Why Nepal?

As I speak to people across our nation about this small country nestled in the high Himalayas and my love for it, that is the question I am asked, “Why Nepal?”  Why, indeed?

The lack of knowledge and understanding about Nepal is striking but, if you come to know Nepal, the answer to the question becomes rapidly apparent because    Nepal touches you in ways that you don’t expect -- and it will never let go. 

Nepal does that to you. It draws you in. It touches your heart.  It transforms you.

I sometimes ask my non-Nepali audiences to tell me what they think about when I say the word Nepal? 
Some folks think of pasta and Mediterranean sunshine and I have to tell them, “No, no, that ’s Naples.“ They say, “oh.”

I explain that Nepal is a tiny nation, no bigger than the state of Tennessee.   It sits at the top of the world and, until a few years ago, was the only Hindu Kingdom on the planet. 

And, although it is no longer a kingdom and is struggling to define its new political order it remains a remarkable place…an almost mystical place.  It is the Shangrila of legend, the country of the Yeti and the Yak. It is the country of towering peaks, of revered lamas, of Hindu gods and goddesses, and of some of the most resilient, compassionate and tolerant people on this planet. 

Imagine this tiny country sitting in the shadow of the Himalayas.  A country that sixty years ago was still largely closed to the world.  A country in which even today there are people who know little of cars and airplane. 

And it is a country that, since opening itself to the world beyond its borders, has become a fascinating and at times bewildering mix of the ancient and the modern.  It is a country where you can tweet from top of Everest one day, track tigers in the

jungle a few days later,  and then find yourself mesmerized by cultures and traditions dating back centuries.

It’s a nation whose incredible landscapes are a feast for our senses.  Beautiful fields of blooming mustard stand against an incredible blue sky in the south with snowcapped peaks rising, almost mirage-like, in the distance.  The river valleys and rhododendron forests embody tranquility and peace. The high mountain peaks and valleys, in all their rugged grandeur, inspire and intimidate simultaneously.  And – as you venture deeper into their remoteness -- leave you convinced that you will never be the same again.

But just as Nepal’s physical beauty is a joy for our senses, the tremendous cultural diversity of Nepal engages our intellect.  Nepal has a multitude of ethnic, tribal linguistic and regional groupings all with their own unique qualities and their own stories  to tell.  Visit Nepal and you will see all this play out in an amazing tapestry of exotic, colorful and fascinating festivals and events that will leave you eager to learn more.

Above all, however, there are the people of Nepal… the nation’s true “secret weapon.”   Yes….the country’s beauty pleases our eyes, the cultural richness engages our minds…but the people of Nepal – they touch our hearts.  Never, in 35 years in the diplomatic service, did I meet people as kind, as tolerant, as generous, as humble or as patient as the people of Nepal.  It is why, if you go once to Nepal, it will live on in your heart and call you back again and again -- as it has with me and so many others whose hearts have been captured by this incredible country.