WANDEROUS

Come on, grab your friends! Today, we venture down the spiraling staircase into Gupteshwor Cave (Nepal’s most famous cave) and check out the roaring Devi Falls just next door. Wet, wild, and unforgettable.

Show Notes

• 🎥 YouTube Short: My Wet & Wacky Video About Gupteshwor Cave
• 🎥 YouTube Short: Also, I met a purple Ganesh just outside of the cave
• 🎧 My Hawaii audiobook on YouTube, now free! (10+ hours of pure entertainment)
• FOR SUPPORTERS: 26 Exclusive Gupteshwor Cave photos drop Wednesday on my Patreon.
• 📸 PATREON PERKS: You can follow my Patreon for member-only episodes, plus exclusive photos and video: https://patreon.com/hellocrusoe (It’s free to follow.) 
• 📚 READ MY BOOK FOR FREE: My Hawaii travel memoir Ten Thousand Hours in Paradise: Arrival is now free (for a limited time) on Kindle Unlimited → Start reading for free here →
• 🎧 SUBSCRIBE: Follow WANDEROUS for free on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, YouTube & more so you never miss an adventure! All links here →
  

Hiking Sarangkot Hill is one of the best things to do in Pokhara, Nepal! In this episode, I share my trek to the top, why the gondola isn’t worth it, and the breathtaking views you’ll see along the way. Plus, a little behind-the-scenes from writing my upcoming Kaleidoscopic Sci-Fi series. Annapurna Range was so magical, and I even found cool companions along the way.

Show Notes

• 🎥 YouTube Short: My Hike to Sarangkot Hill
• 🎧 My Hawaii audiobook on YouTube, now free! (10+ hours of pure entertainment)
• FOR SUPPORTERS: 20 Exclusive Sarangkot photos drop Wednesday on my Patreon.
• 📸 PATREON PERKS: You can follow my Patreon for member-only episodes, plus exclusive photos and video: https://patreon.com/hellocrusoe (It’s free to follow.) 
• 📚 READ MY BOOK FOR FREE: My Hawaii travel memoir Ten Thousand Hours in Paradise: Arrival is now free (for a limited time) on Kindle Unlimited → Start reading for free here →
• 🎧 SUBSCRIBE: Follow WANDEROUS for free on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, YouTube & more so you never miss an adventure! All links here →
  

Today, we cover some of my favorite parts about being in Pokhara and the very special Tihar festival, complete with mandalas, dances, and more LED lights than you can believe.

Show Notes

• 🎥 YouTube Short: A Silly Video of looking for Broccoli & A Tihar Dance at the end!
• 🎥 YouTube Short: Some cool live music at a vegan cafe near Phewa Lake
• 🧭 Travel Tip: When in Pokhara, go to the Movie Garden. Their Instagram is here: @moviegardenpokhara
• 🕉️ Background Info: In case you were curious about the history of the Svastik, here’s a decent linguistic page about its history.
• Also: a surprise language lesson 😂
• FOR SUPPORTERS: 30 Exclusive Pokhara photos drop Wednesday on my Patreon.
• 📸 PATREON PERKS: You can follow my Patreon for member-only episodes, plus exclusive photos and video: https://patreon.com/hellocrusoe (It’s free to follow.) 
• 📚 READ MY BOOK FOR FREE: My Hawaii travel memoir Ten Thousand Hours in Paradise: Arrival is now free (for a limited time) on Kindle Unlimited → Start reading for free here →
• 🎧 SUBSCRIBE: Follow WANDEROUS for free on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, YouTube & more so you never miss an adventure! All links here →
  

After an 8-hour bus ride from Kathmandu, my time in Pokhara got off to a rocky start, including one of my weirder Couchsurfing stays. But I did meet a Gurkha soldier and experienced rural Nepali life! 😅 In the end, I visited 7 hotels before choosing one for my long-term stay. Hear why and how I made the final call.

