16/09/2025
Namaste everyone,
Life in the city is slowly getting back on track. Everywhere in Kathmandu, groups of people – including many young people – are actively cleaning up, tidying streets, and coming together to process their experiences in this way.
On Sunday, I walked through the city with Vaya and Arjun to see with my own eyes how the rebuilding has begun.
You could say that normal life is returning, though there is still a timid atmosphere. It’s hard to know whether we should feel happy about the changes underway; the pain of loss is still present, which creates a very strange feeling. In just five days, our country has changed from within. How must it feel for people to walk the streets in ‘freedom’ after years of conflict, while even for us it feels so surreal?
Schools have reopened, and today our own children had their first day back. I find it challenging to get back into the rhythm of things; yesterday I mostly spent time tidying and cleaning the house and cooking for everyone. Now I’m back at my laptop for some work, but I feel deeply that time for healing is essential—not only for myself, but also to be fully present for our family and the people around us.
Basanta was able to attend his cooking course again, but in a heavily damaged building: no windows left in the frames, and the smell of smoke everywhere. He just got home and is quite shaken: the classroom is on the third floor of a shopping center, where many gas cylinders for the cooking equipment are stored. The first two floors were completely burned out. With great effort, local bystanders—since the fire brigade did not respond that day—managed to bring the fire under control. If they had arrived an hour later, the building would have exploded. Experiences like this leave a deep impression of course.
Back to the facts:
The death toll has risen to at least 72. Tomorrow has been declared a national day of mourning. Over the past few days, the Prime Minister has visited many hospitals to support the victims. Yesterday, she appointed three new ministers, and the country is slowly moving towards reconstruction. The major political parties, currently ‘on hold,’ are trying to regain influence and re-enter the political arena. It seems the new Prime Minister is holding the reins firmly and continues to provide strong counterbalance.
Of course, it remains uncertain how things will develop, but we are grateful that the way is open again for our guests. The trekking season is just around the corner, and we are looking forward to welcoming new travelers soon—both at our guesthouse and on the treks in the mountains. Our volunteers are also of great importance at this time: we look forward to continuing our projects together, which is especially meaningful for the children who have experienced so much.
After such intense days, it gives strength to look ahead and to share, together, in the beauty and resilience of Nepal.