April Calendar Spring Day At The Races Walk With Us This Spring: Fill & Download for Free

Trailer food is pretty big here. There are several trailer parks just for food. The trailers I would suggest the most are Torchy's Tacos, which is a local chain now. Try any of the tacos (I always go with the fried avocado) and especially the queso, which is unmatched. The trailer park location on South First has the full trailer park experience, but the brick-and-mortar locations have better soda selections. http://www.torchystacos.com/ Gourdough's is a donut stand with unusual but incredible donuts. These are meal-sized so prepare to be full. http://www.gourdoughs.com/ All of the East Side King locations have short but delicious menus of east and southeast Asian inspired food. http://www.eastsidekingaustin.com/ Chi'Lantro is another big hit with Korean-Mexican fusion items such as kimchi fries and bulgogi tacos. http://www.chilantrobbq.com/ I could go on, but this is a good start. See: What are the best trailer foods in Austin?And of course, we have plenty of good brick-and-mortar restaurants, too. There's an entire topic for it on Quora -- Restaurants in Austin, TX. You are in Texas, so go ahead and gorge on Tex-Mex and BBQ. What's that? You don't have tacos and queso as part of your daily diet? There is Tex-Mex all over the place (Yelp has over 300 Austin listings), but the most popular ones that come to mind are Trudy's, Chuy's, and Pavlo's. BBQ is really competitive, too. People love Franklin (which requires standing in a line in the morning for hours) and Salt Lick the most. See: What is the best BBQ in Austin? Salt Lick?. As for other cuisines, it's hard to even list off only a few recommendations, but try Hopdoddy for burgers, Home Slice for pizza, La Condesa for California-style, Manuel's or Zocalo for Mexican, Koriente for Korean, Buenos Aires Cafe for Argentine, Blue Dahlia for casual French, The Steeping Room for a simple lunch and some tea, Casa de Luz or Beet's for vegan, Whole Foods for anything, Daily Juice for raw smoothies, and Amy's for ice cream. I'm vegetarian so our tastes may not line up, but I've also answered What are the best vegan/vegetarian restaurants in Austin?.We have plenty of great coffee shops, too. My favorites are Spider House (pictured) with its weird patio and Christmas lights (http://www.spiderhousecafe.com) and Mozart's for its view of the lake (http://www.mozartscoffee.com/). There are a lot of others also worth checking out, maybe deserving its own Quora question. Bennu, Quack's, and Progress come to mind.Alamo Drafthouse is the right way to experience movies (and other events). http://drafthouse.com/austin The South Lamar location is my favorite (but is temporarily closed for construction). It's not just a regular movie theater -- they serve food and drinks while you're eating, and they play crazy old VHS and YouTube clips before movies instead of ads. They sometimes do other cool things, like when watching Inglourious Basterds, during the scene in which everyone is running out of the theater, giant flags dropped down from the walls. They also have regular events like sing-alongs and old movie screenings. I saw Die Hard before Christmas and they gave us cap guns to shoot during shooting scenes, and they did fireworks on a stage in front of the screen during high action scenes. Pretty badass. Do not use your cell phone at all or talk during the movie or you will be escorted out -- they are famously strict about this.Recently, the owners of Alamo Drafthouse opened up The Highball, (also temporarily closed for construction) which is amusements like bowling and karaoke: http://www.thehighball.com/ I've heard it's because movies always sell out at Alamo, so you have to order tickets way ahead of time, and this gives you something to do while you're waiting. Ironically, The Highball fills up too now, so you may find yourself waiting for a place designed to solve waiting periods. The Goodnight is a newer, similarly themed business farther north that offers drinking, bowling, billiards, table tennis, shuffleboard with a restaurant built in. http://thegoodnightaustin.com/Video games while drinking: Kung Fu Saloon is a bar with a bunch of old arcade games. On Sunday, the games are free. http://kungfusaloon.com/austin/ Recess is another, newer arcade bar on dirty sixth. http://recessarcadebar.com/ Pinballz is a more legit arcade that is BYOB. http://www.pinballzarcade.com/Looking for karaoke? There's a great place for that up north called Austin Karaoke (pictured above), where you can bring your own booze and rent a room like the one pictured. http://www.yelp.com/biz/austin-karaoke-austin There are plenty of other places for it, too, including The Highball (mentioned above, has private rooms), Ego's (a dive bar under an office building), and various bars across Austin.Disc Golf is relatively big here. I've heard Austin has the most courses per capita, but I can't find anything to back that up. http://dgcoursemaps.com/ maps them out. Pease Park was the best, but it shut down in 2011 to protect the park. Zilker Park (pictured) is a bit easier and also in central Austin, so it gets my vote today.If you have a chance, check out the Texas Roller Derby girls, another relatively big thing in Austin. This isn't a cute little show. It's a brutal competition. Seriously, this sport seems more dangerous to me than most of the mainstream sports. These girls have hilarious names and will be kicking ass. Just imagine what happens when you put far too many angry ladies in rollerblades and make them race around a track. You can get tickets at the door. http://www.txrd.com/about/ticketsTubing down the Guadalupe is a nice way to spend a summer day. It's kind of far away, though. A lot of companies will rent you tubes and give you a ride to the river. At the end, they will collect the tubes and give you a bus ride back to your parking lot. They also rent tubes for your drink cooler. Seriously, it looks like a mini-tube with a board on the bottom so your drinks don't float away. Try to time it so you don't go when it's too crowded. Barton Springs Pool (second photo) is another way to cool down that's actually in the city. The water is spring water, which is extremely cold (even on 100+ degree summer days), and it has a small entrance fee. There are hills on both sides which make for a great place to lay out. Sometimes, there may be topless sunbathers, which is legal but on the decline.For exercise and more outdoor activities, check out Lady Bird Lake (formerly Town Lake, first photo). Despite the name 'lake', it is part of the Colorado River, so it's a very long, moving body of water. It has long trails along both sides and a dedicated pedestrian bridge. People are regularly jogging, biking, skating, rollerblading, fishing, etc. around it. You can also rent a kayak, canoe, stand-up paddleboard, or paddle boat if you're up for some water activities. Zilker Park is a large, public park that's connected to it, as I've mentioned elsewhere in this answer. If you're planning on walking or jogging, The University of Texas campus (second photo) is another option.Speaking of Lady Bird Lake, a pretty touristy thing to do is to stand at the Congress Avenue Bridge and watch the bats at dawn. This happens during spring and summer right as the sun falls. I've been let down by the bats a few times -- sometimes they just don't have a good showing, and the walkways of the bridge get very crowded with people snapping pictures and all. It's also a lot of waiting around for a relatively short event. But hey, it's free. In addition to the bridge, there are small lawns on both side of the bridge you can lay out on.If you want some nice scenery, take a walk around Mayfield Park, which is a small area full of peacocks. It's open to the public. Also, just down the street is Mount Bonnell (second photo), where you can park, walk up some steps, and get an awesome view of The Hill Country.And I'd be remiss to not mention the Capitol. Its dome is really gigantic when you're looking at it from below. It's one of those things for which a picture won't do justice. It's free and open to the public.There are bunches of unique shops to visit. Try just walking down South Congress. There are so many great and weird little shops here. On the first Thursday of each month, all of the stores stay open late and the street becomes a giant party pretty much. http://www.firstthursday.info/ Also, I have to suggest Toy Joy on the drag (Guadalupe), which is basically the Austin version of a toy store. There's Tears of Joy, an entire shop dedicate to hot sauces on 6th street. The Whole Foods HQ (second photo) is an experience in and of itself -- they have a ton of little restaurants inside, the building is pretty large, the roof has a playground and tables for eating, and during the winter, they put an ice skating rink on the roof. It's not simply a grocery store.More Austin landmarks include the Cathedral of Junk (first photo), which is exactly what it sounds like. It's in the back yard of a small house, but it's quite large. http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/7816 Then, there's the famous "Hi, How Are You" frog (second photo), which was put on the side of a building by musician Daniel Johnston. In 1983, it was his "Hi, How Are You" album cover. In 1993, Kurt Cobain had been wearing a t-shirt with the album cover on his Nirvana tour, and the building owner commissioned Johnston to make a mural of it on this wall. