| Advice
for female travellers |
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Are
there any problems for female travellers in Nepal? |
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I
would hate to generalize, but can someone tell me the Nepalese response
to foreign female? I am planning to stay in Nepal for a few month over
the summer. From my past experience else where in the world being a foreign
female traveller was not the most pleasant experience no matter how much
precaution I have taken. I just want to know in general how people react
and how I would be treated most likely. It will be helpful also to know
taboos, don'ts etc. Shamefully I don't have much knowledge about Nepali
culture and society even to imagine how it would be like. Thank you
in advance.
| First
answer: You have to respect the people |
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| The
Nepalese are the most smiling generous people. When going to talk with
someone place your hands together in a praying fashion and say "Namaste"
which in effect means hello. They respond totally to this greeting and
a big smile. I have been over there twice and have enjoyed every minute
especially the people. The more remote you go you might find they are curious.
They might try and touch you and again once the greeting is exchanged they
are extremely friendly. Clothing - although you might see some folks in
shorts - please for cultural respect keep your shorts/trouser below the
knee. Please also be circumspect with your tops - tank tops are not
really acceptable - so T-shirts, polo tops, blouses are fine. Remember
the friendlier you are the more accepting they are. If you are being pestered
by street sellers smile and say JAU which means go away. |
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| Second
answer: Never go alone on a trekking |
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The
statements above are fine but "JAU" is very informal used to indicate a
higher position of the speaker towards the other person, in one word it
is not polite. Might be used by grown ups towards children or by higher
casts towards lower ones (unfortunately).
To
get rid of sellers whose number has really grown in Thamel over the years,
one better uses the more complicated word "chaaheendaynaaa"
which means "nothing is needed" or "I do not feel like buying something
right now",
As
a female I had good experiences travelling in Nepal except the one I always
have when hiking alone within the KTM Valley outside the Ring Road area
( on bigger treks I never go alone): the people gather and want to stop
me to go further because it is soo dangerous for a single woman but my
investigations about the danger never bring clear facts - it might be the
biting dog, the tiger like "Chitwa" from the forest, the robber, the landslide,
the upcoming night (at 2 pm?), the long way to the next village � I had
all these answers already. All in all I think the fact that
a woman walks alone disturbs the people because it is not common
in Nepalese culture and of course they might be right with the above dangers.
Last night a small leopard ran through the city of Kathmandu at night and
was caught at last, they say it came from the Nagarjun forest....
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| Third
answer: Contrasts to Western style of life |
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First,
I never heard about a rape of a female traveller in all that time but this
does not mean much in a country where evaluation on facts is very poor
and not all news are reported in newspapers. On the other hand I
think if there WAS a number of rapes it would be reported somehow in the
end and now in the upcome of internet it would be spoken about. Here
some statements on Nepalese men and their psyche . I hope they will
not mind it, the outcome is positive:
In
my opinion Nepalese men have something that brings them in contrast to
their Western counterparts. They are not confused (I avoid to say neurotic)
but clear and dedicated about the basic things in life like family and
making a living
(though to feed the family is getting more difficult in Nepal with every
single day).
I
find them gentle, sensitive, intelligent, full of humour, more intro- than
extrovert and although the Hindu religion / cast / social system brings
an incredible burden and discrimination against women, I found that this
problem still is not so grave in Nepal as in the neighbouring southern
country and its "macho-like" male population.
The
problems start and began in the 50ies in Nepal with the encounter of the
so-called Western culture. It had and has sad consequences :
It brings feelings of being less worth than the Western counterpart, leads
to submissive behaviour (minority complex in one word), brings a turn away
from own Nepalese culture and craving for Western style of life, material
goods e.t.c. Sometimes I feel that 23 million people are going through
hell in Nepal, losing their identity and not knowing where heading to (
what about a nationalist party in contrast to all the others, what about
restoration of Nepalese dignity).
Nepalese
men might also get confused in questions concerning foreign women.
On one hand the stories of Western women's sexual freedom, activity and
experience on the other the wish to get contact to the "wonderful" Western
world might bring strange behaviour, ideas and desires, but rape is certainly
not the common one. Once more, I hope Nepalese people do not mind
my statements, I do not find them offensive, on the contrary all in all
positive.
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| Fourth
answer: Travelling in Nepal is safe |
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Women
travelling alone are perfectly safe in Nepal. The Nepalese are very
friendly people and many of them speak English. Nepalese very friendly
towards women. Travelling alone should be possible in Pokhara without
any harrassment or difficulty. Please dress appropriately at all times,
long skirt, loose shirts. A appropriate dressings helps break down cultural
barriers.
If
you are trekking, a porter/guide is really not that much money for a westerner
and you are giving someone a job.
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| Clothing |
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A
shirt is fine, sleeveless tops are not. Light trousers are o.k., please
do not wear shorts or a mini skirt. .If you are female soon you willfind
the wonderful long 'skirts' called 'lungi', try one.
Note
that May is the hottest month in Nepal. Be aware of brief thunderstorms
in the late afternoon.
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Nepal
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