Healthy Living

Kathmandu isn't a city for everyone, but it seems to fit me really well. Seeing the extent of the pollution here, the first thing that pops into your head isn't a healthy lifestyle, but that is what it has provided for me. Since moving here I have gotten into the best shape I have been in for at least ten years, I have a lot more energy, and I am getting so much more done. The downside is that all my pants need to have a couple inches taken out of the waste.

There are two large factors contributing to this, the first being a large shift in diet. I don't think I had an unhealthy diet in the States, I've always tried to consume lots of fruits and veggies, and tried to stick more to grilled and lean meats. Back home though I ate out a lot more, and I ate tons more bread, cheeses and although i have never been a heavy drinker, I consume even less alcohol here. I prepare more meals for Kim and myself together here, and since she is vegetarian I mostly only eat meat when we go out to restaurants. Cheese is either expensive or impossible to get and so its consumption is way down. We occasionally get French style goat cheese, and use that imitation grated parmigiana  stuff that comes in a shaker, but that is about it. 

Rafting the Trishuli River

So yesterday we went rafting for the first time in Nepal, along with seven other friends on the Trishuli river. In the past I had been a little hesitant to go rafting here, but Kim had wanted to go ever since we first came here, and the Trishuli is only a class three river so it looked like a good opportunity. Also it would only be a one day event, not an overnight, as the starting point on the river is just off the highway to Pokhara about two and a half hours to the west of Kathmandu.

The above picture shows most of our intrepid crew prior to departure, minus myself Sami and Alex. Hillary, who planned the trip (Thanks Hillary!) is obscured in the back with the red shirt. By going as a group we were able to get transportation, lunch and the rafting trip (was about 5 hours on the water) for only $30 each, which seemed like a great deal to me. I know back in the states for something similar we would have shelled out over $100 a piece.