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Johnston#Art_career Both of these landmarks have been in threat of being destroyed, but Austin citizens have come together to make sure they're preserved as cultural landmarks. Couples love taking photos in front of the "i love you so much" wall (third photo) in front of Jo's Coffee on South Congress. People also seem to love the Magnolia Cafe "Sorry We're Open" neon sign (fourth photo), also on South Congress.Leslie was an old Austin icon who passed away in March 2012. He was an eccentric homeless cross-dresser who ran for mayor three times. You'll still see murals and dedications to him around town. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_CochranThe official Austin city slogan is "The Live Music Capital of the World." In addition to local acts, we have touring artists here pretty much every night. So, look for a show that's happening when you're in town. do512.com is one of the local sites that indexes this, or you can try using something like Songkick. We also have several music festivals, the biggest of which are SXSW (in March) and Austin City Limits Festival (in October). The individual venue websites have listings, too, if you know of a venue you like. Personally, my favorite venue is The Parish (pictured) because it's small, but other major ones include Stubb's, Emo's, Mohawk, La Zona Rosa, Antone's, and so damn many others. Bars and restaurants regularly have live music as well. Waterloo Records holds free shows during the day, often for large names that have paid performances later.A lot of visitors come here mainly to party, so let's get to it. For nightlife, obviously 6th street is a big thing here. The core part of it is referred to as "dirty sixth" by Austinites for good reasons. If you don't mind going through the mess, you might be able to find some live music or a bar you like. Maybe you're here to embrace the mess. Either way, there are dozens and dozens of bars down dirty sixth. Most are fairly indistinguishable bars, some with drink specials, some with rooftops, some with live music. You can also find more distinguished gems like the Driskill bar (fancy hotel with Texan decor), Midnight Cowboy (a hidden speakeasy amongst it all, reservations recommended), a piano bar, dancing at Barbarella, or dubstep night (Sundays) at Barcelona (absolutely filthy and proud of it electronic club). Outside of dirty sixth, I'd recommend East 6th (gentrified, formerly hipster area, with one of my favorite bars, East Side Show Room, in the second picture) or West 6th (a little more upscale, but basically just a bunch of white people) instead. West 5th is starting to fill out, and west 4th holds the small gay district (also called the warehouse district). The Rainey Street district has recently developed as another popular nightlife area, mainly for late 20s folks, with lots of cleaner bars in walking distance. I'd also suggest the Elephant Room on Congress for live jazz each night (some nights have a cover). If you're just looking for a place to chill out at a table with friends, try Easy Tiger or The Ginger Man.If you need to get some actual work done, check out Conjunctured. Full disclosure: I'm a former member and know the founders. It's a co-working house (which means they've got all the normal office stuff for you to use) on the east side with a great, tight-knit community. You can drop by at a daily rate if they've got space, and you'll meet some great people. http://conjunctured.com/join-us/There are city events continuously. Festival season is when Austin is most active, which is typically between SXSW in March and ACL in October. Here are some of my favorite annual festivals:March: Zilker Park Kite Festival - free, thousands of kites. http://www.zilkerkitefestival.com/March: SXSW Festival - actually three separate, independently-giant festivals for techology, music, and film. The city is a different, completely chaotic place during these weeks. This isn't restricted to the Austin Convention Center -- venues and places that aren't normally venues across Austin will be participating officially and unofficially. Many downtown roads will be shut down, taxis and traffic will barely move, and most people won't even be from Austin. You can walk around downtown and find many free things to do, but a badge or wristband will help get into events. Great bands, great parties, celebrities and microcelebrities galore. Pure chaos across the city. Some things free, some badge required. http://www.sxsw.com/April: Eeyore's Birthday (pictured above) - This is an awesome hippie festival that takes over Pease Park. People bring their kids, but there will be bodypainted girls and very... disoriented people having strange conversations and hanging in trees. There will be drum circles and massive posters for anyone to paint on. Free entry. Some vendors with food, drink, and various makings on the outside keep it family friendly. http://www.eeyores.com/ and background info at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eeyore's_Birthday_PartyApril: Austin Reggae Fest - Also known as Marley Fest, this event will have great reggae music and a mysterious cloud of smoke hovering above it. Seriously, you can see it from blocks away. Tickets required. Wear plenty of sunscreen and bring a bottle of water. http://www.austinreggaefest.comJune, July, August: Concerts in the Park - weekly Sunday evening performances by The Austin Symphony while you relax and maybe picnic on the lawn of the Long Center. Completely free. Bring lawn chairs, maybe some snacks, and some wine. http://www.austinsymphony.org/June, July, August: Blues on the Green - weekly music festivals at Zilker Park from local musicians. Completely free. http://www.kgsr.com/blues/October: Austin City Limits Festival - multiple stages, tons of big name bands, and plenty of smaller acts. Three days long in Zilker Park. Our second biggest music festival behind SXSW. Tickets required. Bring sunscreen, a water bottle, and a handkercheif as it can get super dusty by night time (they've been working on fixing this problem the last few years). http://www.aclfestival.com/October: Gypsy Picnic Trailer Food Festival - tons of food trailers move down to Auditorium shores and have a reduced menu of offerings. All trailers have $3 sample item, and then various prices for a few other items. Free admission. http://www.gypsypicnic.com/November: Fun Fun Fun Fest - Lots of great bands. Tickets required. http://funfunfunfest.com/December: Trail of Lights - This is a massive display of Christmas lights in Zilker Park. Free to walk around and see. http://www.austintexas.gov/department/zilker-holiday-treehttp://365thingsaustin.com/ has a great list of things to do in Austin for an entire calendar year.Reddit has a great thread about this, too: http://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/d1fgi/wheres_the_awesome_in_austin_tx/Also check out the Reddit Austin community: http://www.reddit.com/r/AustinPhoto credits:http://kut.org/post/revealed-torchys-secret-taco-menuhttp://thetastingbuds.com/2010/04/food-photo-friday-austin-trailer-time/http://www.twincitiesrestaurantblog.com/tcrb/2010/08/chuys-austin-tx.htmlhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/28974995@N04/3004244291/http://www.tbd.com/blogs/tbd-arts/2012/01/alamo-drafthouse-owners-discuss-their-washington-area-plans-14327.htmlhttp://www.austin360.com/food-drink/dining/keeping-score-at-the-highball-155512.htmlhttp://www.heydoyou.com/kung-fu-saloon-hiyahhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/nicolelee/113869134/in/photostream/http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesgrayson/3016449018/http://www.flickr.com/photos/viajante/4651506133/in/set-72157624039833471http://www.riversportstubes.com/http://www.edwardsaquifer.net/barton.htmlhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/accentap/4903793014/http://www.biosci.utexas.edu/publichealth/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Austin_-_bats_watching_3.jpghttp://www.joshuanaylor.com/portfolio/austin-2011/http://austinnightowl.wordpress.com/2009/11/04/sunrise-at-mount-bonnell/http://johnrrogers.com/texas-buildings/texas-capitol-annex-during-purple-hour/http://www.flickr.com/photos/atmtx/4312473187/http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/company/http://www.flickr.com/photos/millsjpg/3851130680/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hi_How_Are_You_Austin_2005.jpghttp://www.regentpg.com/blog/brian-talley/i-love-you-and-i-love-you-more-signs-on-south-congress/show/http://www.flickr.com/photos/lenore-m/2080145542/http://www.hipstercrite.com/2010/08/10/the-myths-of-austin/http://www.flickr.com/photos/pooneh/6487481899/http://iloveaustin.net/austins-6th-street/http://rareaustin.com/?p=35http://conjunctured.com/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Eeyore%27s_Birthday_Party_2010_The_Birthday_Banner.jpg