Show Notes

• 🎥 YouTube Short: Live music at Vegan Way Café — with a gorgeous view of Phewa Lake.
• 🧭 Travel Tip: Outlined in this episode, my spontaneous hotel-hunting technique in unfamiliar cities.
• 🪖 Background Info: In case you’re not sure what Gurkha is and why meeting one was quite interesting, here’s some info.
• FOR SUPPORTERS: 30 Exclusive Pokhara photos drop Wednesday on my Patreon, including secret lookouts, local street life, and behind-the-scenes of hotel scouting.
• 📸 PATREON PERKS: You can follow my Patreon for member-only episodes, plus exclusive photos and video: https://patreon.com/hellocrusoe (It’s free to follow.) 
• 📚 READ MY BOOK FOR FREE: My Hawaii travel memoir Ten Thousand Hours in Paradise: Arrival is now free (for a limited time) on Kindle Unlimited → Start reading for free here →
• 🎧 SUBSCRIBE: Follow WANDEROUS for free on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, YouTube & more so you never miss an adventure! All links here →
  

This one’s got it all: Couchsurfing adventures, market missions, street snacks, and sacred temples. We roam through Thamel trying to find my host a shaver, snack on sweets at Tip-Top, return to Pashupatinath for a glimpse of riverside cremations, and somehow end up making vegan cheese sauce (don’t worry, I share the recipe). We try momos, battle minor food poisoning, and close out with my tried-and-true stomach survival tips. That’s a wrap for Kathmandu. Pokhara next!

Show Notes

• 🎥 YouTube Short: Of the Gold of Pashupatinath Temple from the hill—haunting and peaceful.
• 🪒 Shaver Swap Saga: My Couchsurfing host tried to trade razors with me. Yes, really.
• 🥤 Correction Corner: I meant to say Pepsi Town, not Coca-Cola City. 😂
• 🧀 Vegan Cheese Sauce Recipe: Got questions about the cashew sauce recipe? Drop a comment!
• 🛕 Pashupatinath Caveat: This visit barely scratched the surface—don’t take this episode as a full temple guide.
• 🚰 Water Warning: Here’s a blog article about fake Bisleri water that I mentioned. Stick to real Bisleri in Nepal & India.
• FOR SUPPORTERS: Exclusive Pashupatinath Night-Time photos drop Wednesday on my Patreon.
• 📸 PATREON PERKS: You can follow my Patreon for member-only episodes, plus exclusive photos and video: https://patreon.com/hellocrusoe (It’s free to follow.) 
• 📚 READ MY BOOK FOR FREE: My Hawaii travel memoir Ten Thousand Hours in Paradise: Arrival is now free (for a limited time) on Kindle Unlimited → Start reading for free here →
• 🎧 SUBSCRIBE: Follow WANDEROUS for free on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, YouTube & more so you never miss an adventure! All links here →
  

We venture to Swayambhunath, the ancient hilltop temple overlooking Kathmandu. From vivid art to serene moments beneath the massive stupa, this site radiates myth and meaning. Revered as one of Nepal’s most sacred pilgrimage spots, it invites deep reflection, but don’t expect enlightenment. In the final segment, we explore what humility (and noisy inner voices) can teach us during meditation.

