Welcome to my first newsletter.
I knew I wanted to make this first one about my love for the mountains, and what better place to start than here, in the Khumbu region of Nepal.
Right now, I’m living in Namche Bazaar, at 3,440 meters above sea level, and one of the things I love most about being here is that I can walk out the door and hike in almost any direction. Long or short hikes, they all challenge you. The steep inclines, thin air, and unpredictable weather are the perfect training ground for someone like me.
And the best part? You never stop being amazed by what’s around you.
One of my favorite places to hike to is a small village called Khumjung, just an hour away from Namche. The trail winds upward past Sagarmatha Next, then veers left. It’s not the longest hike, but the altitude (3,790 m) and elevation gain make every step count. And yet, it’s worth it every single time.
I first discovered Khumjung when I came to Namche for the very first time.
My friends Heman and Jo recommended a guest house owned by Chhutin and her husband Pasang — and from the moment I arrived, I felt something shift.
I was blown away by the peaceful atmosphere, the simplicity of life there, and… by the potato pancakes they made for me every morning.
But what truly stayed with me was something deeper
a quiet kind of magic that lives in this place.

Here’s what I’ve realized:
What truly draws me to the mountains, again and again, is their simplicity.
There are no cars, no fancy restaurants, no brands to impress anyone.
No one cares about what you wear, what you own, or what you do.
You’re always fully covered from head to toe anyway, makeup and jewelry are pointless in the cold.
And somehow, that strips away everything unnecessary, and makes space for peace.
In the mountains, I am accepted simply for who I am.
Not for what I do or what I’ve achieved.
Everyone is treated equally: a guest, a human being.
Even when I found out that next week the same guesthouse would be fully booked by a Hollywood film crew, I laughed.
Chhutin casually told me they were filming an Everest movie and “some Tom” was coming (turns out it’s Tom Hiddleston, portraying Sir Edmund Hillary!).
But what I loved most was that even then, she only agreed to the booking if they covered the cost of guests she had already promised space to.
Fame means nothing here.
Ego melts in the mountains.
The only thing that truly matters is nature.
The mountains. The stars. A warm meal. A safe place to sleep.
Hot water to warm your hands. A local’s laughter. Feeling like one of their own.
That’s what I love about Khumjung — and life up here.
I can focus on eating slowly. On observing. On simply being.
Here, it’s easy to be present.
And to me, that’s everything.

The mountains reminded me that simplicity isn’t lack — it’s clarity.
When we strip away the noise, everything becomes more clear.
And maybe, just maybe, that’s what we’re all really seeking.