Chronic Fear is Worse than Chronic PainFear is a state of mind and to get through it, you need to learn a bit, let go a bit of the tight implausible control that most of believe we have over our lives and be patient with yourselves and your families.My family so looked forward to snowboarding in Summit County, CO, in the high mountains, for our 2020 Spring Break. That was this week. Like waking from a dream, that image has faded. Our two youngest children, my wife and myself are all at the same level of boarding capability and had, over New Year’s the most spectacular time with one another playing in the powder of the back country of the Rocky Mountains. There are few points in life, if ever, when a family’s capabilities are all matched. We looked forward to an encore vacation over Spring Break. We knew that there was a possibility of things not working out as COVID19 continued, but our excitement trumped our caution believing that it would take a few weeks before the USA really had to deal with the spreading pandemic. We chose hope over caution and would do it again and again because it gave our youngest children a sense that this whole thing, will, in fact, end. It will be at its end one day in the future.We flew to Denver on Friday; We went hiking on Saturday on Bergen Peak with Denver friends and saw dozens of outdoor enthusiasts running and hiking. Yes, in Colorado, they run, physically run, up and down these foothill mountains that soar up to 9,000 in altitude. We Ohioans, we walked for ten minutes, took a break, caught a picture, then walked, then break… you see that picture in your head. I tell the boys I’m acclimatizing. Them… running; Me walking.My thirteen-year-old asked if there were mountain lions around us? The friend we were with said, “Yes, but they generally do not bother humans.” He, being my best-friend of nearly 34 years, then adds; “Besides, your dad is the slowest in our group, he’ll get eaten while we all escape.” He smiled easily to my son, who giggled and smiled, and looked at me with one raised eyebrow, simultaneously. Hard to capture playful menacing and humor together, but there it was. They laughed together, then, out loud. I said, “Hey, I’ve lost 40 pounds in the last year.” It was shaping up to be a fun vacation, despite… despite… being on the verge of life perhaps changing for our family, for our community, for our State and our Nation.We got back to the hotel to find all the previous reassuring emails from Vail and Arapahoe Basin and Beavercreek that we had received just that morning had changed. Our phones began ringing of cancellations. They were saying; Everything is closing, indefinitely. Our friends in Vail texted, ‘stay away.’ Sad emoji. The case count jumped in the Vail Valley(s) there from 11 to 80 overnight. It is a hotspot. They were transporting people own from altitude, back to Denver from the mountain resorts. We called the airlines… 120-minute wait. We waited. We also called others and cancelled all the plans in the place we were staying. Everyone understood. Everyone was incredibly nice and understanding on the phone. My wife, a physician at Ohio State, commented, “I just knew this was going to happen.”I replied, “I think I knew, too. But we all worked so hard to be here, together… next…” I stuttered ever so slightly, a very rare tell of true emotional uncomfortableness, of which I rarely suffer, “next.” I paused. “Next year won’t be the same.” It’s true, I won’t be able to keep up with the boys on the mountain next year. Our perfect family-vacation moment was going to pass into history without us. We knew we needed to fly home Sunday.We were re-packed efficiently. Exactly 121-minutes later, my wife was rescheduling our flight for the following morning. We arrived at the airport early. We notice people talking less. Not less people, mind you, lots of people, just, they were, being stiller, talking less. When conversations were overheard, COVID19 or Coronavirus were the words heard from afar. Those words travelled further. Like those sounds carried on the air more than others, perhaps like the very virus itself. It looked like the set of a movie more than the bustling Denver International Airport we know well. Something not-real about it all. My boys whispered about people looking nervous. Quietly.While we we’re getting ready to push back from the gate, the flight’s air circulation was at minimum flow. The plane got warm, then hot, and stuffy and you could smell the slightest fear building around you as people realized they were all breathing one another’s air. The last time I smelled fear in a group was on 9/11, at about noon, after all surgeries were all cancelled, after mass discharges from the hospital had been initiated, when The Ohio State Medical Center learned it would be receiving burn victims from the collapsed towers. That time, on 9/11, it was more sudden, more intense and more palpable than what was felt now, in the Present.My mind wandered to 2001, to the Past. That day, we waited hours and hours to learn there would be no patients coming. They were all dead in New York. I shoved away from those thoughts. I steadied my breath and saw my boys playing on their devices and my wife had some Netflix show playing on a tablet. Everyone being normal; I imagined this happening in 100’s or even 1,000’s of planes worldwide. Everyone acting normal with this background slight fear beginning. From that point, over the next 24 hours, I began to notice the signs of Chronic Fear.On the way home from the airport, back in Columbus, OH, we decided to go to the stores that Sunday evening. Remember, we left for vacation, so we had emptied the fridge prior and had to get something. Shopping was… interesting, the shelves half bare, and again, the people, quieter. You could see it in others faces, you could feel it in the air. Some cracked jokes. Fraternity boys snapped selfies of themselves on emptied shelves. Acute fear and panic are different than a simmering chronic fear state. The adrenaline and flight vs. fight mechanisms keep you sharp, frosty and biologically driven to survive. Chronically, it tires you, exhaust you and weakens your systems.It is what happens when you realize slowly, over days to weeks, that the danger cannot go away, you cannot outrun it, or outfight it… but you just might be able to hide from it. Chronic Fear. Stay still. Remain calm. Try… to remain calm. Be… exist… as a quiet hiding thing. If you’re near silent and you’re motionless and your breath remains shallow enough that the only sensation of breathing is your very thought of it… you just might go unnoticed by the evil you believe you perceive closing in around you. Closing in around your family. That’s the chronic fear I’m talking about.“Are you scared, dad?” one boy asked, I was not sure which one, their voices can be so close to one another in tone, pitch and volume. “Are you going to write, again, to everyone, about this?” the other asks on top of the first question. I’m turned away at the time.I turn my head to them, “Yes.” My simple answer to both at once. And… I am scared on some levels. But I’ve been scared before. In fact, chronically scared for years is how my disability journey went. It’s awful. I return my gaze to address them, both looking older to me and like the children they are at the same time. “But it’s the uncertainty of people, themselves, that scares me. Not the virus. Not the economic disruption. Not the politics. People forgetting that this all ends one day in the future. That’s the scary part for me.”My 15-year-old, on the verge of sixteen, asks, “Am I going back to school? What about my AP test(s)? And… do I even keep working on getting my driver’s license?” My 84-year-old father-in-law, who is in great shape and teaches others to fly sport’s planes, had just finished talking to me about his fear a few minutes before this. ‘GranPap,’ that’s his house nickname, said he didn’t want to be grounded for months. He says he’s too old to wait for this to get better. He expressed he only had so much time left to be so healthy. Don’t we all.My youngest, at 13 years-old, asks me, “The store was out of white cheddar Cheese-Its. Are they going to make more?” Inside, in my mind, I bust up laughing. My 15-year-old glares at his younger brother for asking such a stupid question while the fate of the rest of his high school sophomore year is at stake!“I’m sure white cheddar ‘Cheese-It’s’ are going to be on the shelves by the end of March and… No, I do not believe you will physically return to school this academic year. You will both complete this school year; digitally, virtually or whatever they are going to call it. As to your driver’s license, buddy, I think the entire United States might take April off from driving.” The young one ran away to go play Rocket League with friends in an online tournament for $10… yes, ten whole dollars is the prize for an 8-level, single elimination, tournament! The near 16-year-old remains… eyes like a man, but the look he gives me, like a child. I remembered these coming-of-age moments with his two older siblings and here it is, finally, definitely, with my third child. Lost for only a second in his chocolate dreamy eyes… and yes, one day, those eyes will melt hearts… so intense! “But… Maxen… honey, this is all going to be temporary. In six to eight weeks, the summer weather will break. They, the doctors and the scientists, believe that transmission rates will fall, and we can all get ready for next year, together.”Sharp as a razor, his mind and voice, at once react. I see the question in his facial muscles, and he asks, “What’s going to happen next year?”I could have told him about the 6th century illness that killed nearly 50% of the world, or the 13th century black plague that eliminated 1/3rd of Europe population or I could have told him hours about 1918 and the Spanish Flu that killed 5% of the modern world and did so at the tail end of World War I… and the world war had left economies devastated… but instead I said, “Do you know the story of the Phoenix and the Dragon?”“What? Dad! I want to know.” His body language shifting to quite a defensive posture.“It begins in today’s world, an illness out of China. The Dragon of the world comes to life and…” I am abruptly cut off.“And... America is the Phoenix. Nice dad. My friends on discord are scared. They are asking me questions. Just tell me.” Of course, I really have no Earthy idea how all of this will unfold; Any more than you reading this right now know how this piece of writing will end today. Yet, my perspective is different, I’ve been scared and scared chronically. My own inner-Phoenix rising just this past summer.