Show Notes

• 🎥 YouTube Short: The intense moment I mention where people feed the monkeys… and almost get bitten!
• 🎭 Masks & Mythology: A YouTube Short of the wild, colorful masks I found near the stupa.
• ✨ Temple Cleanse: A short video of the temple being lovingly cleaned and a glimpse of the huge vajra in front of the stupa. This one really captures the golden late-afternoon ambiance.
• 🪷 Temple Walk: A lighthearted video of me exploring the temple grounds and explaining the myth of the giant lotus that formed the hill itself.
• 🧘 Spoken Dharma: A video of a serene Buddha statue while someone nearby explains Buddhism basics, a cool and spontaneous moment.
• 🚗 Rideshare Tips: Use Pathao or InDrive to get around Kathmandu affordably. That’s how I got to Swayambhu, quickly and cheaply.
• 🛝 FOR SUPPORTERS: Exclusive Swayambhunath photos drop Wednesday (30 of them!) on my Patreon. Expect close-ups of mani wheels, hand-carved art, monkey mayhem, and panoramic Kathmandu skyline views.
• 📸 PATREON PERKS: You can follow my Patreon for member-only episodes, plus exclusive photos and video: https://patreon.com/hellocrusoe (It’s free to follow.) 
• 📚 READ MY BOOK FOR FREE: My Hawaii travel memoir Ten Thousand Hours in Paradise: Arrival is now free (for a limited time) on Kindle Unlimited → Start reading for free here →
• 🎧 SUBSCRIBE: Follow WANDEROUS for free on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, YouTube & more so you never miss an adventure! All links here →
  

I explore Bhatbhateni, spot wildly overpriced cereal, learn Nepali numbers, meet temple monkeys, say hello to an orange Ganesh, and visit the coolest market in Kathmandu!

Show Notes

• 🎥 YouTube Short: Baby Monkeys at Pashupatinath! (In the episode, I forgot to mention that this was actually my first real interaction with Asian monkeys.)
• TRAVEL TIP: Check out Kaidako Coffee House (chill vibes, good coffee.)
• ✨ We explore the symbolism of the Vajra in this episode. You’ll be seeing a lot of them in Nepal!
• 🔢 Curious about the numbers I referenced? Here’s a great Wikipedia article on what the Nepali numerals look like. Maybe you’ll be able to learn them too
• 🛍️ DON’T MISS: The Thamel market — chaotic, colorful, and unforgettable!
• 🚗 RIDESHARE TIPS: Use Pathao or InDrive to get around Kathmandu affordably.
• 🍛 TRAVEL HACK: Near Pashupatinath, you might just find bottomless dal bhat for under $1 if you know where to look!
• 🛝 FOR SUPPORTERS: Exclusive Kathmandu photos drop Wednesday on my Patreon,  including temples, street shots, and vibrant Thamel moments.
• 📸 PATREON PERKS: You can follow my Patreon for free to submit questions for future episodes, get member-only exclusive episodes, plus exclusive photos and video: https://patreon.com/hellocrusoe
• 📚 BONUS: My Hawaii travel memoir Ten Thousand Hours in Paradise: Arrival is now free on Kindle Unlimited → Start reading for free here →
• 🎧 SUBSCRIBE: Follow WANDEROUS for free on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, YouTube & more so you never miss an adventure! All links here →
  

Why October is my favorite time to visit Nepal and how I stumbled upon one of the country’s most heartwarming (and airborne) traditions.

Show Notes

• 🎥 YouTube Short: Watch the big Dashain swing (linge ping) in action! Although I think the TikTok version has better music! (The mountain backdrop in Kirtipur is absolutely stunning.)
• ✨ We explore the beliefs behind Dashain (when good triumphs over evil) and why Nepalis believe you should leave the ground at least once per year. The swings are one joyful way they do that.
• 🛏️ TRAVEL TIP: I keep mentioning Couchsurfing.com because it really shaped my Nepal trip. Great connections, warm homes, and unforgettable experiences.
• 🛋️ Give Back: If you use Couchsurfing, try to give back. Cook a meal, help tidy up, or fix something (ask first! lol). Small gestures go a long way.
• 🚰 Water Warning: Don’t drink the tap water anywhere in Asia. It’s not worth the risk.
• 🥙 Gut Health Tip: Street food can be tempting, but be careful. If you're new to a region, stick to cooked foods and consider taking probiotics (lentils help too!).
• 📱 Quick eSewa Review: I tried Nepal’s QR-based, cashless payment system, eSewa. In the episode, I discuss why I stopped using it after a few days.
• 🛝 FOR SUPPORTERS: Exclusive Dashain Festival photos drop Wednesday on my Patreon! Expect vibrant countryside vistas, Linge Ping swing moments, and colorful festival moments from Kirtipur.
• 📸 PATREON PERKS: You can follow my Patreon for free to submit questions for future episodes, get member-only exclusive episodes, plus exclusive photos and video: https://patreon.com/hellocrusoe
• 📚 BONUS: My Hawaii travel memoir Ten Thousand Hours in Paradise: Arrival is now free on Kindle Unlimited → Start reading for free here →
• 🎧 SUBSCRIBE: Follow WANDEROUS for free on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, YouTube & more so you never miss an adventure! All links here →
  

