A Norwegian Psychologist Traveler’s Experience of Nepal

Germany: When foreigners are asked about Nepal, the most common answer is that it’s a beautiful Himalayan country. But for Borghild Bø, a clinical psychologist, writer, and lifelong traveler born into a farming family in Norway, Nepal is not just a country. It’s also a place of peace, inspiration, and a spiritual home. Whenever she arrives in Nepal, she feels a deep sense of belonging and inner peace.

Born in a quiet place south of Bergen, Norway, and raised close to nature in a farming family, Borghild first traveled to Nepal in 2007 with the main goal of trekking. Growing up on a farm with her parents, grandparents, and seven siblings made her familiar with nature, responsibility, and community. Looking back, she feels that her early life somehow prepared her for a connection with Nepal.

She said, “I grew up close to nature, silence, and a practical way of life. So even though Nepal is very different from Norway, something within me seemed to recognize its simplicity and authenticity.”

As the youngest daughter in the family, the freedom she was given helped expand her curiosity and desire to understand the world. Her love of travel from an early age eventually brought her to the Himalayan country of Nepal. Having already seen Norway’s tall mountains, her fascination with the Himalayas led her along the Gokyo route to Kalapatthar and Everest Base Camp. That journey, with a small group and Nepali guides, was not only an adventure but also something deeply personal and intimate. What touched her most, however, was not just the scenery, but the atmosphere of Nepal, the warmth of its people, and their perspective on life. It made her realize that Nepal was far more than an ordinary destination.

Her first real adventure began at the age of 20. She said, “When I went to Australia to work on a farm for eight months, that was the beginning of exploration and a lifelong journey for me. After that, one particular journey became a turning point. In 2010, while I was in Varanasi, India, my dear meditation teacher told me, ‘You must go to Muktinath once.’ I went there in 2011, and that journey changed my direction.”

Borghild has traveled to around 80 to 90 countries but has not found the same warmth and peace anywhere else as in Nepal. After spending about 16 years in Australia, she returned to Norway in search of a new beginning, but her life as a traveler continued.

When she first saw Nepal, it felt vibrant, colorful, and dynamic — the smell of incense, the sound of temple bells, and the bustle of the streets. Yet amid all this, she felt an unusual sense of peace.

“It all felt like a completely different world - sounds, colors, movements, incense, temple bells — everything felt alive. And somewhere within it, I felt peace,” she said.

Although unfamiliar, the place felt strangely known. The geographical similarities between Norway and Nepal may also be one reason. This feeling marked the beginning of her connection with Nepal, which has deepened over time.

Borghild said, “Nepal keeps calling me back; it gives me both freedom and belonging.”

And that is why she continues to return.

While the mountains are one part of what draws Borghild back to Nepal, the warmth of the people, their kindness, and the spiritual environment, especially the influence of Buddhism, bring her deep peace. In Nepal, Borghild feels she can simply be herself. So far, she has visited Nepal around ten times. Each visit has brought a different experience, and every time Nepal has welcomed her in a new way.

“I don’t feel like a tourist when I go to Nepal. Everything feels natural and familiar. People treat me like a member of their own family. And I feel at home,” she said.

Borghild has also written the book Walking Into It: A Pilgrimage Through Foreign Lands to Inner Worlds, inspired by a transformative 21-day trek through Ladakh and Zanskar in the Indian Himalayas, a journey that opened her to a deeper inner landscape. She has also published Fire of Creation: Painting Visions of Energy, an art book, and Layers of Consciousness: Open to Deeper Self-Awareness, a book of poetry and photographs inspired by one of her journeys in South America. She is currently writing another book related to her travels in Nepal.

As a clinical psychologist and writer, Nepal has deeply influenced her. The Himalayas, monasteries, and meditation sites have given her ample opportunity to reflect on psychological healing and mental health.

Borghild said, “With a change in perspective, my writing and creativity have taken shape, and I’ve been inspired to write, reflect, and think about what truly matters.”

She describes Nepal as “a wise and warm-hearted elder who always says, ‘Come, sit for a while, and have a cup of tea before you go.’”

It has also taught her that life itself can become a practice. “In Western countries, we often adopt many practices to balance life, but Nepal reminds me again and again that life itself can become a practice. Walking, drinking tea, and sitting in silence. These are all part of that practice. Daily life itself becomes the practice,” she said.

Reflecting on cultural differences, Borghild adds that “Norway is organized, developed, and structured, whereas Nepal is flexible, relationship-oriented, and purpose-driven. In Nepal, life flows through relationships, trust, and emotion.”

