The Weather

I made the decision to come to Terai for June and July. Despite a litany of research and first-hand information from staff on the ground, I still was not quite ready for the heat. The good thing about Nepal is that everywhere has a fan. The bad thing about Nepal is the frequent power cuts. I slept with a small portable fan, which has been my trusty companion in sticky situations while volunteering around the world, and I certainly recommend bringing something small in addition should you choose to visit in the summer months. I have never known heat like this, which will cause power cuts (and sometimes that means the water cuts out too). Pro tips: sleep in a wet T-shirt and sit around with your feet in a bucket of water. On cooler days, I would make sure to take walks where it was possible. It was great to get outside and see the surrounding back streets more, but also to take advantage of a breeze. I think when I head back to Kathmandu, I will need a jumper as high 20s will feel too chilly. The bonus, though, of travelling to Terai in the summer is Mango Season. Now, if you have ever had an in-season mango from a country that actually grows mangos, you will understand that there might be nothing better in this whole world.

Carts, trolleys, buckets and every other vessel possible line street corners and markets laden with these golden gems. I would buy 1.5-kilo bags for 100 rupees, about 50p in the UK, and it would take everything in my power not to eat them all in one sitting. If you want to get some local mangoes, I highly recommend your first street vendor experience to be with one of the local staff. Vendors will try to sneak the older or rotting mangoes into your bag without you looking, and if you’re not careful, your supply will not be as majestic as it could be. I was grateful to have someone with me to help me learn which mangoes are best, and to keep a sharp eye on cheeky vendors. A delicious and refreshing lunch that will live in my memory was a handful of shaved rice with mango and banana. Shaved rice, a new experience for me, can best be related to crunchy porridge oats. We then took mangoes and bananas and crushed them with our hands. Once adequately mashed, you mix the concoction together. On a real-feel temperature day of 45 Celsius, a lunch like this is exactly what you need.