“No, son, America is The Eagle… The Human Race is the Phoenix.” We talk for a time and then my wife and I decide to take away some of the mystery of a pandemic… by the only means we really have… teaching our kids. We began with this. Italians sent a message to the world on YouTube: “You are all 10 days behind us”Then, we pulled up the Johns Hopkins’ interactive map. If you want to see, in real time, or almost real time, Earth’s numbers for this pandemic and the effect that social distancing will have on the spread of disease over the next two months; Then here is a graphic map that is updated regularly from Johns Hopkins University: Coronavirus COVID-19 Global Cases by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE) at Johns Hopkins University (JHU)Johns Hopkins University: Coronavirus Live MapNext, we decided to show them Vox’s show, on Netflix: “Explained - The Next Pandemic” and then we watched “Contagion” the 2011 movie. This combination of TV Show plus Movie demonstrates the ‘how’ of what’s happening and the Hollywood version of something at least 10 times worse than what is happening today. We talked about how fear, itself, is the greatest enemy of all.This next sentiment cannot be expressed better. (And I tried… for about an hour to re-write or paraphrase this into a more modern tone.) We talked about how humans have overcome fear in the past, again and again and again. We humans are a persistent, resilient and resistant breed, to be sure.President Trump is not President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who said, “So, first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is...fear itself — nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance. In every dark hour of our national life a leadership of frankness and of vigor has met with that understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory. And I am convinced that you will again give that support to leadership in these critical days.”(The) understanding and support of the people themselves which is essential to victory.Everyone knows the phrase, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself…” but, as a teacher my whole life, I wanted to ‘teach’ the boys that it is ultimately up to the people to learn, understand and support the efforts (of any leadership) that result in victory, over COVID19, over World War II or over anything in their lives. Trump; Love him, hate him, he’s the leadership right now in 2020.I can no longer practice medicine. I still feel the sadness inside, to this day, when writing those words. With every fiber of my being I wish I could be a doctor right now. Yet, my life’s path is different than I once envisioned. I have known loss, and fear to the point of depression and helplessness, even suicidal ideation... over losing the career I so loved. The shame and guilt were, sometimes, still are, tremendous. I recovered because of understanding and support from family, friends and believe it or not, 1,000’s of strangers online who comment on stories, answers, and writings that I have become fond of producing on Quora, Medium, LinkedIn and even Facebook. I have referred to the past decade and all the changes in my life as a giant ‘left-hand turn’ in my journey’s path.I believe many of us, on Earth, are about to go on the same type of ‘left turn’ as we absorb the changes to our lives and our economy after we defeat the virus. We will defeat it. Again. We will defeat it and likely far faster than ever believed possible as the world’s biotechnology corporations are showing unprecedented cooperation and sharing of information.What can you do in your life? What can you think about in your life, for your family, for your friends? I’m going to go through what I tell others in texts and emails. I’ll repeat again what I repeat often. Civilization, itself, can fragment and fracture when needs are not met, basic human needs… but that will not happen this time around. There are many good reasons to remain optimistic. We literally all live in the best time to be handling this pandemic. We have the best technology and the best communications, ever, for humankind.Food, Water, ShelterThe markets will remain open, at least during the daytime. I expect nightly curfews to begin in every major city shortly and last through the end of April. I would prepare though, for you and your family to be limited in the amount of shopping. Maybe, at times, to only one time per week, perhaps by last name or some other identifier. This will be done to social distance primarily, and reduce, numerically, person-to-person contact.The water supply in America’s residential zones is the best in the world (in most places… Flint, MI, notwithstanding) so you are not going to run out of clean water. Most tap water has some degree of chlorination and that’s for keeping it as sterile as possible. While we all love whatever favorite drink we love, water and remaining hydrated are critical. Your immune system works better when you are hydrated.Shelter in place is great, unless you cannot pay rent. I believe that any landlord ‘kicking people’ out for not paying rent, will face harsh penalties in the near future. There are rumors of sending checks to people. Today, the news spoke of a hold on all evictions and foreclosures until May. We will all see what Congress decides to do in the next two weeks.Safety and SecurityPlease know that your part in this is the following: (YES, I KNOW I’M WRITING IT IN ALL CAPITALS, THAT IS FOR YOUR BRAIN TO READ IT CAREFULLY.)• WASH YOUR HANDS• TOUCH LESS THINGS AND PEOPLE• TOUCH YOUR FACE LESS• COUGH OR SNEEZE INTO ELBOW• WIPE DOWN YOUR EYEWEAR, EARWEAR, AND DEVICES SUCH AS PHONES, TABLETS AND LAPTOPS ONCE A DAY WITH AN ALCOHOL SWAB (70% ALCOHOL OR GREATER)That’s what I said on March 5, 2020… then, on March 10, 2020… I added the following:• YOU WILL LIKELY BE ASKED TO MONITOR YOURSELVES. IF EXPOSED, YOU WILL BE CONTACTED BY PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS, AND BE ASKED TO TAKE STEPS DEPENDING ON WHETHER YOU ARE AT HIGH, MODERATE OR LOW RISK. YOU MAY BE ASKED TO REMAIN HOME FOR 14 DAYS FROM EXPOSURE. IF YOU ARE UNDER 60 YEARS OLD AND HEALTHY, YOU, PERSONALLY, ARE AT LOW RISK, BUT EVERY PERSON YOU COME IN CONTACT WHO IS EITHER OVER 60 YEARS OLD OR UNHEALTHY OR WHO WILL OR MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE OVER 60 AND UNHEALTHY, IS AT RISK.• PREPARE TO STAY HOME FOR 14 TO 21 DAYS. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH FOOD FOR YOU, YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS AND ONE EXTRA PERSON. RICE, BEANS, CANNED FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. (TEN POUNDS OF RICE/PASTA PER FAMILY MEMBER PLUS ONE AND THEN TEN CANS OF FRUITS AND VEGETABLES FOR EACH MEMBER OF YOUR FAMILY)• MANY PEOPLE ARE BUYING CLEANING SUPPLIES. IT APPEARS AS IF SOAP AND WATER ARE SUFFICIENT TO KILL THE VIRUS ON YOUR HANDS AND ON SURFACES. ANY CLEANING SUPPLY THAT IS LESS THAN 70% ALCOHOL WILL BE LESS EFFICIENT THAN CLEANING WITH PLAIN SOAP AND WATER. CHECK WHAT YOU HAVE AT HOME FIRST. WE ALL, BASICALLY, KNOW HOW TO CLEAN THINGS, EVEN IF WE HATE THE CHORE.• DO NOT PANIC. THINK BEFORE YOU ACT. THIS UNFOLDING TRAGEDY FOR THE LARGE MAJORITY OF THE PUBLIC, IS NOT THE VIRUS, NOR THE CONTAGION, IT IS THE IRRATIONAL OR NON-UNIFORMITY IMPLIED OR ENACTED IN THE REACTIONS TO THIS COVID19 EVENT.Now, today, right after St. Patrick’s Day (GO Irish!!!) I have to add the following:• IF YOU ARE UNDER 40 YEARS OLD AND HEALTHY, YOU, PERSONALLY, ARE AT LOW RISK. FROM 40-60 YEARS OLD, THE RISK INCREASES. EVERY PERSON YOU COME IN CONTACT WHO IS EITHER OVER 60 YEARS OLD OR UNHEALTHY OR WHO WILL OR MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH SOMEONE OVER 60 AND UNHEALTHY, IS AT RISK. AN ALARMING NUMBER OF MILLENIALS ARE NOT SOCIAL DISTANCING BUT NEED TO FOR THE SAKE OF THE ENTIRE POPULATION.• SOCIAL DISTANCING WILL BECOME MANDATORY EVERYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES. THE BORDERS TO COUNTRIES WILL ALL SEAL OVER THE NEXT 30 DAYS. PREPARE FOR SOME FAIRLY DRACONIAN METHODS OF SOCIAL RESTRICTIONS TO LIMIT PHYSICAL SOCIAL INTERACTIONS. DOMESTIC AIR TRAVEL WILL LIKELY CEASE OR BE LIMITED TO PRE-APPROVED-NEED-ONLY BEFORE THE END OF THE MONTH. IN SOME PLACES, THE USE OF AUTOMOBILES MAY BE HEAVILY RESTRICTED TO ESSENTIAL PERSONAL ONLY; MEDICAL, FOOD & WATER SUPPLIERS, SANITATION, POLICE, FIRE, GOV’T, ETC.• YOU CAN HELP EVERYONE, INCLUDING YOURSELF BY REMAINING IN PLACE, AT HOME, AWAY FROM OTHERS, FOR AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. WHEN OUT, REMAIN, AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, MORE THAN 6 FEET AWAY FROM OTHERS, ESPECIALLY WHILE INDOORS! IF OUTDOORS, IN THE SUN, WITH SOME AIRFLOW AROUND YOU, STAYING 6 FEET AWAY FROM ONE ANOTHER, IF NO ONE IS ILL, YOU ARE LIKELY VERY SAFE TO TALK AND LISTEN TO ONE ANOTHER. DON’T PANIC. BE SMART. BE UNDERSTANDING TO OTHERS. DID YOU KNOW JUST REMAINING QUIET AND LISTENING TO SOMEONE SCARED OR DEPRESSED IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR THEM? EVEN IF YOU HAVE TO STAND 6 FEET AWAY FROM THEM AND YOU NEED TO FROM NOW UNTIL THE END OF THIS.• THE PHYSICIANS I AM NETWORKED WITH HAVE WARNED ME OVER THE LAST 72 HOURS THAT THE COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) IS WORSE THAN EXPECTED. THERE IS A REAL RISK THAT YOUR LOCAL HEALTHCARE INFRASTRUCTURE WILL BE MAXED OUT. U.S. HOSPITALS ARE NOT BUILT TO SURGE TO MULTIPLES OF NORMAL CARE. U.S. HOSPITALS ARE NOT BUILT TO SURGE TO MULTIPLES OF NORMAL CARE. THAT MEANS THEY WILL HAVE LITTLE REMAINING CAPACITY FOR CAR WRECKS, COMPLICATED BIRTHS, STROKES, HEART ATTACKS, ETC. BE CAREFUL WITH YOURSELVES. THINK ABOUT THE THINGS YOU ARE GOING TO DO. THINK BEFORE YOU ACT.