EstuAventura

Are you feeling lost in life, wondering if there's more to it than just working, saving money, and traveling in an endless cycle? While Kopan Monastery in Nepal may not provide all the answers, my 10-day experience there for the Introduction to Buddhism course offered invaluable lessons and, most importantly, connections with incredible people. The course itself costs USD 175, which includes all meals and accommodation in a dorm. Before my stay at Kopan Monastery, I had minimal experience with meditation and mental health practices. I viewed Buddhism as a potential lifestyle choice, one that emphasizes meditation and a peaceful approach to life. Raised as a passionate Christian until the age of 19, Christianity remains deeply rooted in me. However, I believe in the importance of self-improvement and understanding oneself better. With this mindset, I was open to learning and practicing meditation. View from Kopan Monastery, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Kopan is located on a hill in th...

My 32 days in Nepal started with me landing at Kathmandu and running through the airport to find a bathroom. I hadn’t even tasted Nepali cuisine yet, but I was already suffering from a stomach ache and a bloated tummy. I had mentally prepared for this, but I never thought it would happen so quickly. Kathmandu is situated in a valley surrounded by the Himalayan mountains at an elevation of 1.400 meters, so I blamed the altitude. The visa on arrival at the airport is easy to obtain. You just need to register your information on their website and have the confirmation email on your phone. The cost is USD 35 for 15 days, USD 50 for 30 days, or USD 125 for 90 days. You can pay directly at the airport in any currency or with a card (with an extra fee of USD 1). As you can guess, I paid for the 30-day visa but had to extend it by 2 days at the end of my trip. I thought it would be much cheaper, but the extension has a flat fee of USD 45 plus a USD 3 fee per day, so I ended up paying USD 101...