When people talk about their vacations, they usually mean relaxing. When I talk about my trip to Nepal I took two weeks ago, I mention curses and the possibility that I almost did not make it back to school.
Let’s start with the Himalayas. Two years ago, my parents had trekked to Everest Base Camp and decided they wanted me to experience something similar when we go to Nepal as an entire family. So there we were, hiking with our driver/guide through the forests, which I quickly learned had absolutely no trails. None. Just pure nature.
We were so high up that the nearest village I saw in the distance looked smaller than the width of my finger. At one steep part of the hike, I stepped on a rock that seemed solid but turned out to be not. My foot slid forward and I fell downhill. Right next to me was a steep drop, like the kind of steep where you fall off the cliff and topple to your death.
Somehow, I stopped just in time. As my mom screamed in the background, I just stood there and immediately took out my phone to take a picture of the drop.
Senior Yeslyn Ortez said, “I thought it was so cool of you to do that.”
A few days later, we were near Patan Durbar Square, which is a popular tourist destination with beautiful Hindu palaces. Our guide pointed at a woman and told us to avoid her, explaining that she was a hijra. Essentially, he told us she was someone who had the power to give blessings if you offer money and curse you if you don’t. At first, I laughed it off because I don’t really believe in those things.
Not even thirty minutes later, I was walking behind everyone when the hijra suddenly came up to me asking for money. Not realizing it was her, I walked right past. Then I froze and quickly turned around and she was staring directly into my soul. I started apologizing and ran back to her like I had just offended a witch (according to the guide, I kind of had). I pulled out rupees worth thousands which is only worth a few dollars in USD, but apparently a lot at that moment. Suddenly a bunch of kids started surrounding me asking for money.
Thankfully, my mom saw what was going on and started yelling at me while running over. She gave the hijra 100 rupees instead, and the hijra smiled, giving me a blessing in return. I’d never been so relieved in my life.
Senior Tasnim Adhree said, “Wow. That must have been a horrible experience. I’m so glad you’re okay though!”
So while most people come back from vacations with tan lines, I came back with two near-death experiences, a fear of hiking, and a strong belief in always carrying my wallet around.
Nepal was beautiful. I definitely plan on going back there again. But for my next vacation, I’d prefer one where I don’t almost die and no one threatens me with a curse.
