Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Opportunity for Tourists in Nepal Who Own a Mountain Bike

We are looking for tourists who purchased a good quality mountain bike in Nepal and are leaving Nepal. The question for many tourists is, ‘what to do with the mountain bike when I go back home?’ Our answer is to let it continue to work for Nepal while you are away. And let it help us rebuild our lovely village.
Kay Garnay for Nepal, a Nepal registered NGO, is setting up a bike rental concession here in the Changunarayan Village to help with our beautification efforts and encourage tourists to come back to Nepal.
Here's our offer:
Either donate your quality mt. bike to us partially or 100% and get the following:
1. Get a free stay at our lovely guesthouse, Star View. http://StarViewNepal.com 
Our spacious rooms capture views of village life, as well as glimpses of portions of  the Himalayas, such as Ganesh Himal and Lantang. 
2. Get either a Nepali Dal Bhat or a Western dish of your choice for dinner each night you are with us. If you've been missing a dish from home let us know so we can try to prepare it for you.
This is a favorite, Enchilada Casserole with homemade tortilla.
3. Get organic coffee/tea and homemade desert, available each mid-afternoon at no charge.
Our afternoon coffee and desert. This day it was banana nut bread with walnuts.
4. Get breakfast the next morning.
French Toast with veg/cheese omelet. Served with homemade peanut butter,
organic honey, jam and organic coffee or tea.
5. When you come back to Nepal we will have a Mt. Bike waiting for you, either your own, or a newer one of similar value. You'll be able to use it at no charge while you are here in Nepal. You'll even be able to choose the bike you want from among our selection.
6. We can pay you for the bike (up to $100).
Isn't this a lovely way to help create an even more beautiful, ancient village. We are planting flowering trees, placing trashcans around the village, stabilizing a hilltop and much more. You'll be happy to know your bicycle will be doing a lot of good work for the village, for Nepal and for the planet. 
We promise to keep the bike maintained for you or have one on hand for you to use if you prefer a newer one. If we end the project we'll let you know.
For more information please contact: FrugalTravelsNepal@gmail.com or visit our website at http://KayGarnay.org
Call us: +977 015141181

This metric thermometer was photographed around Nov. 1. Not bad for this time of year.

It's really about these little guys. We hope to bring more butterflies to our village.


Follow along with us:

Twitter:   @FrugalTravelsNe
               @KayGarnay4Nepal
               @StarViewChangu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frugal.travels
Like our pages:
https://www.facebook.com/starviewretreat/
https://www.facebook.com/KayGarnay4Nepal/
https://www.facebook.com/Changu.Bhaktapur/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaygarnay/
HelpX.Net: http://www.helpx.net/host.asp?hostid=17074
Websites:    http://KayGarnay.org
                   http://FrugalTravelsNepal.Blogspot.com
          http://StarViewNepal.com

Phone: +977 015141181  9849930812




Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Chocolate, Chocolate, Giving Kids Chocolate


Kids everywhere are so cute and they all love candy, so Nepali kids are no surprise. Many tourists enjoy bringing candy for the kids they meet along the way. Should we do it? Seldom, if ever, is this a good idea. Here's why:

1. Nepali, and children from other developing nations tend to only brush their teeth one time a day. Many families find themselves without money for such things as tooth brushes. Candy is acidic and will stay on their teeth a long time. They also seldom go to the dentist, so that chocolate/candy will eventually cause a lot of pain and the tooth will most likely be pulled, not repaired.

2. If you are a mother you will understand why you wouldn't want strangers feeding your children. You could ruin the mother's night with a child who wouldn't eat dinner but cries all night from hunger.

3. Teaching children that it's OK to take from anyone can cause a problem with boundaries. People in Nepal see tourists as superhuman, rich and so mysterious. It is best to help them understand we are just human. We are not gods seeking to dole out a random blessing.

4. Our children are so cute and it's nice to engage in conversation, but if you give money or candy you are encouraging them into a life of begging. 

5. Child Trafficking is a thing here in Nepal. I wonder how many children have been lured into the sex trade because they asked a stranger for chocolate. 

When you see places like this with children living there it's hard not to do something to help.

Hospitals are also good places to bring clothing for donating.

What to do instead?