• THIS WILL NOT END QUICKLY, NOT IN WEEKS, MAYBE IN MONTHS, DEFINITELY WITHIN YEARS. IT WILL END, JUST, NOT QUICKLY. FOUR TO FIVE DAYS AGO, THE U.S.A. REALIZED (PUBLICALLY) IT NEEDED TO ENFORCE SOCIAL DISTANCING MORE STRONGLY IN ORDER TO ‘FLATTEN THE CURVE’ OF CONTAGION. AT THIS POINT, I BELIEVE THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL USE ALL ITS POWER AND RESOURCES TO PROTECT AS MANY CITIZENS AS POSSIBLE. THAT INCLUDES, IF NEEDED, MARTIAL LAW FOR TIME. THAT INCLUDES, IF NEEDED, THE NATIONALIZATION OF VITAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND CORPORATIONS – WHICH I HEAR IS STARTING WITH THE DEFENSE NATIONALIZATION ACT.Okay, I really do hate writing in all CAPS but it’s important and you need to read and absorb information. This is the flattening the curve graphic getting the most views:I hope you watched the Italian YouTube video showing regular people who are 10 days in front of us (The U.S.) in time. My kids had heard the phrase, “flattening the curve,” in their science classes in school before Spring Break occurred. There is a ton of material about flattening the curve online but in essence it is simple: If everyone gets sick at the same time, there will be a bottleneck of healthcare services, most especially ventilators and respiratory support machinery and personal… that means many people who could have been saved will die waiting for help. If we all get sick (over time… say 3-6 months instead of all in one month) then services and machinery can keep up will the demand and fewer lives will be lost. It’s math. It’s statistics. This was written in the last week and explains how the above graphic got created and distributed. Flattening the Curve – NY TimesI lived in Chronic Fear for a long… long time secondary to my disability. I fought hard for the right to be free of my disability, thinking, believing, it would end, and I could be normal again. While I cannot and will not ever practice anesthesia or medicine again… You, Your Life, You will be different. Your Life will return to normal, in time… months, hopefully, maybe a year or two but Life will go on and this virus will not beat the Human Race. In fact, we’ll roar back like Elon Musk’s rockets into the skies! I’ll bet 2022-2025 may be some of the most exciting times on Earth. We cannot fall into Chronic Panic.Chronic Panic will rob you of your senses. Do not allow this to happen to You. You are going to fine. You can keep yourself interested in life. Play games to keep your mind moving. Learn new games; cards, dominos, mahjong, there are hundreds of games to play, many of them online and free to learn. Even remaining in your home, you can get 20 minutes of movement and exercise in every day. Each day you don’t overeat, each day you plan to get a good night’s sleep, each day you move for 20 minutes… YOU beat this crisis.Make plans within your family units… and these do not need to be biological families. We all choose our families in and throughout life. Online groups are and can be families, too. Each one of us that takes care of ourselves, remains socially distance physically but NOT emotionally or psychologically IS HELPING TO FIX THIS CRISIS.My two youngest and my wife in the mountains of Colorado… 2 miles high. For us this picture is pure heaven and we wish we were there right now. Wind burn, sunburn, sore joints and muscles, some bruises and we would take it all… happily. Instead, we are at home, planning to get through the next weeks to months.These are the types of things we are doing. We are all getting 20 minutes of movement or exercise each day. We plan our meals and we are only ‘snacking’ in the deep evening after dinner when we play a board game, cards, watch a movie or stream some TV show we all agree on (and that is tough one) but we try to plan the next day in the evening of the current one. We’ll find a regular rhythm soon, each day building a routine upon one another. I hope all your families find that rhythm for the next 6 to 8 weeks.As I teach my own children; Human beings need (3) things in this life:1) Something or Someone to Love. We are all built differently but we all have the capacity to Love and be Loved. This is one of those times in Life when You must decide to allow Yourself to be Loved by those that need to Love You.2) Something to look forward to in the Future. This may seem dark right now, today. There is uncertainty in many possible futures for many of us. I tell my children, even the two grown ones, that by May 15, 2020 we will know whether this is a seasonal illness. Even if it is not, the sun will be shining in the Northern Hemisphere and being outside will be some extended freedom from the confinement we are all facing together. Together, that is the key thought. If it is not seasonal, I look forward to August 2020 when the largest bulge of the curve (flattened or not) will have passed through our healthcare system and many people, millions, will have recovered and be able to return to more of their lives. After that, I look forward to the announcements of the vaccines, the treatments and the eventual human race gaining immunity over this nasty bug called COVID19. And, after that I very much look forward to watching the most incredible nation ever conceived rebuild itself in record time… which will happen.3) Something To Do. Yes, without doing things or having things to do, we humans get into a lot of trouble. You know this is true. You are thinking about it right now. Physically, emotionally, psychologically… humans require something to do whether mandated or invented or enjoyed, the very act of doing something can define our lives… like medicine defined mine for so many years. This is why we plan, in our family, right now and each day, we plan what we are doing the next day… we all know that we will have something to do and we can look forward to doing it for a time before we sleep… that reduces stress… even if it is chores to do the following day.You can, in your own way, think and believe that these three things can and will help you through this crisis.· Someone or Something to Love· Something to Look Forward to in the Future· Something to DoIf you want more scientific information on COVID19 (SARS-CoV-2) here’s one website: Coronavirus COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) – by Paul G. Auwaerter, M.D.Lastly, and in closing, let me let you in on one of the hardest things to teach anesthesia residents. You know anesthesiologists, we are very cool customers, in general. The job is 99.9% controlled utter boredom pursuing the impossible perfection of the perfect anesthetic and 0.1% sheer terror when it does not work out. Anesthesiologists do not all start out that way. Given all the information these young doctors learn, and for anesthesiologists, especially about physiology and pharmacology, they can do what seems magical, even to other physicians sometimes, with a human body’s biophysical functions. Yet, there are sometimes in the course of a surgery or anesthetic where the exact right correct and most productive thing to do is… nothing. Wait. Gather data. Wait. Do nothing. Think. Think. Always, think before you act. Teaching someone to do nothing when they are bombarded by constant streams of information and updates like the control panels of a modern operating room suite… can be… difficult.We all need to learn a little bit of that skill. It’s really more of an art. There is an Art to doing less, to being still, to choosing to do nothing. Acting, for action’s sake, will be the biggest mistake most of us will make during this next 6 to 8 weeks, or these next few months or even this next entire year. List out what you think you need to do but add “Do nothing right now,” to the bottom of the list.Every time you take an action and it hurts you in some way, your fear will increase. Think, Can I do less? Can I be patient? Can I watch, listen and learn for one more day before acting?Circle May 15, 2020 on your calendars. That’s what I did with my kids. By that date, I believe, we will all begin to take action again ‘in our regular lives’ and until then. 1) Don’t Panic; 2) Think before You Act; and 3) Have Fun each and every day until then in some small way.Peace. Love. Life.