Another major difference for her is the presence of spirituality in daily life, which is clearly felt in Nepal but less so in Norway. However, she believes both societies share common values such as morality, tolerance, and the desire to be good people. Nepalis openly express warmth and affection, while Norwegians are more reserved, though both possess inner strength.

Borghild describes a contrast between Nepal’s visible sense of togetherness and the more reserved, individual nature of life in Norway. “In Norway, we have become very individual and private. In Nepal, I see daily cooperation and togetherness — people living together, talking, helping each other. That is a deeply human value that we have largely lost,” she said.

Although Borghild cannot speak Nepali fluently, she has learned a few words. But the biggest lesson she has learned in Nepal is that much can be understood without language. She is deeply touched by heartfelt and kind gestures, smiles, and phrases like “Please come, have a cup of tea.” The devotion, gratitude, hospitality, and respect she encounters in Nepali culture have had a lasting influence on her, especially the compassion and peace they reflect.

Borghild says the Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu holds special meaning for her. “As soon as I enter the Boudha gate and begin walking around the stupa, I feel completely at peace. I feel it instantly in my whole body,” she said.

Over time, Nepal has changed her in subtle yet profound ways. She is also fascinated by the Kumari tradition of the Living Goddess in Kathmandu.

While she initially found it unusual that people asked personal questions so quickly, which is less common in Norway, she came to meet it with respect and a smile.

Among the experiences that have shaped Borghild’s connection to Nepal, her journey to Muktinath in 2011 stands out as a major turning point. It was during that visit that she met Lama Tashi, who was then in silent retreat and later became a Rinpoche. This was an encounter that profoundly influenced her life.

Since then, she has returned many times to Rinpoche’s gompa, where she has developed a strong sense of belonging with the local community. During her most recent stay in Nepal, which lasted three and a half months, she completed a seven-week solo retreat there in Mustang.

Borghild describes Mustang as difficult to put into words. She said, “The silence, the mountains, the vastness, and the simplicity of life seem to open something deeper, a stronger connection to myself and to the world around me.”

Mustang and Muktinath remain especially close to her heart, and the profound stillness of the Himalayan landscape continues to draw her back.

During the same visit to Nepal, she also completed the Manaslu Circuit trek.

For Borghild, arriving in Kathmandu brings an immediate sense of return. She said, “Whenever I arrive, I feel like I have returned home, and both my body and mind feel energized. Even the dynamic life within the city feels meaningful.”

Back in Norway, Borghild misses many things about Nepal: the warmth of the people, the spiritual environment, the mountains, and the simplicity of life. At the same time, while in Nepal, she sometimes misses the comforts of Norway. The warm rooms, clean water, infrastructure, and the ease of everyday living.

Nepal plays a profound role in Borghild’s life -personally, in self-reflection, and in her perspective as a psychologist and writer. Although she has not formally engaged in social or volunteer work, she hopes to contribute in the future, particularly in the fields of youth and mental health.

During her travels, she has also encountered some infrastructural challenges, but she accepts them as part of the experience.

Above all, Nepal has taught her patience.

Borghild says, “Nepal has given me something rare… a greater awareness of who I am, and a deeper, simpler, and more meaningful way of living.”

Living between Nepal and Norway has also given her two very different rhythms of life. In Nepal, she lives simply, with meditation, yoga, trekking, walking, writing, and self-reflection. In Norway, she returns to work, structure, and daily responsibilities.

Nepal has taught her to grow inwardly, to trust, to stay connected to the present, and to value a deeper sense of freedom. Although family and friends may not always fully understand her experience, they recognise that her connection with Nepal is an important part of who she is.

When describing Nepal to people in Norway, Borghild calls it “a place felt by the heart, where you find the warmth of people and the meaning of life.” One of the greatest lessons she draws from Nepal is the culture of living together - as extended family, within community. This is something she believes Norwegian society could learn from and perhaps re-embrace.

Her message to Norwegian travellers is simple: go with an open mind, respect, and curiosity, and do not rush, because Nepal teaches patience.

Looking ahead, Borghild hopes for stronger relations between Nepal and Norway, grounded in mutual learning and respect. Her long-term plan is to continue returning to Nepal and to live a balanced life between the two countries.

When asked what she would like to say to the people of Nepal, her answer is simple: “Thank you. Your country has given me peace, a sense of belonging, and a feeling of being at home.”