Like many other people, I was very saddened to hear about the earthquake that recently hit Nepal. With thousands of people dead and extensive damage to homes and other buildings, this event has had a major impact on tons of lives.
Nepal is a beautiful country that had something special about it which I could not quite put my finger on after my visit in October 2013. Despite the heavy downpour that plagued most of our trekking journey in the mountains, we had a good time and I still think about the time that the clouds finally cleared and we saw the amazing mountains while sitting on a hill in the countryside. Or when we went to a rooftop restaurant overlooking the Boudhanath Stupa, watching hundreds of people make their way around it, turning the prayer wheels as they passed by. Maybe the most memorable experience of all was going to Pashupatinath, the temple by the river in Kathmandu, where we witnessed bodies being cremated one evening. I can only imagine the scene there now as many people set their loved ones to rest.
I couldn't believe my eyes when I read this newspaper article showing the extensive damage to places around Nepal. The before and after photos were devastating. I can't believe that places I visited less than two years ago are now gone due to the earthquake, namely Kathmandu's Durbar Square. The building behind me in the photo below is now crumbled to the ground. I have been thinking about the people who guided us and hosted us in their homes on our trek. Did they earthquake hit their area? Are their homes still standing? Are they still alive?
The Canadian Red Cross is accepting donations for the Nepal Region Earthquake Fund. It is easy to donate online and the Canadian government will match donations as well. I hope that this beautiful country can recover from this and that many more people will be able to visit in the future and realize how special it is.
Nepal is a beautiful country that had something special about it which I could not quite put my finger on after my visit in October 2013. Despite the heavy downpour that plagued most of our trekking journey in the mountains, we had a good time and I still think about the time that the clouds finally cleared and we saw the amazing mountains while sitting on a hill in the countryside. Or when we went to a rooftop restaurant overlooking the Boudhanath Stupa, watching hundreds of people make their way around it, turning the prayer wheels as they passed by. Maybe the most memorable experience of all was going to Pashupatinath, the temple by the river in Kathmandu, where we witnessed bodies being cremated one evening. I can only imagine the scene there now as many people set their loved ones to rest.
I couldn't believe my eyes when I read this newspaper article showing the extensive damage to places around Nepal. The before and after photos were devastating. I can't believe that places I visited less than two years ago are now gone due to the earthquake, namely Kathmandu's Durbar Square. The building behind me in the photo below is now crumbled to the ground. I have been thinking about the people who guided us and hosted us in their homes on our trek. Did they earthquake hit their area? Are their homes still standing? Are they still alive?
The Canadian Red Cross is accepting donations for the Nepal Region Earthquake Fund. It is easy to donate online and the Canadian government will match donations as well. I hope that this beautiful country can recover from this and that many more people will be able to visit in the future and realize how special it is.