Sometimes when no ATM will work, you end up walking halfway across a capital city. Don’t make the same mistake I did. 😆 This was one harrowing (and unforgettable) 24 hours.

Show Notes

• 🎥 YouTube Short: From Istanbul to Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu in 12 hours (in which I consent to looking like a total mess on the internet.)
• 💳 TRAVEL TIP: Always carry more than 2 credit cards. Seriously.
• 💸 NOTE: I would have gone to a money-changer, but since it was early morning on a Sunday, they were closed.
• 📱 TRAVEL TIP: NCell is the cell company I used in Nepal. Here’s their website. There were good! (“incel” joke notwithstanding 😆) 
• 💳 TRAVEL TIP: I checked and I used NABIL ATMs. They were reliable for pulling cash with my American credit card. But you'll always want to check for any fees associated with your particular bank.
• 🥵 TRAVEL TIP: Don’t walk across Kathmandu if you can help it.
• 🛏️ TRAVEL TIP: Give Couchsurfing.com a try — I’ve met some of the kindest people through it.
• 💖 SUPPORTERS: Stay tuned for some harrowing photos from that day, coming on Wednesday to my Patreon, of course.
• 📸 You can follow my Patreon for free to submit questions for future episodes, get member-only exclusive episodes, plus exclusive photos and video: https://patreon.com/hellocrusoe
• 📚 BONUS: My Hawaii travel memoir Ten Thousand Hours in Paradise: Arrival is now FREE with Kindle Unlimited. Start reading for free here →
• 🎧 SUBSCRIBE: Follow WANDEROUS for free on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, YouTube & more so you never miss an adventure! All links here →
  

In which I go to a Turkish bathhouse that’s over 560 years old and get covered in foam. Was it relaxing? Weird? Unforgettable? All of the above. This episode is all about Ağa Hamamı (the oldest working Turkish bath in Istanbul) and why you should definitely make time for one, too.

Show Notes

• 🎥 YouTube Short: My Review Video of Ağa Hamamı (foam, heat, marble slabs — it's all here)
• 🕌 TRAVEL TIP: Visiting a Turkish bathhouse is a must-do in Istanbul. Get a package that includes a massage. 10/10, would steam again.
• 📍 TRAVEL TIP: Want a killer (& free) rooftop view of the city and Galata Tower? Check out Galata Konak Cafe. Here’s a Google Maps link.
• 🔭 TRAVEL TIP: Sometimes the best views aren’t from the top of the monument, but from nearby vistas. This applies worldwide.
• Oh, and here’s the website for Ağa Hamamı Bathhouse. Apparently it’s the oldest one in Istanbul that’s still functioning. Wow!
• SUPPORTERS: Stay tuned for some eye-popping photos of Istanbul at night, as well as a few photos I snuck of the interior of the bathhouse, coming on Wednesday to my Patreon, of course.
• 📸 You can follow my Patreon for free to submit questions for future episodes, get member-only exclusive episodes, plus exclusive photos and video: https://patreon.com/hellocrusoe
• 🎧 Subscribe for Free: Remember to subscribe to this show for free on Spotify, Apple, Amazon, YouTube, and more. All links to subscribe are here, so you never miss an adventure! →