14 December 2025
Cold Nights, Warm Hearts & Quiet Alignment
Last night taught me one very important thing:
Nepal winter is not joking. 😂
The room was so cold it caught me completely off guard. I switched off the air-conditioning, but the chill lingered anyway; deep, sharp and unapologetic.
I layered up, slipped into warm socks, fixed heating plasters onto my aching back and knees and crawled under the thick white comforter that smelled surprisingly lovely. (Still wondering what they use as it felt like a hug).
Midway through the night, I reached for my gloves… and Cinto’s shawl : now officially promoted to ear warmer. Bless her kind soul for that gift was divinely timed. 😊
“How am I going to survive this cold during Vipassana?”
That thought crossed my mind more than once.
But maybe this is part of it, to learn, to sit with discomfort instead of fighting it.
I fell asleep with Spotify playing softly and woke up around 4am, after about four hours of sleep. It was even colder than before.
Hot coffee helped. So did another round of reorganizing my bags, slowly separating what I’ll take to the centre and what I’ll leave behind at Hotel Lakhey.
This place continues to surprise me with its generosity. They’ve kindly offered to store my extra bag at no charge until I return on 25/12!! and yes, I’ll be staying here again. Their hospitality has made this transition feel safe and supported.
After sending messages to friends, students and my cousins, I took a hot shower, got dressed and headed down for breakfast.
Sitting in the lounge this morning, I realised something quietly profound:
I feel calm.
Grounded.
At ease.
There’s a softness in how I’m seeing people here; strangers included. I feel affection without reason. Familiarity without history.
Maybe I was Nepalese in a past life? 😄
Even the two big stray dogs I crossed paths with yesterday kept their distance; unlike back home where dogs seem much more curious. Confirmation accepted. 😂
While having breakfast, Arbin from the front desk came over to introduce himself and suggest some tours I could do after Vipassana. As we spoke, yoga naturally came up and that’s when another moment of synchronicity unfolded.
A woman from China gently spoke up, apologizing for eavesdropping.
Her name is Stacy. She heard me mention Vipassana and yoga and suddenly we were exchanging stories like old friends.
She’s here learning sound healing, has done a non-silent Vipassana before and wants to do the silent one next time. She even recommended a yoga studio nearby ‘YogConnection’, which I’ll visit after the retreat. Yayy!! 🧘🏻♀️
Stacy and I connected instantly.
Another reminder: when you’re aligned, the right people find you.
In a few hours, I’ll leave Hotel Lakhey and head to the city council, where Vipassana transport will take us to Dhamma Shringar, Muhan Pokhari.
From there, the silence begins.
For now, I’m sitting with gratitude.
For warmth found in unexpected places.
For kindness offered freely.
For the quiet knowing that I’m exactly where I need to be.
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