What's in a taste?

Sitting on my couch, enjoying a cup of tea. Most of the time tea takes the backseat and my beverage of choice is coffee - black. However today I had an urge to go for tea, specifically an herbal tea from Nepal.

The tea is peppery, and floral. I for the longest time had not a clue what herb this was, and when I would drink it - it reminded me of oregano. Come to find out this is a tulsi tea, holy basil. The warmth takes me back.

In January of last year I hopped on a plane over to Nepal. I would have never imagined that I would be mesmerized by this country in the short time I spent there.

It was shortly after the new year, I remember I found out about a month ahead of time. I was eager and full of excitement. I missed the pace of traveling. I missed Asia. I missed the beauty in the chaos. Everyone moving quickly, and slow at the same time. People helping people. Street markets. I longed for this at that time, now I came to realize a lot of me had longed for this upon our return back to the states. Our lives quickly flipped from traveling and living out a backpack. I was questioning self and slightly resenting the present moment. Moving back into our old house, in the city I once lived, working in the salon previously - parts of me were afraid I was going to lose the sense of wonder and all the memories in-between when I had left on our journey and returned. Although this was not the true essence of what that time was presenting, I was not grounded in my life and the idea of a 3 week trip to Nepal and India - I could chase the travel high and I was thrilled.

A long 24 hours of travel and I land in Kathmandu. As I step off the plane, the smell of incense and the smell of smoke. You are greeted with a sign that reads N E P A L as you enter the airport. I have to fill out my visa upon arrival, which was a first as I usually would preplan my visa. It was simple and just like that i’m walking though the airport to gather my suitcase. There are many people in the line and they all seem to be returning home or visiting family. Hence I am the only white blonde haired woman. How does this feel? I think I was asked this many times before I left and after I returned. “did you feel safe” was mostly the question. I think its important to note - when traveling solo to new countries where you are a foreigner you must be smart. You must be alert and you must act as if you know where you are heading ( i.e HAVE A PLAN) In my scenario I did have a plan, I was being picked up by someone from the partnership of our company. Yet, upon collecting bags and leaving yes, It is overwhelming especially after a 24 hr flight and being completely jet-legged. I was met by Romi, a partner of GKHair in Nepal. Also would be whom I spent a lot of my time visiting salons with, and seeing parts of the country. I couldn’t have asked for a better guide!

Driving through the streets towards my hotel, traffic was dense and people were everywhere. One would interpret this as chaos, I felt a sense of peace. I missed this. I MISSED ASIA. During this time, this what my truth. I was longing for this since I had arrived back to the states, so I grabbed onto the moment - and jumped fully into the present. After some small talk I learned that consuming meat and alcohol was a common theme for the locals. Two things I did not partake in back home. I was surprised to learn this as well, as I think commonly westerners believe these cultures to all be vegetarians. This is not true, and they find it surprising to meet an American who is vegetarian.

Arriving to my hotel, I try to rest. I am not tired, I am jet legged. Which means i’m past tired, I am depleted and in this dreamlike state of wanting to sleep and wanting to absorb everything in the environment around me. I decide after many hours that I will go seek a SIM card for my phone. I learned from previous travels that getting a SIM card in the country is essential. Turns out in Nepal you need to provide a headshot - so the local seller points me in the direction of a photo studio. I decide to go seek it out. Strolling down the busy streets, looking and asking as I pass for where this photo studio may be. I find it - get my photo, it cost $3 USD to get a print of 4 head shots and a photo taken. What a deal. I receive my SIM and next thing I know it is time for dinner.

Dinner was great, I was brought to a local spot with Tushar, Gkhair partner - where I was able to enjoy my very first Nepalese Thali. Thali translates to “plate”. It is a round platter that has various local servings on it. It was delicious. The flavor was so fresh and so different in ways than what I had imagined. I envisioned the flavors of India, however the Nepal flavor was unique. I still til this day long for the taste, and look forward to it again some day.

The following days were filled with work, smoothing treatments and educating salons around Kathmandu. Educating in other countries is quite different than in the USA or English speaking countries. In America we are trained and have to be licensed to perform hair services. In Asia most of the time you are trained as you go, you could decided one day you wanted to cut hair - and just do it. So education required a lot more depth and explaining the law of color or ideas that a colorist or stylist in the states would be equip with. For me, this was rewarding. I felt I was educating on a deeper level, sharing information that would be with these stylist longer than just your average class. Everyone I had the opportunity to meet was kind, helpful and genuinely had a passion to learn. I would absolutely share education on a wider scale in Nepal if possible.

I had the opportunity to see local religious sights and temples and specifically Swayambhunath. This consisted of stupas and temples as well as other areas of interest. Located atop a hill, it was an amazing experience. Which I hope to share in the future.

My week there was coming to an end - I was off to India next. However, I felt my time in Nepal was unfinished. I planned for a quick 3 day return after India. I would then travel with friends onto Pokhara. The time I spent in Nepal with my guide Romi, and fellow stylist Sameer - I was excited to take the bus with them on to Pokhara. Stopping for local food the way - seeing the country by bus. Pokhara is a now one of Nepals largest areas for tourism, being a base for trekkers undertaking the Annapurna Circuit through the Annapurna Conservation Area region of the Annapurna ranges in the Himalayas. It is a gorgeous area with mountain ranges and Lakeview.

During my time in Pokhara I was able to enjoy the stay with Lasata, Romi, Sameer and Ahmed. We enjoyed local cuisine, entertainment even had a chance to hike up to the World Peace Pagoda. This involved taking a boat across the lake, and a nice hike up the hillside to the pagoda. The view was panoramic over the town and it was breathtaking. As well as being able to do a paragliding experience with Lasata on my last day there - holy cow! Almost immediately afterwards was caught out plane back to Kathmandu and I was on my flight back to the states. It was like being thrown onto a rollercoaster and back to reality. Considering I was not truly grounded before I went on this trip, you can imagine the transformative experience it left me with and following.

Year 26 and 27 of my life have been wildly transformative. I have learned so much about myself. I have made choices and learned from those. I can truly say I have lived through these years - feeling everything - bliss, pain, joy, laughter, confidence, defeat. There is so much depth to these couple of years I may never ever forget. In regards to how this relates to Nepal, I would say - this is where it truly all began. The reawakening of where I want to go, who I want to be. The reawakening of truly living in the present. When I retuned home, I would drink this tea often. I would hang onto the essence of how I felt in Nepal. Which was alive. I remember a night I was laying in my hotel room bed, and I closed my eyes. For the first time I witnessed my chakras before me. From my crown to my root. Aligned. I knew something was changing for me. I may have not known why, or what or what to do next. But in that moment I felt a presence wash over me. It helped ground me, when I had felt like life was moving so quickly from when Michael and I had returned to the states until then. I felt like finally I was there, back in my own body. It healed my thinking, I no longer felt resentment or fear for being where home was. Even though I still desired travel (and still do, I think it is woven into my DNA) I felt secure with all roads that lead me where I was. Until this day I carry it with me. I forever am grateful for this experience, and on special occasions I will make this tea. It takes me back to these memories that are forever mine. I was able to share with amazing, kind humans. I may only wish to share these moments again, in their own new ways.

Cheers

xoxo