~ChrisI know I said I was done, but one more thing… the more you know, the less there is to fear. WHAT THEY ARE TELLING MEDICAL PEOPLE:All the hospitals in America are sending various things out to their medical workers. These have been compiled by what we know is here in the USA, what Italy and South Korea are telling us and what Chinese physicians have been able to convey to their families in the United States. I have now seen several of these ‘notices’ and here’s what they have in common:Runny nose, itching eyes – you have allergies or the common cold, not likely to have COVID19. Still use precaution, but do not panic.Coughing spreads droplets about six feet, Sneezes can disperse droplets to 10 feet. Stay away from those who are ill, coughing or sneezing. If providing care, wear a mask (any mask) and eye protection (any glasses). Wash your hands thoroughly each and every time you care for anyone ill. Soap kills this virus. Wash clothing and bedding often of anyone who is ill (wear your mask and eye protection when handling dirty clothing or sheets).There is evidence that the COVID19 virus may not be as transmissible in high heat or high humidity, but this is not proven. By May 15, 2020, we will know if the better weather impacts the virus pandemic.Stay hydrated. Your immune system needs hydration for proper function. If sick, choose warm fluids over cold fluids. Literally, this may be the most important thing you do to help yourselves through this crisis. Stay hydrated.Symptoms of the COVID19 Coronavirus:Most people report a sore throat first. This can last 3-4 days. Drink plenty of fluids, warm fluids, throughout the day if your throat hurts. More people report a dry cough accompanying the sore throat than a ‘wet’ cough. Many people under 40 years old report that this is all the illness they experienced and that they do not even get a fever during this time. (IF THIS IS YOU OR YOUR FAMILY MEMBER, SEEK TESTING, CALL YOUR PHYSICIAN, DO NOT GO INTO THE HOSPITAL OR CLINIC UNLESS INSTRUCTED TO BY YOUR DOCTOR)Others, report that after the few days of sore throat and dry cough, they begin to get stuffiness and nasal discharge. This discharge is swallowed, coating the throat, the trachea and gets into the lungs with breathing and coughing. At the 5-6 days mark since symptoms began, reports of shortness of breath become common as do muscle and body pain(s). This is the beginning of the pneumonia. Many people report a fever of greater than 101 degrees, persistent dry cough, and difficulty breathing. (IF THIS IS YOU, YOUR FRIEND OR YOUR FAMILY MEMBER. CALL YOUR DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY. YOU NEED TO BE TESTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND EVALUATED FURTHER)After that, the sickness advances and not only do you have the fever, the dry cough becoming wetter as the pneumonia advances, body pain, increased difficulty breathing but you then get a non-stop congestive runny nose that has been reported to feel as if your nose is continuously underwater. (YOU WILL FEEL AS IF YOU ARE DROWNING AT THIS POINT. SEEK ATTENTION IMMEDIATELY.)This really is the end of this answer. ~Chris

Visit Nepal 2020 is known to all that Nepal is known as one of the paramount places for travel. It has outstanding Himalayan beauty, exotic multicultural aspects that attract visitors from all parts of the world.After the great success of the Nepal Tourist Year 1998 and the Nepal Tourist Year 2011, the Nepal Tourism Board announced Visit Nepal 2020. The visit Nepal campaign was announced in 2015 to be held in 2018, but due to some circumstances was later postponed to 2020.The mainstream media advertised Nepal as being completely devastated by the 2015 earthquake and failed to show that Kathmandu and other major cities were almost intact. The earthquake affected the tourist inflow in 2016 as the number of visitors decreased by half compared to the year before.The year 2017 inflow of tourists bounce back to the pre-earthquake numbers. 940,218 foreigners entered the nation in 2017. Some went for recreational operations while some traveled to support the individuals of impacted regions and with the motivation to assist the nation by visiting Nepal economically.The campaign, Visit Nepal 2020, was scheduled in 2018 to promote that Nepal was a safe place to travel.Objectives of Visit Nepal 2020Increase international tourist arrivals to Nepal approx. 2 million by 2020.A goal and strategy upgrading the Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management to a Tourism University.To promote tourism industries for sustainable developmentDevelop, grow, and encourage tourism by means of simple, secure, reliable, and regular air and land transport.To extend the Tribhuvan International Airport and construction of Gautam Buddha Airport in Bhairahawa before the Visit Nepal Year 2020.Visit Nepal HistoryVisit Nepal 2020 will not be the only Visit Nepal event organized in the country's history. There have also been 2 visits to Nepal events held in the past. They are the Visit Nepal 1998 and the Visit Nepal 2011.Reasons for visiting NepalFor countless different factors, it's definitely worth going to Nepal. No wonder, when you visit the country before you die, this is the place. Thanks to its massive mountain tops, mostly globe trotters come to this beautiful nation for trekking, but other areas should surely not be missed. Nepal is a country with numerous tourist attractions and exclusive travel experiences waiting to welcome visitors from all around the globe.Nepal has been split up into three geographical regions where, relative to other Himalayan and Hilly areas, terai has the most population. Travelers whose interests lie outside of walking then trekking will surely enjoy their stay in this Himalayan country with full memories to take home, which is worth your hard-earned bucks.It's a real adventure, and reaching the Himalayas has the cachet of being a wild ride. In such a small country, the endless possibilities make Nepal such a good value for money. Nepal has undeniably capitalized on its image as welcoming and supportive. You will rarely find anyone who doesn't consider the signature people of Nepal.Nepal is entirely unrivaled in terms of mixed cultures, access to adventure tourism, rivers, historic sites, and national character–there's nothing like it elsewhere. Nepal is a popular destination for those in the know for once in a lifetime vacations.Nepal is home to 10 UNESCO World Heritage sites, which have been nominated based on their cultural and natural value.Kathmandu Durbar SquareBhaktapur Durbar SquareBoudanathPatan Durbar SquareLumbiniSagarmatha National ParkPashupatinath TempleSwoyumbhuNathChangunarayan TempleChitwan National ParkTop 5 places to visit in Nepal1. KathmanduFrom ancient Buddhist monasteries to Hindu temples to spice shops, Kathmandu offers everything from making you sneeze and buy exotic goods. At first sight, Kathmandu may seem' wild,' but you can find peace behind the curtain by visiting the Swayambhunath' Monkey' Temple or the Kopan Monastery where you will find a little bit of Nirvana.When food is your thing, there's a pretty good chance you'll be left to saliva for more after trying momos or garlic soup (which there are unlimited supplies of). The valley is the mainstream of the country, so it looks very busy at day time and which occurs massive traffic jams, but after the sun sets, the night feels calm and peace.There are so many places to visit in the capital city of Nepal, but it may take you more than 2 weeks to complete the taste of Kathmandu only. Some famous destinations in Kathmandu are:Kathmandu Durbar SquarePatan Durbar SquareBhaktapur Durbar SquarePashupatinathSwayambhunathSundariJalVaquita WanChandragiri HillNagarkotBudhanilkantha2. PokharaPokhara is the city where you will find less number of local people in compare to foreign visitors. This city is also Nepal's center, as it carries half of Nepal's tourism. The list below is more like interacting with virtual eyes than thinking.Phewa Lakes (Boating, and relaxing)Mountains views (Annapurna Ranges, Mt. Fishtail, Lamjung Ranges, Dhaulagiri)Rupa and Begnas lakesBarahi TempleDavis Fall &Gupteshwor CaveMahendra GuphaBindhabasini TempleSarangkotPeace StupaGorkha Museum ​3. ChitwanChitwan is always part of the route to Nepal. So if you're visiting and maybe thinking about what to do in Chitwan, it is all about safari, forest, and a real feeling of wildlife, where Rhino is found only in Nepal.Chitwan is well known for its warm weather in West Nepal. The best time to visit Chitwan is October to March because it would be about January to March for the best time to see wildlife on a Chitwan National Park safari.4. LumbiniLumbini is found in the terai region of Nepal, and popular among the tourists who want to know more about Buddhism. It is the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha. There are many magnificent and ancient monasteries in this holy place. You can also have some other religious monuments and historic sites or locations like the Eternal Peace Flame, the Pagoda of Peace, etc. And it was awarded World Heritage status by UNESCO in 1997.5. MustangIf you're planning on Mustang, fix your shoelaces and pack your bags, and let's have a Mustang ride. One of Mustang's best time to visit is from September to November. Mustang's taste comes when you're driving your own car. Because the tracks, curves, tunnels, and rugged slipping paths are going to raise your heart-beats, and that is what Mustang is all about.This scope is cold and dry, where if you misguide the roads, you can easily lose. You will be taken away from your teams by the long dry mountains, which may be your last trip.There are so many places in Upper Mustang, where you can't miss out, and the locals can easily guide if you get the wrong path by GPS. The different cultures, foods, dresses can be seen here.Introduction to Trekking in NepalIf you take the name "Nepal," you only have one picture in mind, i.e., Himalayas.Perhaps one of the most popular things to do is trekking in Nepal. Every year, the country's majestic mountains draw thousands of visitors.Trekking in Nepal can be an excellent way to be acquired with the culture and customs of the people. Nepal has many gorgeous destinations, not lacking in the local dimension, offering great trekking trips and amazing experiences.Nearly all the trails were found in the Himalayas, the upper part of Nepal, mainly populated by Mongolian tribes, including Gurung, Magar, and Sherpas. So what makes Nepal's trekking trip enjoyable is not just the beautiful sight of trees, lakes, streams, mountains, flora, and fauna that you can see as you walk along the paths. It is also the Mongolian cultural values and activities with which you get to be in touch when living in the hotels while listening to the guide and local people tell the stories while walking and slipping along the steep, rugged paths.Nepal has grown out of fourteen eight of the