How best to describe the Nepal trip is really a tricky question.  One might respond with a simpler question, “how much time do you have?”  It simply is hard to summarize and even harder to convey, kind of like a picture of a redwood.  It tells the story, but not the epic tale.

Nepal is an enchanting place of both beauty and strength, prosperity and poverty.  Dirty streets lay at the feet of ancient temples and mountains from the beginning of time.  There is a sense of awe which grounds the individual; sensory overload elevates, and connection and compassion soar.

In Nepal they say Namaste to greet one another.  It means I bow to you; it means I see you in a much deeper way.  You can sense, beggar or business executive, thief or priest, they fundamentally see humans. Our guide, Subash, made a joke about a dog sleeping on the steps of a temple, because they believe in reincarnation, pointing at the dog, “not so successful monk”.

Our group was busy from beginning to end, each day filled with a tour, a trek, a ride, or some kind of extraordinary activity.  We took in temples, shrines, stupas, mountains, national parks, museums, and Durbar Squares full of handicrafts, pottery, art, and textiles.  All along our guide and muse gave us the history and told the tales of Nepal of old.

The humble band of TenBridge trekkers stuck together and supported each other.  We laughed together, lounged together, ate and drank together, learned together, and yes, even were frustrated together once or twice.  That six-hour ride on a winding highway through the mountains on rough roads sure did have us craving an end to that day’s trip.

That is what being in a group asks of us, and our group sure did deliver.  We all walk away with amazing memories which we will share the rest of our lives, a deep feeling of accomplishment and connection.

Then there was that other stuff too.  Like seeing the peak of Mt. Everest face to face in a helicopter or having breakfast at Hotel Everest View on a deck at 13,000 ft. Coming face to face with a 12-foot-long King Cobra. Trekking through villages, National Parks, and mountains.  Those kinds of things.  But we can save those details for the next time we see you.

Just be careful if you ask, “tell me about the trip”.  It might take a while, so make sure you have time to spare for the answer.

About TenBridge Partners

TenBridge Partners is an independent financial planning and investment management firm based in Portland, Oregon with a simple focus of honoring the fiduciary responsibility of putting clients first. Guiding with curiosity and trusted expertise, we empower people to live their unique story with financial clarity and confidence.

Planning is central to everything we do. Our focus is on a complete understanding of your needs through the financial planning process, putting your success at the heart of our work.

We strive to create a community where financial planning feels fun, dynamic, and human.

From the desk of
Erik Lawrence CFP®