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British tourist becomes a witness to history in the heart of Nepal.
While most tourists flock to Nepal to admire the majestic beauty of the Himalayas, a British vlogger inadvertently became an unwitting "field reporter," documenting historical events amidst the country's political turmoil. Harry, the owner of the YouTube channel WeHateTheCold, was originally a traveler on a cross-continental motorcycle trip. However, upon arriving in Nepal, everything changed, and he unexpectedly became a "historical witness" in circumstances no one could have foreseen.
Initially, Harry simply wanted to document his journey from Thailand back to England by land. But upon arriving in Nepal in early September 2025, he unexpectedly found himself caught in the eye of one of the country's most serious political upheavals. What happened afterward, he himself exclaimed in his video, "has become history."
British tourists inadvertently become "field reporters" in the midst of a political storm in Nepal.
Amidst the chaos, his image, with his bewildered expression, a mixture of confusion and desperate attempts to capture everything, became a social media phenomenon. Harry appeared in the video with a confused and bewildered look on his face, trying to find shelter while continuously filming and narrating the events with genuine and vivid detail. People joked that this guy, originally a travel vlogger, had "reincarnated" as a historical witness, offering an authentic and emotional perspective on the unprecedented upheavals in Nepal.
“I was just going to film a travel vlog, now I’ve become a war correspondent!” – Harry says in a viral video. The contrast between his humorous expression and the chaotic, explosive scene around him surprised and amused netizens. The scene of him huddled against a crumbling wall, whispering, “Well... this is insane,” has become a meme that has spread across TikTok and Reddit, with millions of shares.
People jokingly say that this guy, who was originally a travel vlogger, has "reincarnated" as a historical witness.
Harry captured the chaotic scene in his video.
Just two days after being uploaded, Harry's latest video surpassed 15 million views, transforming him from an unknown vlogger into an "unofficial videographer" of a national political crisis. Harry has now left Nepal and is continuing his journey back to England. In a recent post, he said: "I never thought I would witness a moment like this. I came here for the mountains, but I leave with a story I will tell for the rest of my life."
Amidst the chaos, his image with an "out of place" expression stands out.
Harry's "chance" appearance provided a raw and vivid glimpse into the unprecedented turmoil in Nepal. His footage stands out for its directness, lack of script, unscripted elements, and even its chaotic and disorganized nature. But it is precisely this rawness that highlights the urgency and authenticity of the events, revealing what is truly happening within the eye of the storm of unrest.
What started as a simple motorcycle travel vlog has now evolved from a personal journey into a part of history, witnessed and recorded from an unexpected perspective.
Just two days after being uploaded, Harry's latest video surpassed 15 million views, transforming him from an unknown vlogger into an "unofficial videographer."
Nepal is being shaken by the "Gen Z" movement.
Accordingly, the flames of the movement began to smolder months ago, as Nepalese youth, especially Generation Z, became increasingly dissatisfied with inequality, corruption, and the wealth of the elite. While thousands of Nepalese youth are forced to leave their homeland to work in the Middle East, Malaysia, or South Korea under harsh conditions, the children of government officials freely flaunt their luxurious lives on TikTok and Instagram: designer clothes, parties, supercars, and luxury travel.
Discontent peaked when the government unexpectedly banned numerous social media platforms (including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, YouTube, etc.), citing the reasons of "managing fake news" and "ensuring cybersecurity." For a generation that grew up with social media, this was the final straw.
The situation escalated when thousands of Nepalese youth were forced to leave their homeland to seek work in the Middle East, Malaysia, or South Korea, while politicians lived in luxury. "That's the people's resentment," said Balaram KC, a former Supreme Court judge of Nepal. Long-standing wealth inequality and corruption led to the protests, which erupted after the government's ban on social media became the final straw.
The protests quickly escalated into riots, with arson and violent clashes across the capital Kathmandu. Some extremists even attacked and set fire to five-star hotels, symbols of wealth and luxury. The Hyatt Regency, near the famous Boudhanath Stupa, suffered significant damage. Hotel manager Bhushan Rane confirmed no staff or guests were injured, but the establishment was temporarily closed.
Not only hotels, but also many residences of politicians, including the private home of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, were attacked and set on fire. Photographs show smoke rising from the parliament building, the presidential palace, the central office, and the prime minister's residence. The building of Kantipur Publications, Nepal's largest media organization, was also burned down, illustrating the severity of the unrest.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned on September 9th, a day after 19 protesters were killed in clashes. However, the situation remains unstable. According to Nepal's Ministry of Health, the death toll has now risen to 1,034, with 34 killed and 1,300 injured.
Although Gen Z movement leaders claim they are not behind the arson attacks, analysts believe this is the inevitable consequence of resentment accumulated over decades. MP Rajendra Bajgain, whose hotel was burned down, publicly announced his resignation to express solidarity with the protesters: "We have been silent for too long in the face of corruption and privilege."
