A Stair Step to the Truth: Persecution, World Unity, and the Baha’i Faith

Posted on May 7, 2014 by The Wandering Nomads

“Belief? What do I believe in? I believe in sun. In rock. In the dogma of the sun and the doctrine of the rock. I believe in blood, fire, woman, rivers, eagles, storm, drums, flutes, banjos, and broom-tailed horses…”

(I took this in Delhi at the Baha’i lotus temple)

Shirine (my name for those of you who didn’t know) is an uncommon name for a white Canadian due to the fact that it is of Persian origins, a name you would more commonly hear in Iran than where I am from. That’s because I am named after a Persian young women, a Baha’i martyr who was hung, at the young age of twenty-five (in 1983), because she would not denounce her faith. Though she could have fled, she choose instead to stay in Shiraz in order to continue serving her community. When asked how long she would hold off denouncing her faith, she said, “Even to death! I hope that God’s mercy will enable me to remain steadfast up to the last breath of my life.” Which is exactly what she did.

The Unruly Power Of Confidence

Posted on May 6, 2014 by The Wandering Nomads

“We blame society, but we are society.”

Confidence, when in the hands of an uneducated health professional can be one of the most harmful tools. I’m thoroughly unimpressed with the medial system here in Nepal, not because of its lack of resources or unsanitary conditions (though all of that is pretty off-putting as well), but rather I am offset by the confidence that has appeared in multiple health professionals who turned out to be wrong.

The Difference A Few Words Can Make

Posted on May 4, 2014 by The Wandering Nomads

“Your life is the message to the world. Make sure it’s inspiring.”

Many people find if pointless to learn the local language, especially in a touristic place like Nepal where many locals have been forced to learn English in order to provide for their western clientele. Here is the perfect example of why it is important to make at least a small effort to learn whatever you can of their language instead of just expecting them to learn yours.

Testing Out The GoPro

Posted on May 2, 2014 by The Wandering Nomads

“You know all those things you have always wanted to do? You should go do them.”

Now, before you get excited, let me clarify that this short video simply depicts Kevin and I cycling about a kilometer down the road in order to fill up on petrol (for our stoves, mind you, not our bikes). This is just our tester, and since it worked, I will begin producing more and more videos in order to give you armchair travelers a whole other view into life on the road and the places I pass through.

Enjoy!

Why Twenty is Not the New Thirty

Posted on April 30, 2014 by The Wandering Nomads

“If you’re thinking about doing something, ask yourself what you would do if you weren’t afraid and then do it.”

Generation Y. We represent a generation of technology, of arrogance, of progress. We were brought up to believe that we are special, that each one of us has the power to change the world. We are the generation who has graduated from school, thousands of dollars in debt, only to find unemployment. Now in our twenties and early thirties we are facing the facts about who we are truly becoming.

Hitchhiking to Happiness: Argentina

Posted on April 29, 2014 by The Wandering Nomads

“When I was 5 years old, my mom told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy.’ They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, I told them they didn’t understand life.”

“I run beside a grandpa who’s pedaling his bicycle with a young boy on the back, and hold up my sign: an old piece of cardboard with the name of the town I am trying to get to written hastily in black sharpie. “Por favor,” I plead jokingly, causing both the young boy and his grandpa to chuckle and wave. There is no way they could pedal me and my backpack 300km to my next destination, but hey, it was worth a try….”

An article I wrote about one of many wonderful hitchhiking experiences I had while traveling through South America, more specifically Argentina, two years ago.

Hitchhiking to Happiness

Living With A Family: India

Posted on April 27, 2014 by The Wandering Nomads

“Happiness is the meaning and the purpose of life, the whole aim and end of human existence.”

India was tough, very tough in parts, and by the end I can truthfully say I hated it. Now that the adrenaline of fear has ebbed away I am able to look back, in retrospect, at the amazing families who adopted me into their homes and villages.

Life With A Family

Learning To Compromise

Posted on April 26, 2014 by The Wandering Nomads

“I think we like to complicate things when it is really quite simple; find what it is that makes you happy and who it is that makes you happy, and you’re set. Promise.”

“Shirine, I think it’s best we head back down.”

WHAT, my mind screamed, we had only just begun the mountainous part of the trek, and were suppose to spend the next two weeks enjoying the Himalayas away from any civilization. Not only that, but we had a goal: to make it to base camp and see how life is there for the many climbers we had been encountering. We were carrying food and fuel for the top, and not making it has never been an option in my mind. This is my one and only shot at trekking in Nepal, and I have waited six months in the country just for this. I was anything but ready to call it quits and go back down.

Tea House Trekking: Makalu

Posted on April 25, 2014 by The Wandering Nomads

“Doing what you like is freedom. Liking what you do is happiness.”

Though the first few days of our trek passed through small villages, by day four we were walking through uninhibited land. There are tea houses setup along the way as there are for almost all treks in Nepal, though the Makalu ones are a bit different as they are geared towards climbers, not just trekkers (just because almost everyone who comes through is a climber, not many trekkers chose this area as it is more remote and strenuous). Tea house trekking is a huge thing in Nepal, notably the treks of Everest Bade Camp and the Annapurna Circuit which are now completely covered in guest houses and restaurants. Since this one is much less popular there is just one tea house every six or seven hours walking where you can get rice and dal for dinner, and pancakes (just cooked flour and water) for breakfast. There are also bunk beds set up, as well as flat ground for tents.

This Is Why We Do It: Makalu

Posted on April 23, 2014 by The Wandering Nomads

“Going to the mountains is going home.”

Climbing and trekking in the mountains is more often than not miserable. It’s either too cold or too hot, it seems to rain all the time, and there is nothing to eat but rice so you are constantly hungry, especially for foods from back home. Even the simple act of peeing can suddenly be difficult.

So why do we, the crazy mountain lovers of the world, do it? We do it for the peace and quiet of living outdoors. We do it to leave behind the noise and stress of everyday city life, and to reconnect with nature. And we do it for moments such as these, beautiful snowy sunrises halfway up the mountain.