Nepal and it’s Struggling Democracy Expresses No Hate

I just recently read an article in Conde Nast Traveler Magazine about Nepal and it’s struggling new democracy, along with the problems of Communism (the Maoist tax). The author, Alok Tumbahangphey, traveled through Nepal and marveled how travelers were handling the social instability sighting the recent shut down of the capital in April for a 19-day period. Ironically, Tumbahangphey stated, “most Americans we met there said that they considered the event a chance to witness history in the making: a popular people’s movement of democracy as King Gyanendra’s position became increasingly untenable (92).” The author also said that Maoist troops up in the hills at times charge travelers a “Maoist Tax” that can range anywhere from $5 to $100 depending on the group and the gall of the traveler. Tumbahangphey found a couple who actually bargained a rebel group down from $20 each to $5 for the both of them and then ended up chatting with the “rebels.” This article brought up the thrill-seeker traveler who might be overjoyed to bargain with rebels and witness a shut down of the capital for 19 days. This would definitely not be the place for travelers who do not like feeling risky or unsafe though.

On a different note, as a reader I can only speculate how genuine this article is. As a journalism student, I noticed that the author is a staff writer for the Nepali Times and may have some kind of bias for his/her homeland. All the same, the State Department claims that Nepal is right in the middle of “safe” and “unsafe,” so anyone traveling in the region should use caution when looking at the splendid sights Nepal has to offer.

Although I found this article in the September issue of Conde Nast Traveler, I am sure that one may find it at the Conde Nast Traveler Web Site - http://www.concierge.com/cntraveler/articles