Tourists don't want to be treated as tourists

KATHMANDU, April 27: If there is one thing tourists hate, it´s being treated as tourists. But when you see people from all over the world carrying plastic bags filled with souvenirs in the commercial area, Thamel, or in an expensive restaurant with a big fat hamburger in front of their nose, it´s difficult not to see them as typical picture-taking visitors.[break]

In the sixties, people came to visit Nepal for one clear goal: To find themselves in this spiritual destination. Following strict yoga retreats, taking Buddhist classes in a monastery, meditating with the help of a spiritual guide, Nepal offered everything to make the search for your inner self easier. Although you can still see old hippies wandering around the streets of Kathmandu, times have changed and most tourists come here with a different objective. People come from far to experience some adventure in the middle of the amazing Nepali nature. Besides bungee jumping and rafting, tourists can get their kicks out of the popular treks.

Dor Maoz, 22, and her friend Tal Nagar, 22, from Israel decided to come to Nepal for a month-long trekking. Having the romantic idea of walking through the mountains, they didn´t really prepare for the trek, which they admit.

"During the first day of trekking we found out we didn´t like it at all. And when you don´t like trekking, Nepal isn´t that interesting," says disappointed Dor. For the rest of their stay in Nepal, they plan to spend it in Thamel.

"It´s quite an expensive place, but we love the pubs here. Our best experience in Nepal so far was the food in the restaurants in Pokhara. They serve the best meals in the world!" the two friends say enthusiastically.

If you want to get more out of your stay rather than just doing the typical activities tourists come to Nepal for, there are a lot of possibilities. Nepal is a beautiful country with an interesting culture. So why would you spend your time in guesthouses and hotels when you can live with a Nepali host family? Living with a traditional family and being a part of their day-to-day lives is an excellent way to learn about their culture and lifestyle. You can combine your stay at a host family with taking Nepali classes, doing an internship or search for work. But when it´s all about the experience, money doesn´t really matter. Whether you want to teach English in an orphanage, help women making their hard work on the fields easier or do something about the climate change, a lot of organisations can use your help.

Anna Robertshaw, 28, from Manchester came to Nepal to work as a volunteer and make life for the people in the villages easier.

"I´m volunteering with Volunteering Initiative Nepal (VIN) for six weeks on a women´s empowerment program. I spend a lot of time with women from three different communities in a place called Jitpur, 11 km outside of Kathmandu," says Anna. She has to interview them, find out about the resources available in the communities, see what things they want to do and what skills they have.

"My goal is to find a way to make a sustainable income," she says.

It´s Anna´s second time in Nepal. She was here last year to teach English in a school.

"I feel like I just scratched the surface last time and that I´ve got a lot more to see in Nepal," she confesses. From one part of the country to the other, there is just so much to see and do, she adds. The diversity, the mountains, the colourful city, and the friendliness are the things Anna adores.

When she talks about her host family, her eyes light up. When she came to Nepal, she didn´t realize that she would be staying in a house far away from the city but as she spent more time with the family, the more she enjoyed it and the happier she was.

"It is very different from last time, when I stayed in a quite western family home. Now I live in a typical Nepali family and we have to do without luxuries but it has been awesome," says Anna.

Definitely, working in Nepal would be a great way to know the culture, the people and Nepal as a whole. But for budget travelers and short travel planners, Nepal can be equally exciting. However, the feeling of serenity might not be something you will be looking for in the city area, unless you go to the Himalayas. Nonetheless, it´s an exciting place!