What if you just talk with the child? Teach them a word or phrase. Ask them about their village, how to say a particular word in Nepali or even take them to lunch with you if they seriously look hungry. Although I haven't done it for a very long time, I love to share a meal with a street kid. They almost always want mo:mo, so you don't need to worry about a big cost.

What I'm trying to convey is if you must, if you really feel compelled to share your wealth with children please give something other than candy or money. Take a pen or pencil out of your bag and give it to the child. They will seldom refuse a pen. Pens and pencils can be found all over for about 10 rupees or less. Never take new pens or pencils still wrapped in packaging, to prevent returning it for a partial refund.

Often, especially if you give them a pen, the child may ask for a book. DO NOT fall for this. They will take you to the stationary store for you to buy a $12 dictionary. There are cheaper dictionaries, but they want the hardcover Webster's Dictionary and will only return it 10 minutes later for a partial refund. If you must buy them a book be sure to take it out of the wrap and write their name in it. Or, better yet, open it and act like you are going to write in it and look at their face as they think of a reason to get you to stop ruining it. Then walk away.

It's a great idea to bring some used books from home if you are from a country like the US. Used books can be found in some countries for cheap or even free. Just ask a library, school or friend for a donation. If you'd like a letter for extra luggage we are happy to write one for you under our registered agency (contact: FrugalTravelsNepal@gmail.com). You don't even need to give us the books or warm, used clothing. If you are going trekking you can just give to people along the way. We just love to be a small part of helping.

Follow along with us on our Youtube channel where you will find a lot of tips and tricks to help you on your next trip to Nepal. Here's one about finding a clean toilet in kathmandu. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pBo9zUlv5Y&t=190s 

 

Follow along with us:

Twitter:   @FrugalTravelsNe
               @KayGarnay4Nepal
               @StarViewChangu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frugal.travels
Like our pages:
https://www.facebook.com/starviewretreat/
https://www.facebook.com/KayGarnay4Nepal/
https://www.facebook.com/Changu.Bhaktapur/

Instagram: https://WhatAboutNepal.org 
                   https://www.instagram.com/kaygarnay/
Websites:    http://KayGarnay.org
                   http://FrugalTravelsNepal.Blogspot.com
          http://StarViewNepal.com

Phone: +977 015141181  9849930812





 

 

Monday, August 21, 2017

Even More People Suffering; How to Help?

Whether it's Lord Krishna's birthday or my own, just about any day-trip to Bhaktapur is met with a celebration of one kind or the other. This past Saturday found us for the second time within a week celebrating a festival in Bhaktapur. In fact, August has been quite an enjoyable month due to Gia Jatra, these two festivals and my own 64th birthday.


 It's monsoon and there is terrible flooding along our Indian border and into India. Here in the Kathmandu Valley the weather in August is really nice compared to much of the rest of the world. Most of India and the Middle East are extremely hot and Malasia and Eastern Asia are hot and sticky with monsoon. Here in the Kathmandu Valley it hasn't broke 30 degrees (or more than 85 degrees F.) yet this year. Here at the Star View Guest House the rooftop terrace is getting a lot of use with its gentle breezes and village scenes. Even still, we haven't used the room fans much this year.

August sunset over Kathmandu from Star View Guest House, Changunarayan

 This last trip to Bhaktapur, as well as my recent trip to Kathmandu, was met with many young people collecting funds for the people in the flood region. Although I am a bit cynical of social workers, I believe these young people in these clubs can be trusted to be in their integrity. 

 

 
"No one can help everyone, but everyone can help someone'

Our agency, Kay Garnay for Nepal, is also shifting its focus to help the recent flood victims. I know first hand how quickly the world moves on to the next disaster, such as the recent earthquake in South America where 25,000 people died. Now it  seems these Nepali and Indian flood victims, the refugees from Syria, African refugees and starving people and the earthquake victims from S. America all have to compete for the same funding dollars-that is until tomorrow when another group is added to these innocent people. How can I ask for funding for an organic farming project or a women's work initiative when there are so many who are so much worse off? The plight of each of these groups is beyond imagination. 