world's highest peaks. Nepal is considered one of the most popular destinations for mountain adventure owing to its rich geographical diversity.Some of the best parts to Trek in Nepal1. Annapurna Region:Annapurna is considered to be the world's highest and most dangerous mountain to climb. At 8,091 meters (26,545 ft) above sea level, Annapurna Circuit has often been voted the best long-distance trek in the world and also the tenth highest mountain in the world. This trek includes Annapurna range, Machhapuchhre, Hiunchuli, and Dhaulagiri with the most stunning and close-up view. You can bunk out in comfortable tea house lodges on the journey and enjoy the sumptuous pies of the apple found here. The trekking goes through the lovely villages and terraced fields, providing a glimpse into how this area's residents live. And the route takes you through woods of rhododendron, passes and glacier streams and waterfalls, and offers spectacular views of bright cliffs with rivers running down below. This is at least once in a lifetime a must-do hike.Mardi Himal TrekkingAnnapurna Luxury TrekAnnapurna Base Camp TrekAnnapurna Circuit TrekAnnapurna Base Camp Heli TrekGhorepani Poon Hill TrekkingJomsom Muktinath TrekAnnapurna Poon Hill Trek​​​2. Everest Region:The Everest base camp walk is a lifetime experience, a dream for those over the peaks whose hopes rise. Your trek to Everest Base Camp at the height of 5,364 meters to the basecamp of the highest mountain in the world will take you through underground Buddhist monasteries, over suspension bridges spanning thin air chasms, delicious food and into the heart of cold and rugged Sherpa people.Everest Base Camp Trekking is and always is in the name of two men (Tenzing Sherpa & Edmund Hillary) who have dared to climb to the top of Mount Everest and have become the world's most popular hiking destination.Everest Base Camp TrekGokyo Lake Renjo La Pass TrekEverest Base Camp Luxury TrekEverest Base Camp Heli TrekEverest Chola Pass TrekEverest Panorama TrekEverest Gokyo Lake Trek​​​3. Langtang Region:The view of the Langtang region is eye-catching and more adventurous trekking where tourists will visit. This Langtang located north of Kathmandu valley. This trek takes you across beautiful villages, forests, rivers, and mountain views. The Langtang area covered by Langtang National Park. The area of the Langtang region populated by an ethnic group. Generally, people from the region visit Tibetan Buddhism.Langtang Valley TrekLangtang Valley Heli TrekLangtang Gosaikunda TrekHelambu TrekTamang Heritage TrailGosaikunda trekMardi Himal trek: ​With an elevation of 5587 m, Mardi Himal is situated within the Annapurna zone. Mardi Himal Trek is becoming popular day by day due to the shorter distance and exceptional views. If you don't have enough time to reach either ABC or EBC, then this is a better option for Mardi Himal Trek 12 days. If you want to spend time with the locals, they will have comfortable homes ready to serve you.The high camp of Mardi Himal is situated at a height of 3850 m. This is the trek's highest point of rest. Annapurna South seems to be near enough to smash at a rock, and Machhapuchhre is close enough to touch himself.Upper Dolpo:​Upper Dolpo is Nepal's lost soul stone with its villages in Tibetan theme, beautiful desert landscapes, and picturesque mountain peaks. The country has a centuries-old culture that the modern world is untouched by. Upon leaving Kathmandu, it is a 25-day journey, and the trekking time begins from Nepalgunj.Upper Dolpo is a restricted area where US$ 500 is paid for the first 10 days, and US$ 50 is charged for each day. The relatively high fee allowed for trekking limits the number of trekkers visiting Upper Dolpo, making this trek a very rare and exclusive experience. The path includes the crossing of Nagdalo La (5350 m), Shey La (5000 m), and Jeng La (5110 m) three high passes.Kanchenjunga: ​Most people believe that the best trekking path in Nepal is the Mount Kanchenjunga trek. The walk follows the area around Kanchenjunga, which is the world's third-highest mountain where Kanchenjunga Conservation Area stretches over 2.035 m. It's a long trek that goes deep into the remote mountain ranges on the border between Nepal and Sikkim and Tibet. Kanchenjunga Trekking offers the best views of Mt. Kanchenjunga 8586, Mt. Makalu 7463 m, Jahnu Himal, diverse scenery, mixed community.You will see a wide variety of scenery from lush tropical vegetation to rhododendron, chestnut, and oak trees and then into the alpine region at higher altitudes. Through Rai and Limbus to Tibetan Buddhist villages, you will see a variety of Nepalese culture and lifestyle. Autumn & spring season is the Kanchenjunga region's best time trekking.Religions of NepalNepal's sectarian protests have never happened. The overwhelming majority of the population were Hindu and Buddhist, and most religious joined by various ethnic groups. Most of these denominations were animism-shaped. We believe in a host of ghosts and supernatural beings as their ancestors worshiped them. In the early 1990s, Nepal was the world's first officially recognized Hindu state; however, Hindu and Buddhist traditions were intermingled.Just two religions constitute 98 % of Nepal's population, where only 2 % are held by other faiths such as Jainism, and Kirant, etc.Hindus and Buddhists in Nepal have shared many of their places of worship, seeing parallels in the religious beliefs and practices of each other-one of them. Mainly through festivals such as Buddha Jayanti and Indrajatra celebrating together. There are a lot of people who follow all religions.Hinduism​Approximately 85% of the Hinduism population worship millions of gods and goddesses who make up the Hindu pantheon. Each god has his / her own steed that is often seen respectfully kneeling at the deity's feet or sometimes outside the temple of that god. The various hands of each god hold abstract items that inspire them to accomplish great feats.Hindus in Nepal, like Hindus elsewhere, are polytheistic and celebrate various festivals throughout the year, such as Dashain & Tihar (Durga Puja and Diwali counterpart in Nepal), Gaijatra, Fagun Purnima (Holi), Krishna Janmashtami, etc. Some of the well-known Hindu temples are the Pashupatinath and Budhanilkantha. Some find Janakpur in Nepal to be Sita's birthplace and hence, another holy place.Buddhism​Buddhism's faith traces its roots from history, with Lumbini being Lord Buddha's birthplace in Nepal. Sakyamuni Buddha is the father of Buddhism who, after his birth in Lumbini in Southern Nepal, lived and studied in this part of the world during the sixth century BC. Swayambhunath and Bouddanath's great stupas are among the Kathmandu Valley's oldest and most majestic worship places. The spinning of prayer wheels, prostrating monks, team singing and burning butter lamps are but some of the Buddhist practices that visitors witness, despite nearly 10-12 percent of Nepalese and other Tibetan refugees observe these spiritual actions here.Ethnic Group in NepalNepal is a multi-ethnic state, the official language being Nepali. With an average family size of 4.9%, the country has a population of over 27 million inhabitants. Nepalese are divided into different ethnic or national communities. Nepalese associate citizenship rather than race with their nationality.Chhetri​​According to the 2011 census, the Chhetri is considered the largest ethnic group in Nepal, representing 16.6% of the population. Chhetri belongs to the Indo-Aryan, who belongs to the Kshatriya varna and primarily speaks Nepali. Most of the Chhetri (99%) belong to the ethnic Hindu community, while the remaining minority are Buddhists.Bahun​Bahuns are the central Nepalese who follow the practices of Vedic and Brahmin. The Bahun is Nepal's second-largest ethnic group, with 12.2% of Nepalese. Vedas and Brahmin are giving their primary identity to this ethnic group. Vedas consist of literature consisting of ancient layers of Sanskrit texts and Hindu scriptures. Brahmins are clergy and teachers in charge of safeguarding religious education.Magar​The Magar is one of Nepal's largest ethnic groups. Magars dominate the Dhaulagiri area's southern and western parts. According to the 2011 census, the country's third-largest ethnic community, the ethnic group makes up 7.1 % of Nepali's population.Tharu​The Tharu people are native to the Terai region, and the government of Nepal considers them as official citizens. Tharu makes up 6.5% of all Nepalese, making them the country's fourth-largest ethnic group.Newar​Newar people in Nepal make up about half of the Kāthmāndu Valley population. They speak a language that belongs to the Tibeto-Burman community, but Indian religious and social traditions have strongly influenced their culture. Nepal's Newar population in the early 21st century is estimated to be about 1,250,000.Collectively, some other casts such as Tamang, Kami, Madheshi, Muslims, Yadav, and Rai comprise about 25 % of Nepalese people. Hindu is with Buddhism, the dominant religion in Nepal.Festivals of NepalNepal is home to a number of ethnic and indigenous groups. It is a multi-lingual and diverse melting pot. More than 60 ethnic groups have been documented, and many are still developing, with their own culture and customs. They have been celebrating their special festivals. In Nepal, in various months, people celebrate national festivals and regional fairs throughout the year. Some of the famous festivals are the following.MagheSankaranti​According to the Nepali calendar, MagheSakranti is celebrated on the first day of Magh in January. People eat a variety of delicious foods, including ghee, laddoo