice of (….Read more)
Women Travel Statistics – 80% of all travel decisions made by women
Women—young, old, single, married, and widowed—are fueling an explosive growth in the travel industry. More women are traveling, for business and for pleasure, and they’re calling the shots. Just look around in a restaurant, how many tables are occupied by groups of women? Of those who currently take nature, adventure or cultural trips, 75% are (….Read more)
Remembering Valentines & Romance in Kathmandu
“Do what you love and love will follow,” my mother told me. So I took off alone around the world to walk, hike, climb, cycle and kayak my way through six continents and more than 70 countries around the world. Along the way I never celebrated Valentine’s Day. I was sitting on a low sofa (….Read more)
Giving Back
A rewarding aspect of travel is learning about organizations around the world that help the people and places we visit, and giving back to them to support their causes. Nepalese Youth Opportunity Foundation (NYOF) The Nepalese Youth Opportunity Foundation, founded by Olga Murray, is a nonprofit organization based in Sausalito, California that provides education, health (….Read more)
Himalayas? Been or Want to Go?
If you can’t travel to the Himalayas, the next best thing is to eat Himalayan cuisine. The Taste of the Himalayas Restaurant in Sausalito, California is the closest I’ve been to Nepal since I returned two years ago. Serving Nepali, Tibetan and Indian dishes, the restaurant is one of three in the Bay Area.The other (….Read more)
Making a Difference for Nepalese Children
In January my daughter and I visited Olga Murray in Kathmandu. H er story helps us all see that “ONE WOMAN CAN MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE.” We met her kids and saw first-hand the work she’s done at the homes for children. It all started in 1984 when, on her first trip to Asia, Olga (….Read more)
Temples of Kathmandu
Even if you only have one day in Kathmandu you should visit the “Monkey Temple” (Swyambunath, populated with new-born to mean-looking grandpa monkeys). My favorite Buddhist temple is Bodanath, famous for the huge eyes painted on the white round stupa. Bodanath is the largest Tibetan Temple in Kathmandu and there’s always some sort of festival (….Read more)
Touchdown in Chaotic, Exotic Nepal
No one taking a daytime flight into Nepal should miss the jaw-dropping sight of the Himalayas along the northern horizon. In the Bangkok Airport my daughter and I requested window seats on the right side of the plane in hopes of seeing the massive peaks. TIP: Arrive at the airport early to snag a window (….Read more)
Nepal or Bust in 2008
The Christmas gifts are opened and everyone’s happy, so it’s time to pack for the next trip. As you — my traveling friends know — my favorite gift is a boarding pass! On January 1st, my 19-year-old daughter (JC) and I leave via Thai Airways for Bangkok, where we’ll spend 2 days then fly to (….Read more)
