Bishnu and Laxmi are great hosts and we had a lovely time in their beautiful and inspiring home. The home is set a little outside the tourist centre of Pokhara. It is so peaceful and relaxing with dramatic views of the mountains and Lake Fewa. You really get a sense of bucolic bliss as you become immersed in the green, agricultural, vistas (cows, water buffalo and paddy fields). Our hosts were amazing. Kind and informative, Bishnu and Laxmi took time to share their culture, some local words and cuisine with us. I wasn't surprised to learn from a fellow guest, Shane, that many guests are repeat returnees as Bishnu and Laxmi have created a welcoming and friendly environment at their Homestay.

Yamba Traditional Home encapsulates all the very best attributes of Kathmandu - the history, mystery, style, warmth and friendliness. It is set in a restored and renovated 100 year old plus traditional Newari multi-story home. The style, warmth and friendliness are supplied in abundance by the wonderful, host family who take you in and wrap you up in the sincere generosity of their welcome. The history comes from Yamba’s restoration and setting down a warren of mystical, magical, red-bricked and be-shrined streets where life exists in all its states and the mystery lies in where exactly will Yamba’s stairs end!!!?? The sky? The stairs snake up through the historic, interior of the building with a reward at the summit in the terrace breakfast (yummy, traditional, Newari food is proffered and I loved the cumin infused fried eggs ) room with profound views over Patan. Initially, we stayed in Yamba Traditional Home for two nights before heading off for three days to explore other parts of Nepal. After which, and on our return to Yamba the night before our flight, my friend commented that she was “home.” Yamba felt very much our “home" in Nepal. The facts are that the showers were powerful with constant hot water, the rooms, in traditional style were secure and comfy and the beds, sleep inducing. However, the attributes that set Yamba apart from other hotels such as homeliness are derived from the interaction with the host family: from Pradeep’s stories and how the Dad disappears every evening to feed a dog across the city, to beautiful, jocular Mamou and her warm, contagious laugh. I loved every minute of my stay there. We must give special thanks and mention to Pradeep. He is quite simply “the host with the most.” From the moment, he collected us at the airport to our departure, he couldn’t do enough, he always went the extra mile, nothing was too difficult, and everything was there on demand. He provided every service, from securing taxi services, laundry, take-away food and a river of tea! Everything was done quietly and efficiently and was done from the heart. I loved our chats as he is so erudite and knowledgeable on a myriad of subjects, history, politics, economics and “the As to Zs” of Kathmandu life. His recommendations are to be heeded! The guy is a genius! It took me a few days to write this as I was and remain scared that my paltry words wouldn’t honor Pradeep and all at Yamba Traditional Home enough. My friend and I, left them and Kathmandu to return to our normalish lives, addicted to “namaste,” warm, sincere smiles and copious amounts of Nepali tea, refreshed, invigorated and imbued with the knowledge that we will never, ever stay in a “Chain Hotel” ever again. And when we return to Nepal, which we will inevitably do, we will stay at Yamba Traditional Home.