and Chaku, and sweet potatoes. Married sisters come to the joy of their family.Fagupurnima ​Fagupurnima is a vibrant festival that takes place on a full moon day during March. By throwing colors and water at each other, people celebrate this festival. It's wonderfully celebrated in Nepal's Terai provinces.Mahashivratri ​The festival of MahaShivratri is devoted to Lord Shiva, observed by the Hindus, usually in March on the no-moon day. A large fair organized by millions of Hindu devotees in the city of Pashupatinath. Sadhus are carving their bodies through the ashes and worshiping Shiva all night long.Ghodejatra​Ghodejatra is also regarded as a festival of the horse race, generally held at the end of March (15 Chaitra). It's magnificent to watch horse activities in Tundikhel by police and army horses. The visitors were usually high-ranking government officials or high-level staff.Gai Jatra​In August, Gai Jatra is held, particularly in the Kathmandu Valley. Participants are from those households that have lost any one or all of their family members. King Pratap Malla started to comfort his mother, who was deeply saddened by a son's death. This revealed that it was not only the royal family who missed their loved one but many families as well.Buddha Jayanti and LhosarBuddha Jayanti is Lord Buddha's birthday celebration. Buddhist and Hindu devotees march and visit Buddhist Stupas and attempt to spread the world's message of peace.Losar is New Year for Tibet. People are celebrating it on singing, dancing, and eating delicious food for several days. Tibetans assemble with their masks around the Stupa.Chhath Parba and Teej​Chhath is a festival of worshiping the rising and setting sun by dipping into the water their half of the body. It is mostly celebrated by married women in the Terai region. During the festival, they keep fasting and sing folk songs.Teej is a three-day festival celebrated by Hindu people. In August or early September, it usually falls. The celebration is held in order to wish the husband's long life.Vijayadashami and Deepawali​Dashain is Nepal's longest holiday, held for 15 days. It's dropped from September to October. The Hindu people worship Durga for nine days and put Tika and Jamara together with the elders' blessing on the 10th day until the 15th day.Deepawali is known as the Tihar Festival, which is held during the fall for five days. It's the lighting show. On the fifth day, sisters put tika and garlands called "Bhaitika" on giving some kind of gifts to their brothers and friends. It is known as the party, which makes a good friendship between brothers and sisters.Adventures sports in NepalNepal gives you various athletic experiences in an exciting way, like the Bungee Jump in the 160-meter deep George on the banks of the river Bhotekoshi, 90 km from Kathmandu city, mountain biking on a natural path over the Himalayan plateau, paragliding over the Himalayan river in Pokhara, mountain flight with a view of 100 mountains at one time, kayaking and rafting on a swift stream.Bungee Jumping:​There are two main bungee jumping spots in Nepal. One is situated above the Bhotekoshi River in Pokhara and the other in The Last Resort. The one above the river Bhotekoshi is 160 meters high and is the world's second-largest bungee. It's amazing the sense of freefall you get while plunging through the water. This is one of Nepal's most exceptional ways to get an unforgettable rush of adrenaline.Rafting:​Nepal is known for whitewater rafting in the fast-flowing Himalayan Rivers over the harsh water flow. Mainly, Bhotekoshi River and Trishuli River rafting is regarded as Nepal's adventure sports. Such rivers make you feel nature's control over you and make you think how worthless you are when sunk into these celestial wonders. While you're floating on the raft, the sensation of rapids is fantastic.Ziplining:​Pokhara's high-floor experiences provide you with the most incredible Zip lining experience. Pokhara's Zip-line is the world's longest, steepest and shortest Zip-line. This Zip-line has a vertical drop of 600 meters, 1.8 KM long, achieving a speed of 140+ KM/hour. Even, it's fantastic to see the beautiful views of Pokhara and the mountains as you fly through the sky.Paragliding:​​There are several paragliding options available in Nepal. Paragliding in Nepal is best known from Pokhara's Sarangkot. This place's paragliding gives you the feeling of soaring like a drone in the lap of the mountains. You can see the hills all around you while the magnificent lake of Fewa shines in the distance.Canyoning:​Canyoning refers to the use of many methods, such as jumping, diving, abseiling, walking, etc. This is done primarily with flowing water in harsh environments. This is a full experience of body and mind that lets you discover some of the Himalayan's last and intense forbidden areas.Everest Skydiving:​Skydiving is regarded as one of the world's most dangerous jumping adventure sports. Add the mountains to this trip now, isn't it looking incredible? Everest Skydiving is one of the tallest mountains in the world in the Everest zone of Nepal. It helps you to dive from the 9000-meter height, which is higher than Mt. Everest's elevation itself. The skydiving passes through the Everest region's mountain ranges and finishes in the village of Syangboche.Mountain Biking:​Nepal is a beautiful place for mountain biking, full of rough terrain and harsh landscapes. You can choose to ride the mountain bike from rocky hills to the Rocky Mountains. The unforgettable feeling in Nepal is the adrenaline rush when you travel along steep roads of peaks all around. Mostly famous in the areas around Pokhara, this sport has possibilities in virtually every area in northern Nepal.Which season is best to visit Nepal? How the weather changes here?Traveling in and through Nepal is not subject to seasonal restrictions. Even in December and January, when winter is at its worst, warm sun and brilliant scenery can be accounted for. As with most of Nepal's trekking areas, spring and autumn are the best time to visit. Spring is the season for blooming rhododendrons, while the clearest clouds will be seen in October and November after the monsoon. Nepal, however, can be visited throughout the year.Nepal has four seasons, including autumn (September and Oct.), winter (Dec. Jan. and Feb.), summer (March, April, and May) and monsoon (June, July, and Aug.). The nights are chilly in the mountains during the winter season, but the bright sun produces warm daytime temperatures. Temperature varies from around 20 ° C to perhaps -10 ° C at night at a higher altitude. Generally, morning is sunny, and then afternoon clouds build-up, fading at night to reveal dazzling starry skies.How Safe is Nepal?Nepal is a relatively safe country in general, and Nepalese is one of the friendliest people ever encountered. When you headed south towards the Terai and the Nepali-Indian border crossings, these threats were significantly escalated, and locating a safe hotel became a much more arduous task. Travelers heading south must receive itinerary-specific advice prior to the trip to make sure that safe lodging is scheduled in advance.Nepal is a peaceful nation, and there seems to be no terrorist activity ever occurring, despite overviewing the country from the past. Anyone can trustfully find Nepal as a secure destination for travelers for a foreign traveler. Thanks to rough roads and a few transport modes, driving with your own car can minimize the transportation headache in remote areas. If you're talking about natural disasters like earthquakes, make sure it's coming right now where you're at.Nepalese are polite, compassionate, and kind-hearted, so when traveling to Nepal, you can quickly get help while you are in trouble. You don't have to think much about burglary or robbery, but you have to be a little vigilant. It's as safe for women as it is for boys. In Nepal, a guest is like gods, and it's pronounced "Atithi Devo bhava" in Nepalese language.Is Nepal a costly country for travelers?Living costs in Nepal were 59.20 percent lower than in the U.S., France, and Britain. There is a wide range of accommodation costs in Nepal. This varies depending on where you're living. Cities like Kathmandu, Pokhara, and Chitwan can provide you with a wide variety of lodging options. The rooms with a low budget can be rented at about $10 per day. The rates may be as high as $100 per day based on where you're living. If you're far from these cities and walk to the mesmerizing Himalayas, the price of lodging is about $2-$5 for a day's sleep. There's not much to choose from. If you're going to other cities, the average daily cost is $10-$20. If we're talking about food and traveling; food costs depend entirely on your preference. But each meal costs about $5 in the high areas. Nepal's transportation costs were somewhat the same. Any internal flight can be estimated to be between $100-$200. Local bus tariffs for a day-long journey can take up to $10-20, depending on the bus you use.It's an honor for Nepali people to welcome the tourists with all kind heart and pleasant smile with soft talk. Nepal has a huge population who follows the Hindu religion, and with second-highest populations, they follow Buddhism and fewer number of the population follows other religions too. But having such numbers of religion and their followers, there is zero fight or discrimination has occurred till now in the name of religion. People believe peace and humanity instead of giving priority to their faith.The traveling, food, lodging/Hotel, and tours are very cheaper than the expected and which makes everyone comfortable to visit Nepal again and again.