art of simplicity: café moments

i love café culture. i enjoy sitting in a café, drinking a cup of nice coffee, reading a book or just watching the passer-bys. it allows me to pause from the constant rush and breathe. the café's interior décor and smoothing background music, coupled with an enticing menu of drinks and cakes create an ambience, perfect to sit back and relax. there is a sense of happiness in the air.

when i was in nepal for holiday in september 2011, i finally had the luxury to explore the different cafés in thamel, one of the busiest areas in kathmandu. there were many hotels, tour agencies, camping equipment, souvenir and tea shops, restaurants and cafes, catering to the different needs of the tourists. it seemed like a world of its own, bustling with activities.

i was staying with my trekking guide whom i known 3 years ago. he was kind enough to let me stay at his place for this trip. every morning, i would ride on his scooter and follow him to thamel where he had 2 tea shops. i would stop by at his tea shop for a cup of tea before i set off to check out the different cafés. the cafes were within walking distance from one another, making me spoilt with choices. i was excited to experience the leisure of sitting in a café and watching the world go by. i always wanted to do that in singapore but did not really have the chance to do it.

the cafés in thamel were spacious and i could easily find a quiet spot to sit for a long time. most of the time, the cafés were not crowded. i would order a drink, maybe a cup of latte or tea. after making myself comfortable, i started to observe the interior décor, furniture and people in the café. i became present to what i was seeing, how i was feeling and letting these moments sank in. time did not seem important. the world seemed serene. nothing more mattered. in the silence, i could faintly hear the whispers of my heart, of what it was trying to say. my heart felt peaceful, thankful, grateful, contented and fulfilled. that was all it needed, a space to rest. maybe this was all we needed, peace in the heart.

for the whole trip, i visited a few cafés, each had its unique style and evoked different feelings in me. sometimes, i could even visit 2 places within a day! i would read my book or write my journal in the cafés, enjoying the time with myself.

the café moments were definitely one of the highlights of the trip where i felt connected to my heart and we enjoyed the moments together. = )