After 2 days of travel, I returned to Kathmandu from my hiking trip to “The Three Passes” exhausted, hungry, and with a whole new appreciation for life.
Check out my TikTok video about my trip to The Three Passes below!
At my hostel in Thamal (a neighborhood in Kathmandu), I was rooming with 7 other people and I quickly connected with 2 of the men. James, a 40-year-old from England, had just lost an election and apparently his career in politics. He was traveling the world to figure out his next direction in life (that’s another story). Then there was Abdullah from Jordan. Abdullah was traveling with a small backpack and was planning to keep going as long as he could with the money he had. The 3 of us became fast friends.
We hung out every day for my remaining 5 days in Kathmandu while I was waiting for my flight home. These 2 men had one odd thing in common … they both came to Nepal with no intent of hiking. WE WERE IN NEPAL! The focal point of the best hiking in the world … like literally in the Himalayas. Both were just hanging out to wait for their visas to be approved to gain passage to India.
Fresh off the beauty of The Three Passes hike, I talked about hiking in general and how amazing it is in Nepal. James could give 2 shits, but I was slowly convincing Abdullah to give it a go. We literally talked about it for days and Abdullah eventually was drawn to hike The Annapurna Circuit – yep, I got him hooked.
Abdullah expressed how he was trying to travel as cheaply as possible and didn’t think he had the money to buy the necessary gear. I had traveled to India to do yoga training (yet another story) and had not intended to extend my trip with a visit to Nepal to hike, but I was SOOO close. Ironically, I also arrived to the “focal point of the best hiking in the world” with no hiking gear. Everything I had used for my hike of The Three Passes I bought in Kathmandu. Even though these items were part of one of the best trips in my life, I didn’t need them anymore. I had a solid set of gear state-side and had no intention of dragging my “temporary gear” back home.
I told Abdullah, “Problem solved! You can take all my gear!” He refused my offer and said it was too generous. He did not want such a large gift without paying. That’s when I told him about the sacred truth I witnessed over and over while hiking the Appalachian and the Continental Divide Trails. The sacred truth: The Trail Always Provides. I recounted to him stories how in those moments when I thought I would have to quit my thru-hikes, somehow it would work out … and most often by the hands and the kindness of strangers. I told him, “This is just me passing that kindness forward. Don’t worry, I’ll be in need again and I’m certain the trail will provide.”
Abdullah remained persistent with his answer of no. I then reminded him how we had bonded over the idea of minimalism when we first met. The first words I ever said to him were, “Is that backpack the only thing you’re traveling with?” He had responded, “Yes, only the essentials.” We then talked for hours about the beauty of simplicity and all the good it’s done in both our lives. I told him even if he did not accept the gear, I would just leave it for someone else. No one needs a second set of gear in Ohio when someone could use it to see the Himalayas and maybe gain their own new appreciation for life. I wanted him to have the hiking experience and offered it again with the caveat he must promise to re-gift it to the next person who may have also come to Nepal with no plan to hike.
Abdullah loved the idea of re-gifting and finally accepted the gear. After a few minutes of silent contemplation, he pulled out a carefully packed item from his backpack and unwrapped from it a book then handed it to me. “This book changed my perspective of simplicity and created an itch to travel. It’s called The Dharma Bums and I want you to have it.” I told him that I was not expecting anything in return knowing that for the past 4 days he had talked about this book constantly. I knew how important it was to him. Traveling with such a small bag, everything is chosen with utmost care. This book made his cut.
He insisted I take the book. “If you can let go of these items to help someone you just met, I feel inspired to let go of this book that has meant so much to me. But, you have to do the same thing you asked of me. When you finish reading it, I want you to pass it on.” We then sat in both silence and gratitude – no more words were needed.
I urge everyone not to simply collect, but rather to pass on those items of sentimental value. Those items just may be as sentimental to the next traveler. Abdullah truly made an impact on my life and I only hope that I made an impact on his – Yet again, the trail always provides. KD Crites (Flo)