I met Ram in July, 2004 when he picked me up at the airport in Kathmandu. He was going to be the guide for my 10-day trek to Upper Mustang. I stayed in Kathmandu the next day so that he could finalize and obtain the trekking permit that required my original passport. The trip started with a bus ride to Pokhara in the morning, a popular and beautiful vacation destination in Nepal and then flew to Jomsom the next morning where we started the trek.

With feet on the ground and eyes gazing up at the vast expanse of the mountains and sky, I knew I was going to have one of the most fantastic experiences of a lifetime. What made it a truly positive experience was Ram. Ram is not only a veteran trekking guide, who knows the trek routes extremely well, who knows all the guesthouse owners, who can answer any questions about the significant sites and structures, he is also a very kind, caring and engaging person. Both Ram and Bikul, my porter, made the trek fun and enjoyable. We walked five to six hours a day until we reached a guesthouse where we spent the night. Along the way, we shared all kind of stories and had lots of laughs. I learned a lot about their families and culture and vice versa. Ram also taught me Nepalese throughout the trek. As we walked, he would speak Nepalese words and phrases repetitively until they were ingrained in me. Oh yeah, he would test me, too! Being able to communicate even minimally made a huge difference in the entire experience.

Back in Kathmandu and before leaving for home, Ram did not leave me wandering about by myself. He took me to see life in the countryside on his motorcycle, which otherwise, would not have been possible for me to do on my own. He invited me to his home to have dinner with his wife and son, who were both warm and hospitable. Thanks again, Ram. You have made my time in Nepal an everlasting, memorable one.