This month, Travel Channel is airing what it calls “1,000 places to see before you die.” You should tape the program that way you can rewatch it. Perhaps it will provide you with something to undertand the unique atmosphere Nepal offers to you.

The documentary showed key places in Nepal for the tourists and the things they should do here such as rafting. Show wasn’t long enough to give you even the taste of what nepal offers. The sunrise view from “nagarkot” failed to show the true magic - couples were in a cloudy day there! They could have gone to the extreme place “Daman” which provides even better view of the Himalaya and sunrise. The problem is, it is located far from the easy Kathmandu and requires taking a bus which climbs a mountain vertically!! Perhaps the couples have limited time or budget or they could not find a helicopter, all of them are very unlikely given the momentum and magnitude of this program.

Like most commercial shows, it remained the same: fast paced, providing zero moments for viewers to think before the next chapter rolls in. The moments they wished to grasp were taken over by ads.

Clay Pot making in Bhaktapur was another rush, just showing the work but not the beauty. Those clay masters create more than the piggy banks. They are one of the finest artists in the world and their presentation is definately not upto the mark of Travel Channel

More of the ads and less of the program is what tv has become. It is really sad.

Is the length of the program for each country the same ?

Travel Channel, the name is great but it could do more. There are other channels offering similar programs such as National Geography Channel (which by the way really appears as the international geography!) Hope the “the couples visiting the places to see before we die” do not rush in other countries, use not only the book that inspired them to travel, but also keep the “viewers in mind” while shooting the documentary. Your viewers are not just interested in your hugs and faces in great places. Give them the time to observe places and your moments so they can travel vicariously and hopefully enjoy your show. Hope there are more journeys into places on the planet by other couples and by other channels as well.

All in all, our country “Nepal” says, “thank you for showing me to the world but please tell them they really have to land in my land.. Go away from my cities, enter into my villages, hills where you will walk in the clouds cuddling my nature. Leave your comfort zones to see and feel my real beauty”

Useful Resources from the Travel Channel

• Photos - Nepal - 1000 Places to Visit
• TV Schedule, US - For others, look for the schedule offered by your local country site/channel.
• Special program on Nepal “Beyond Borders” by TravelChannel.Co.Uk