13 shocking facts about Nepal

Hello everybody! I just came back from my 2 weeks trip in Nepal and I’d like to share with you some facts I found shocking.

LET’S START!

1.Different year:

Nepalese follow a different calendar compared to our and it has “some” years ahead; in fact, the Nepali year is currently the 2074. The new one will start on the 14th of April.

2.Use of cow excrement:

As the majority of the population in Nepal is Hindu and Buddhist, cows are holy animals.

Nothing shocking so far, if not for the fact that this animal is considered so holy that some people (especially in villages) drink their piss cause apparently it brings them good things in life.

Cows’ poop is also used to build houses instead of cement, and you can find these pretty animals basically all over Kathmandu walking and hanging out in the streets just like dogs!

3.Better for women to stay single:

This practice is not in use anymore but many years ago, if in a married couple the husband would die, the woman was going to be burned alive together with her beloved one (she wouldn’t be allowed to find a new man).

Still nowadays when people die, corpses aren’t buried but burned with a special ceremony.

4.If you have a daughter you go to Hell:

Staying in the death topic,I found out about another shocking story. If in a family, one or both parents die, their bodies must be burned exclusively by their son. If they did not conceive any male child, their bodies can be burned by their daughter but their souls will go to Hell.

5.Buses:

Public buses in Kathmandu are pretty shocking. They are very small and with just few seats, therefore most of the people stand squeezed with each other. I tried it and it was pretty hard to breath but it was very funny. When the bus is extremely full, people hang on the open doors of the bus (while driving) or seat on top of the roof.

And you pay for the ride (15 cent) at the and of it not at the beginning!

6.Rubbish issues:

In two weeks I think I saw not more then 2 rubbish bins around the city. In Fact people throw the rubbish in rivers or in the street (where a special van collects it) or burn it in their garden.

7.Dust:

I have been warned about the dust in Kathmandu before departing, but I thought it wasn’t a big deal after living with the bad air in Krakow. MISTAKE!

Being in Kathmandu is something that you must do with a mask to cover your mouth and nose; the dust is so much that it is very hard to breath. I found myself with ground and sand inside my mouth and eyes and got also a bad cough. After the earthquake many buildings got destroyed and for this reason they are trying to rebuild the city, plus most of the roads are not covered with asphalt!

8.Almost impossible to find supermarkets:

It is very hard to find supermarkets even in Kathmandu city centre. People buy what they need from small stands with many different things in the street which you can find every couple of metres.

9.If you bleed you stay with the animals:

This practice has been banned by the government but unfortunately it is still happening in some villages. If a woman gets her period, she must stay outside with the animals day and night until her bleeding stops cause the period is seen as something evil. The woman can’t cook or do any housework as everything will be ruined by her touch.

10.No McDonalds:

Going back to the holy cow, you can’t find MCDonald anywhere in Nepal as they use cow meat in their food. I did not see any big chain in the city anyway (I heard there is KFC) but you can find many small stands and shops with local fast food and dishes.

11.Lifts from strangers:

When buses are too full or you don’t feel like waiting for the next one, you can just stop a scooter, car or van and ask them for a lift. It is totally normal there.

We also tried stopping a big truck and we managed to be in 5 in the front seats with the driver.

EPIC.

12.Burping is like sneezing:

People burp in your face with nonchalance and nobody but me seemed shocked.

13.Brushing teeth on the street:

Nepal is a poor country and houses have usually the “bathroom” outside in the garden. But those who can’t afford one, brushes their teeth out in the street in some public fountain. I have seen quite a lot.

So these are the things that surprised me the most in this dusty and kind country. I recommend to visit Nepal to those who are passionate about nature and traditions.

Nepalese welcoming and polite smiles will warm your heart up!