I have met Rakesh Shahi, of Mystik Mountains Adventures & Holidays, in the wake of my #CreativElenaRTW research trip in Nepal, fascinated by this country’s tremendous sense of hospitality & human kindness. This time, I pass the word on to him, asking how he became involved in post-quake Nepal relief efforts & sharing his most inspirational story for the benefit of all of us to learn and take inspiration from.

Upon arriving in the city at the end of January I found myself with almost no money when my Chinese bank card failed me and pre altitude ‘Alzheimer’s’ had me forgetting my pin number to my Irish debit card. Now cursing the amount of times I procrastinated on going to my local bank to organise some Nepalese Rupees to the point where I just never actually went, I looked into my wallet to see what I could piece together. With a ten euro note, fifty Australian dollars and some almost worthless Chinese Yuan, I’m not quite sure where the hell I thought I was going. Clearly ill prepared, I spent much of the first afternoon zipping around on the back of an almost strangers motorbike trying ATM after ATM in search of funds. After a failed mission and a co-ordinated dance (thanks to my driver) through Kathmandu’s fume filled traffic, I had to bring it back old school real quick and arrange some Western Union cash infusions and the crisis was averted.

“Sampling Samay baji, “Nepali pizza” and other specialties from the Newari kitchen”

Kathmandu may be most visitors’ entry point to the wonders of Nepal, but it is cussedly difficult to love. Many of its ancient structures were lost to the 2015 earthquake and reconstruction and rebuilding continues everywhere. Efforts to make badly needed, welcomed improvements to the city’s crumbling infrastructure have further ratcheted up the chaos quotient of the city. When Tom and I had an opportunity for a glimpse of the indigenous Newari culture in the outlying towns of Kirtipur and Patan, we were happy to take a day—and our face masks—off, for a “Newari break” from Kathmandu’s craziness.

Rakesh Shahi, founder of Mystik Mountains Adventure & Holidays, was our guide, introducing us to Newari foods over the course of our day together. We had lunch at a traditional restaurant in Kirtipur, a center of Newari culture and architecture in centuries past. We visited at a mainstream Newari restaurant in Patan, where we enjoyed a break for lassi under an ancient, low-slung roof and at a table with a view of Patan’s Durbar Square. Finally, we stopped for sweets at a tiny Newari restaurant just a few blocks behind Durbar Square.

We had a great time, and learned quite a bit of history too! We traveled to different locations and tried Samaya Baji.