Nepal One Day at a Time: One woman's quest to teach, trek and build a school in the remote Himalaya

by Patti Lefkos

Overview

A Himalayan adventure travel memoir with a humanitarian twist. About to turn sixty-eight, Patti's life was disintegrating. Leaving behind her injured husband she packs her bags and heads to Nepal. Solo travel forces her to surmount daunting hurdles-both physical and emotional. While trekking in the forbidden kingdom of Upper Mustang she realizes her strength and determination when she suffers a frightening fall in an isolated cave monastery.

Volunteering in remote Ratmate village presents unforeseen challenges, and a visit to nearby Aprik village offers a life-changing opportunity. Along the way, conversations with fascinating monks, teachers, and entrepreneurs provide insight into how best to serve the children of Nepal.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781999229818
Publisher:	Loon Island Press
Publication date:	06/25/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	308
File size:	36 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Patti's articles have appeared in The Globe and Mail, The San Francisco Chronicle, Macleans, Travelife, Canadian Living, Okanogan Life, Profile Kingston, and Okanagan Woman magazines. When not travelling or writing, Patti loves to ski at her winter home base at Silver Star Mountain Resort in British Columbia and paddle and row in summer at her Ontario island cottage with her husband and trekking partner, photographer Barry Hodgins. Awarded 2019, The Rotarian with 2020 Vision, The Rotarian that Connects the World.

Table of Contents

Map of Dharapani and Ratmate XI

Upper Mustang XII

Prologue XIII

Silver Star Mountain

January 2014

Chapter 1 Stepping Out of My Comfort Zone 1

Chapter 2 Second oughts 14

Hong Kong

April 18, 2014

Chapter 3 Keep Paddling 27

Kathmandu, Nepal

April 20, 2014

Chapter 4 Birthplace of the Buddha 44

Ratmate Village, Gorkha, Nepal

April 25, 2014

Chapter 5 Teacher, Teacher! 57

Chapter 6 On (and O) the Grid 73

Chapter 7 Pheri Bhetaula Ratmate 87

Chapter 8 Namaste Aprik 101

Pokhara, Nepal

May 12, 2014

Chapter 9 Lonely in Lakeside 114

Upper Mustang

May 15, 2014

Chapter 10 Gateway to the Forbidden Kingdom 124

Chapter 11 Mero Sathi, My Friend 134

Chapter 12 Reaching New Heights 146

Chapter 13 e Greatest Library of Lo 159

Chapter 14 Return to Lo-Manthang 174

Chapter 15 Medieval Monarch 187

Chapter 16 Age-old Rituals, Contemporary Connections 197

Chapter 17 Retail erapy at 3,840 Meters 211

Chapter 18 Kindred Spirits 225

Chapter 19 Restoring the Heart of an Ancient Culture 238

Chapter 20 Will this Trek Ever End? 247

Chapter 21 e Long Stairway to Heaven 258

Chapter 22 Homeward 269

Silver Star

June 2019

Chapter 23 Nepal One Day at a Time 275

Reading Guide 286

Acknowledgements 288

Resources 291

About e Author 295

Editorial Reviews

Patti's dedication as a citizen of the world and a Rotarian is a fine example of how Rotarians are People of Action. From her vision, she has connected individuals and organizations across the world to develop both bricks and mortar buildings and peace and understanding. She is an inspiration and represents the best of Rotary.

Dr. Carmen Larsen President Kalamalka Rotary, 2019 - 2020 Vernon, British Columbia, District 5060

Nepal One Day At A Time speaks to all of us who at mid life are seeking to make a difference by pursuing "the alternate path." Her compelling personal story captures the essence of what it means to truly live a life full of intention and reminds us all that it is never too late to chart a new course towards a life of greater purpose.

Sarah Wiley, Executive Director, Outward Bound Canada

Women of all ages will love Patti's engaging and inspirational story of facing

her fears of lone adventure travel in the Himalaya, where she finds fulfillment

as a volunteer and leaves the incredible legacy of a new school in a remote

Gorkha village destroyed by the 2015 earthquake. A solid and satisfying pick for

armchair travellers, book club discussion groups and those eager to step out of

their comfort zones for rewarding excursions in developing countries.

Bobbie Jo Reid, Managing Editor, INSPIRED Magazine

From the Publisher