Welcome to our blog!

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Over the next month, Dan and I (George) will be working with various individuals representing organisations aiming to better the lives of the citizens of Nepal, also endeavoring to protect and reinvigorate its diminished ecosystems.

Here, we will document our travels, giving you, the reader, a window into this faraway land - the culture, the issues present within, and those working tirelessly to better it.

Linked here is our fundraising page. Numerous kind and selfless people have sponsored our journey, and we'd love to be able to repay even a fraction of their generosity. If you are able, a donation would be much appreciated. Any amount, large or small, will help the organisations you will read about in this blog create real and positive change.

Much love, Dan and George

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Breaking through the clouds we get our first glimpse of Nepal.

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The mountains are silhouetted by the fog above the city. We glide over the thousands of rooftops below and with an abrupt landing, we've finally arrived.

Working our way through the bustle of the airport we met the kind drivers who took us to our hotel, crossing the river that separates Kathmandu and Lalitpur.

We arrived at Durbar Square - a part of the old royal palace in Lalitpur. Its intricate carvings and grand architecture made quite a first impression. Not far was the Inn, a continuation of the beautiful architecture of the old part of the city (which did result in a few bumped heads).

We enjoyed a delicious Nepalese Dal Bak and watched the sun slip behind the mountains in the distance, ready to try and get ahead of the jet lag.

The next morning we started with a large breakfast and walked to Lily's Leaves headquarters in the East of the city.

Lily gave us a tour of the building to meet the skilled workers focused on their craft. There was a busy and vibrant atmosphere as we were greeted with a warm smile and 'Namaste'.

We looked through the beautiful handmade products that Lily's Leaves have been producing for over 2 years. Each item was unique, using a variety of fabrics and styles which contributed to its charm.

Lily's Leaves does much more than meets the eye. The organisation offers apprenticeship style training, established to give young girls who have been through hardship the chance to learn new skills, socialise and most importantly heal.

Lily's passion was clear, especially when she spoke about the importance of family and taking care of one another, of which these girls seemed to be an extension.

With admiration and thanks, we said our goodbyes and returned to the hotel to prepare for our next adventure in the southern city of Janakpur where we will meet Dev and the Mithila Wildlife Trust team.

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