So, here are my thoughts on our need to be funded verses taking care of those in severe need elsewhere. The most important thing for these people, whatever group they find themselves, is that they participate in their own care and subsistence. It reminds me of the Vietnamese 'Boat People' of the 1970's-80's. They went from being castaways on a boat to serving as emergency room doctors and in other professional fields faster than I ever thought possible. 

 
Our handmade, covered woolen blanket-only $200 inc. shipping and 3 more pillow covers.

As we make progress on our online ventures via NepalWebMall.com or the projects at KayGarnay.org we will be funding exclusively for the flood victims in Nepal. Additionally, we have this consumer-friendly shopping site and use our profit for the flood victims through the end of the year: Nepali Thangka Paintings and Wooden Masks

 

However, we are not asking for money. Although we have a few projects you can make a donation to, we ask only that you support us by shopping for art and handicrafts that support the local people of Nepal. Our profits are only going toward food and supplies for the flood victims until the end of 2017.  This will allow our generous sponsors to use our websites to support us with their shopping dollar.  We have only high quality, handcrafted items made in Nepal.

Follow along with us:

Twitter:   @FrugalTravelsNe
               @KayGarnay4Nepal
               @StarViewChangu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frugal.travels
Like our pages:
https://www.facebook.com/starviewretreat/
https://www.facebook.com/KayGarnay4Nepal/
https://www.facebook.com/Changu.Bhaktapur/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaygarnay/
HelpX.Net: http://www.helpx.net/host.asp?hostid=17074
Websites:    http://KayGarnay.org
                   http://FrugalTravelsNepal.Blogspot.com
          http://StarViewNepal.com

Phone: +977 015141181  9849930812




 

Saturday, August 5, 2017

Making Dinner in Nepal





People wonder about food in Nepal. If you have a sensitive digestion the last thing you’ll want to do is go where you cannot eat the food. Nepal can be such a place, and is such a place for me. Nepali eat just about the same food every night, curry, lentil soup and white rice. I am just unable to deal with such foods, which is fine because I have my own cook. Bimala is my Nepali granddaughter and is in college. She has been living in Changunarayan for several years with her mother in the remote village with her grandmother, so she’s been a bit more than a big sister for quite some time. 


Typically, we sit together watching youtube videos and talking about how we can manage it with ingredients available here in Nepal. We recently came up with another winner for Star View Guest House’s menu for our volunteers and guests. We just have a six guest room guest house, so there is no reason to keep a full menu ready for people to walk past. Star View Guest House is literally at the end of the road. A great place to be-after you get here.

We recently came across this amazing looking recipe that we had just about all the ingredients for. Being in Nepal, we find a need to substitute quite a few things for Western recipes. 


This one from Shetty's Kitchen looked good so Bimala made it for our guest, Bre and me. It's called Cabbage Manchurian  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_Z90vQfgqw
This is actually an Indian recipe because no matter how I try to search on youtube for American food it always takes me to Asia.



Served on a bed of white rice, it was the best cabbage dish I’ve ever had. I’m not big on cabbage, but I could have had it for leftover lunch if we hadn’t eaten it all. This is a vegetarian recipe and probably vegan. I'm not a big fan of vegan because if it weren't for milk and cheese people wouldn't raise cows in Nepal.

If you come to Star View Guest House and feel like you’d like to have something from back home just let us know. If you’d like to help Bimala to make it for everyone you can eat free.

I hope this recipe will  be one you ask for when you come to Nepal. Changunarayan is really starting to look lovely as the homes get rebuilt after the earthquakes. 
This is the recently rebuilt Changu Guest House and Restaurant. It's at the front steps of the temple. It's just lovely!
As you can see by this picture, the homes are being built to be safe for earthquakes

Chimichungaon rice up on the rooftop terrace.

Enchalada cassarole with homemade tortillas!

Follow along with us:

Twitter:   @FrugalTravelsNe
               @KayGarnay4Nepal
               @StarViewChangu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frugal.travels
Like our pages:
https://www.facebook.com/starviewretreat/
https://www.facebook.com/KayGarnay4Nepal/
https://www.facebook.com/Changu.Bhaktapur/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaygarnay/
HelpX.Net: http://www.helpx.net/host.asp?hostid=17074
Websites:    http://KayGarnay.org
                   http://FrugalTravelsNepal.Blogspot.com
          http://StarViewNepal.com

Phone: +977 015141181  9849930812




Monday, June 19, 2017

Coming to Nepal? How 'bout a Free Stay in Changunarayan?

