{"id":286,"date":"2025-05-11T08:00:43","date_gmt":"2025-05-11T06:00:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/?p=286"},"modified":"2025-06-11T22:21:44","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T20:21:44","slug":"you-have-to-go-to-nepal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/you-have-to-go-to-nepal\/","title":{"rendered":"You have to go to Nepal!"},"content":{"rendered":"

May 11, 2024<\/p>\n

After a slow start and a nice breakfast at the hotel, I head out again. My knee is still a bit swollen from fluid, but it feels much better, and I think I can\u2014and may\u2014start walking again. As I step out of my room, a not so tall young man with a striking appearance asks if he can help me. It\u2019s actually very welcome, since maneuvering the Wheelie through all the doors and down the long hallway isn\u2019t easy. \u201cYou must be the hiker with the injured knee,\u201d he says. \u201cI heard about you.\u201d He tells me he works part-time at the hotel and is from Nepal. He\u2019s doing his Master\u2019s at the nearby university. \u201cIf you love hiking, you must visit Nepal someday!\u201d
\nI can see the pride in his dark eyes. It\u2019s true\u2014Nepal is a dream country for long-distance hikes, though definitely beyond my current budget. He gives me a tip: \u201cFind a local guide, don\u2019t go through expensive tour companies.\u201d That fits perfectly with my travel style. Another dream destination added to the list\u2026<\/p>\n

I\u2019m lucky today\u2014the route is all on asphalt and gravel. It\u2019s a long, monotonous road, but I feel my knee getting stronger with every kilometer. No rough trails or steep climbs. After a slightly awkward start, the walk feels great. It\u2019s wonderful to be outside again. The weather\u2019s better too, and I\u2019ve entered Sm\u00e5land\u2014a place I only knew before as the play area at IKEA.<\/p>\n

Around 5 p.m., I cook dinner at a stunning picnic spot with a little swimming dock. Swimming though? Still a no-go\u2014it\u2019s too cold for me. I\u2019m definitely not a cold-water hero.
\nBut I\u2019m enjoying this so much. This is amazing! After the warm meal, I walk a bit farther, and just before sunset, I leave the main path and find a wild camping spot by the water. I sleep like a rock.<\/p>\n