Seeking Souls in South Asia

One of the things I loved about Pokhara, Nepal was that as time went on, walking down the street was met by more and more familiar faces. With each person we me, it would link us to someone new. Soon enough, we had a friend at every turn.

One of the best places to stop in and chat over a cup of chai was the jewelry shop of our artisanal jeweler friend and precious stones expert, Shiva.

There are many shops in the Lakeside, Pokhara area. Tourists from all over flock to enjoy the area’s natural beauty, from the grand and beautiful Phewa Lake to the breathtaking views of the white, snowy caps of the Annapurna Himalayan Mountain Range off in the near distance. It is the perfect place for tourists to stay, and thus, an even more perfect location to set up business.

Walking down the street, despite the serenity of the surrounding natural landscape, you can’t help but feel distracted by the local vendors, eager to capitalize on the opportunity of the tourists passing by. Being the prime target grew exhausting.

But our friend Shiva, owner of just one of the many jewelry shops, was different.

In fact, the more we got to know Shiva, it became more and more clear that he is anything but a salesman. When we wanted to buy jewelry and asked for his opinion on different stones or styles, he always insisted that we simply choose what we gravitate towards.

As we got to know he and his wife, we loved spending time with them in the shop.

His wife called me "Nepali bahini," meaning Nepalese sister. Every time I saw her, she commented on how Nepalese I look. She didn't speak much English, but would always reiterate to her husband, "Is she sure she was born in the States??" Her face lit up whenever I greeted her with "Namaste Didi," or "Pheeri bataula Didi," meaning "Greetings, wish to see you again, sister."

We learned so much about the stones and their power from Shiva. He was such an incredible story teller, and not due to length or drama or embellishments, but quite the opposite. Every single word was chosen carefully, and was delivered with such passion and intention. And the silences were just as profound; his eyes would grow wide as they spoke with power that equaled that of his words.

He is true. Sincere. Real. As real as it gets.

I think that's what makes his laugh even more rewarding and contagious; it's always so authentic. He is such a magnetic individual in the most humble of manners. And all that he is shines through his art.