A personal reflection on being challenged about a blog post, the emotions it stirred up, and how cultural differences and empathy can shift the way we interpret criticism - and ultimately, the world around us.

We reached the 5106-meter pass - just in time for a surprise proposal. Between mountain peaks, happy tears, and a deep-fried Snickers celebration, Jordy and Nicole gave us a love story I'll never forget.

A high-altitude celebration takes a turn when a guide’s drunken monologue sparks tension, questions of gratitude, and a tipping dilemma after two intense weeks on the Manaslu trek.

After a painful breakup and months of shutting out love, a simple dinner invite in Nepal made me feel something unexpected. Maybe my heart isn’t as frozen as I thought.

On day three of the Manaslu trek, physical exhaustion led me to hire a porter—a decision that brought both relief and unexpected guilt. This post reflects on the ethical dilemma of hiring porters in Nepal: are we helping or taking advantage? And can gratitude coexist with discomfort?

While trekking through Nepal, I witnessed both tender care and troubling moments in how animals are treated. This blog reflects on those experiences, questioning whether my judgments were fair - and exploring what a culture’s treatment of animals truly says about its people.

Our guide turned out to be more of a challenge than the trek itself - unprepared, distant, and questionably high.

A reflection on the physical and emotional weight carried by porters and guides in Nepal, and the complicated decision of whether to leave a review that could either protect future trekkers - or jeopardize someone’s livelihood.