| There are many reasons to visit this small and | | | | (over 600 species) migrating from as far away as |
| secluded Himalayan country right now, but here are | | | | Russia and the jungles of the Terai are home to |
| the top 5 reasons to visit Nepal in 2009/2010: | | | | 1-horned Rhino, Crocodiles, Elephant, and big cat. |
| Reason # 5 | | | | The remaining portion of Nepal is nicknamed the |
| For the budget minded traveller, Nepal offers a | | | | "foot of the Himals" as this portion of the country |
| cultural or nature-inspired experience of all budgets, | | | | (over 1/3 of the land) is the basis for the great |
| but especially so for the college back-packer or | | | | Tibetan Plateau, home to peaks such as Mt. Everest |
| anyone else hit by the global economic downturn that | | | | of Sir Edmund Hillary fame, and is the highest |
| seems to have affected everyone on the planet, | | | | mountain on earth. |
| except the Nepalese. | | | | Reason # 2 |
| Nepal is not a place where world trends really matter. | | | | For those that love to eat, as all Nepalis do, then |
| The country seems to be stuck in a time where | | | | Nepal is a place to come to taste a blending of South |
| village life rules the land and outside distractions do | | | | Asian dishes with the freshest ingredients possible. A |
| not seem to matter. Life plays out in the terraced | | | | well-kept secret is the mixing of Japanese grains long |
| countryside, steep glacial trails, and flat | | | | ago - blended into rich tropical soils along the |
| food-producing plains just as it has done for centuries. | | | | Himalayan foothills that now produce some of the |
| Reason # 4 | | | | most succulent rice grains imaginable. |
| The people of Nepal are a pleasure to meet, and | | | | Combining that with fresh organic and farm-raised |
| they take great pleasure in meeting you. Nepalis are | | | | meat, lentils, vegetables, and special spicy pickles with |
| known around the world for hospitality and manners. | | | | tomato sauces, you then have the staple of the |
| Many 5-star resorts in other parts of the world hire | | | | Nepali diet: Dhal Bhat, which is not only good for you |
| Nepalese staff, as they take the art of hospitality | | | | health wise, it won't cost you more then a few |
| seriously, and it seems to run in their genes, along | | | | dollars a meal. |
| with their culinary skills with spicy foods. | | | | Reason # 1 |
| But with hundreds or cultures and all world religions | | | | No surprise here, as Nepal has always been the |
| represented, Nepal appears to be a melting pot of | | | | world's #1 Trekking destination, and still is. Nowhere |
| traditions, ideas, and ways of life - making Nepal both | | | | else in the world can you have all that was listed so |
| a great tourist spot, as well as a place where | | | | far (reasons 5 through 2) and combine that with a |
| scholars flock to study Hinduism & Buddhism | | | | 3-to-30 day trek in the Himalayan mountains. |
| which have existed side by side for centuries, ever | | | | Trekking will not only build up your stamina and make |
| since the Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal. | | | | you desire 2 doses of Dhal Bhat a day, it will also |
| Reason # 3 | | | | allow you to adventure into some of the world's |
| The natural beauty of Nepal cannot possibly be | | | | most pristine forest and glacial areas left on the |
| described in words. It must be seen for yourself: flat | | | | planet, all the while only carrying a water bottle for |
| plains (known as the Terai) are filled with wild birds | | | | as far as you can walk. |
