My e-Visas have been accepted everywhere. Sometimes I was not sure whether they were fake websites when I applied. My friend Anu and her husband picked me up at the airport, and it was wonderful to meet them again. Last time I visited Sri Lanka, I made the tourist tour. This time is more chill. We’re going to the theater today.
I have so many impressions, so I have a lot of writing to do. The world is developing rapidly, driven by IT. Electric cars are getting more common. People are aware of recycling, global warming, and water – in the middle of this, we have to focus on life itself. To emphasize happiness in everyday life. Similar to this Indian newspaper below.
Nepal’s new government is led by Prime Minister Balendra Shah, who took office in spring 2026. People seem to be very happy with him. Two days ago, I travelled from Pokhara to Chitwan, and we had a stop at a café. They started to talk about the new Prime Minister, and they had his photo on the wall, as you can see below.
Nepal prime minister
He seems very popular, and they told me he used to be a rapper. Young people lead the government, and they have reduced the number of working days. Not only are Sundays days off, but now Saturdays are too. He will have about five years, I think, to make changes. A lot of corruption is being stopped.
We passed by a bus, and the new Prime Minister was on the back of one of the local buses.
Prime Minister Balendra Shah on a bus poster
Yesterday evening, after the safari, we had a little get-together. The local people, the generations surviving malaria and Dengue fever, performed dances. We all had to join at the end, and we danced in a circle just like we do in Sweden during midsummer.
After the traditional dance
I guess this must be this trip’s music. Always some music when travelling. Professor Thapa sent me to the Electric Pagoda in Kathmandu, but that evening there was no music. I had a nice chat with the owner, and he showed me how the rhinos walk in the streets in Chitwan. That made me even more curious about the rhinos.
As always, I like to be on time before travelling. Nice to relax a little and to enjoy the moment right now. Leaving Chitwan for Kathmandu. Ending by showing the new Prime Ministers rapping.
Last evening, professor Thapa called me and told me that the road to Pokhara from Kathmandu has cracked. I had planned to go by bus. But now I had to quickly change and book a flight instead.
I was lucky since there were flights left. Right now I am waiting at Kathmandu domestic airport. This flight will only take 25 minutes. The atmosphere is buzzing. Everybody is so friendly.
Last night there was a huge thunderstorm. I feel safe, and I am not afraid. I have been very well taken care of. It is also a different, vibrant mode compared to Sweden. You have to rapidly adapt to a new situation.
I found some news about the flood. A lot of people have lost their lives. I am happy to read that help from abroad is present. Nepal is recovering.
Today has also been overwhelming with new, great impressions. I had a fun day with professor Thapa’s niece. Kathmandu is mainly divided into three main areas, and Patan is one of them. She showed me houses from 1700th century. Beautiful buildings that are preserved.
Patan
These pictures are seize-the-day moments. These girls started to wave at us, and we joined them for a little while. Aparna is taking the photo.
A very fun and lovely moment
Aparna showed me the museum in Patan. She liked having photos and she told me that when people wanted to hide they closed the window from the courtyard. You can watch the street from the house, but people on the street cannot see you.
Non transparent windowsHide and seek
We went for a long walk and had lunch on a restaurant rooftop. It was lovely to sit for a while and enjoy the atmosphere. I told Aparna that I find this all very exotic—the old buildings, the bustling traffic with all the scooters, the beautiful colors and plants, and so on.
The days leading up to my trip are getting closer and closer. I will bring along the books about the Himalayas that I haven’t yet had time to read. I look forward to immersing myself in literature for a while—at least in the evenings.
Today I spoke with Professor Thapa and his lovely wife, whom I have not met before. He is still working at the university. We were able to wave to each other, and it felt just as if they were right there in my living room! I wanted to hug them. Professor Thapa says it is warm in Kathmandu. He also said, “Finally, Anna, you are coming to Nepal!” I am going to start packing my bag this weekend. I do not want to bring too much with me; I’m hoping to buy some clothes there instead. When in Rome, so to speak—trying to blend in.
To my surprise, Nepal has rhinoceroses. How exciting. I suppose it is a bit like having moose in Sweden. I hope I get to see them—the rhinos I mean.
Professor Thapa speaks excellent English. Being a bit of a language nerd, I wonder if I will understand anything of what is said in Nepal. Languages are so fascinating. I wonder what the cadence of the speech is like. Will I be able to make out the words?
I am starting to feel a touch of pre-travelling excitement.
Even though I live alone, my days are intense and eventful. A friend remarked with surprise, after spending a couple of weeks at home without her husband and children: “Anna, you must have so much to do. I have never had such hectic days as I have now while being on my own.” I laughed, of course, but on reflection, it felt like she was right.
Domestic flights
I have had a couple of days off and traveled to northern Sweden with a friend within the family. I asked if she wanted to come along, and she did! The propeller plane felt unfamiliar—a small yet substantial aircraft. A Fokker 50—very important, according to the pilot.
Fokker 50
It was perfect to have company. It also felt like a little taste of Nepal, I thought. From Hemavan, the Norwegian mountains were visible in the distance, with a dusting of snow on the peaks. Hemavan had plenty of both Norwegian and Swedish cars. It actually felt a bit like Glommen Brygge in Fredrikstad, Norway—especially when I woke up this morning to see thick fog over the lake, just like in Fredrikstad. Ryfjället wasn’t visible at first, but then the sun slowly warmed the morning, and the mountain shone once more in all its glory. It was also the first morning with a light frost, I was told.
Ryfjället
It has been about ten years since I was last in Tärnaby. Even longer since I went downhill skiing. I suddenly found myself longing to ski when I saw some ski gear in the hotel lobby. It might turn out to be a good winter, as there are plenty of rowan berries this year.
I felt I wanted to write down my impressions while they are still fresh. I am happy to have this diary. I sent the photo of Ryfjället above to Professor Thapa, and, of course, these must be small hills to him by comparison.
Autumn.
The photo above is from earlier today. This evening Stockholm. Looking forward so much to discovering beautiful Nepal.
I am now starting to be able to visualize my trip. It will be an adventure, and I must be prepared. There is a certain freedom in traveling alone even though I will now be visiting friends. People tend to be curious and want to speak with me. And I with them! If you travel in pairs or in a group, you mostly end up talking to each other.
Sometimes unexpected events appear on my computer. Like today, when some kind of algorithm found music for me that I really loved right away. The small symphony orchestra, and especially the piano, reminded me of a concert I went to in Malaysia under the Petronas Towers. Yes, exactly, under the two towers on a Sunday morning. There were many of us waiting in line for the performance, and a couple from the Philippines started talking with me while we were waiting. They studied architecture. We became friends on Facebook, but after my ID was hijacked, we lost touch.
Today, I am curious about what kind of music and theater I will experience during my trip. This song is in French. It will also be exciting to see if there are French influences in Nepal and India. In Vietnam, France has left their mark.
A perfect song for the people in Nepal. When you do not have a house anymore 🙏🏼