Our agency is in need of a few things that we cannot get from here, either due to our finances or because we just cannot find it. We don't have much money, but we do have a lovely guest house in an amazing village. We went to Kathmandu yesterday and it was so sticky-hot we felt like we were melting. Then we got half way up the mountain after Bhaktapur and it started to rain and cooled us off. It was so good to feel the cool water coming in the window. We have only 4-40 air conditioning-open 4 windows and go 40 MPH. 



Star View Guest House was fortunate to have a guest come to stay a month who is a creative crafter. She* is helping us put the joint project with Siddhi Memorial Health Centre (hospital). We walked all over Kathmandu asking for such a simple thing, straight pins for our new sewing project. We couldn't believe they just do not seem to exist in Nepal.

*Not all volunteers are commendable. This volunteer acted like she was doing such a great thing and got a lot of consessions, free room, transportation, etc. Then after 'bye-bye hugs' and well wishes she left a review that said we had rats in the kitchen and use child labor. Then, in the end the blanket looked horrible and we couldn't salvage the project. There is a higher than expected percentage of tourists who travel with their egos instead of their hearts. This one cost quite a bit of money, not to mention the embarrassment of a 'rats in the kitchen' review. I was blind-sided by this one.

We use the guest house to help the agency and sometimes the agency even helps us fill the guest house. So, if you would like to put a package of straight pins (cost is only about a dollar) into your luggage for us we would be happy to give you a night's stay in our guest house. We'll give you a nice room with an attached bath if one is available and even breakfast. 

We have so many birds here it would be wonderful if we had a pair of good binoculars to share with our guests. If you could go to a second hand store and pick up a good, used pair we could give you 3 nights stay with breakfast.



If you have a used laptop we can give you 5 or more nights with breakfast, depending on the age/value. We are teaching the villagers who are unable to go to college how to make websites with affiliate marketing links. The class is coming along rather well, but we need more computers in order to expand the class and provide computers for more of the students. Many of them have to share.


Our dictionary distribution at our local government school for 100 students.

If you have a broken camera or SIM card compatible mobile phone, or laptop computer, good quality and less  than 5 years old we can give you a free stay as we agree upon. We really appreciate help with these things.  We are looking for something we can make videos with and take great close-up, nature shots, computers we can  use to expand our computer classes and getting by is difficult without a mobile phone and many poor women need one. Many electronics  can be repaired for a small amount when the corporation repair center doesn't want to look at it. This is definitely something to consider bringing, whether you want to come to our guest house or get a great deal on a repair.

If you can bring gently used, warm clothing we can give you a room for 1 night for each 10 KG. that you bring. You can distribute the clothing yourself, either with us or when you go trekking. The people in trekking country suffer horribly from the cold. So far, Kay Garnay for  Nepal, in conunction with our volunteers and guests, has collected and distributed over 200 KG of warm clothing. 

One last thing I'd like to mention; Nepal is a nation in need of books and learning materials. We do not need new school supplies, as they can usually be purchased here for less. We need used children's books and simple to understand books about solar projects, organic farming and first aid books. We can give you $1 off your room charge for each 3 books you bring.



We can write a letter from  our registered nonprofit agency so you can get some free baggage on the airlines. We are always happy to provide you with whatever you need, but please keep in mind that we will have to pay a tariff on the items and pick them up in Kathmandu. Computers and electronics are too expensive to ship by parcel. We suggest putting an extra 1-2 in your luggage.

If you would like to bring any of these things to us please email us at FrugalTravelsNepal@gmail.com

Follow along with us:

Twitter:   @FrugalTravelsNe
               @KayGarnay4Nepal
               @StarViewChangu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/frugal.travels
Like our pages:
https://www.facebook.com/starviewretreat/
https://www.facebook.com/KayGarnay4Nepal/
https://www.facebook.com/Changu.Bhaktapur/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaygarnay/
HelpX.Net: http://www.helpx.net/host.asp?hostid=17074
Websites:    http://KayGarnay.org
                   http://FrugalTravelsNepal.Blogspot.com
          http://StarViewNepal.com

Phone: +977 015141181  9849930812