British tourist becomes historical witness in the heart of Nepal
While most tourists come to Nepal to admire the majestic beauty of the Himalayas, a British vlogger accidentally became an involuntary "field reporter", recording historical footage in the context of political turmoil in this country. The guy named Harry, owner of the YouTube channel WeHateTheCold, was originally a tourist on a cross-continent motorbike trip. However, when he arrived in Nepal, everything changed completely and he unexpectedly became a "historical witness" in an unforeseen situation.
Harry initially wanted to simply document his journey from Thailand to the UK by road. But when he arrived in Nepal in early September 2025, he had no idea he would be caught up in one of the country’s most serious political upheavals. What happened next, he himself said in his video, “has become history.”
British tourist accidentally becomes “field reporter” in the eye of political storm in Nepal
Amidst the chaos, the image of him with a "lost" expression, both confused and trying to record everything, became a phenomenon on social networks. Harry appeared in the video with a confused and bewildered expression, trying to find shelter, while still continuously filming and reporting the events in a realistic and vivid way. People joked that this guy, who used to be a travel vlogger, had "reincarnated" into a historical witness, bringing a realistic and emotional perspective on the unprecedented changes in Nepal.
“I was just going to do a travel vlog, now I’m a war correspondent!” – Harry said in a viral video. The contrast between his humorous expression and the surrounding scene of explosions and panic surprised and amused the online community. The scene of him standing next to a ruined wall, whispering: “Well... this is insane” became a viral meme across TikTok and Reddit, with millions of shares.
People joke that this guy, who was originally a travel vlogger, was "reincarnated" into a historical witness.
The chaotic scene was captured by Harry in his video
In just two days, Harry’s latest video has racked up more than 15 million views, transforming him from an unknown vlogger to the “unofficial cameraman” of a national political crisis. Harry has now left Nepal and is continuing his journey back to the UK. In a recent post, he said: “I never thought I would see 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
Harry’s “accidental” appearance provided a raw and vivid perspective on the unprecedented turmoil in Nepal. His footage was unscripted, unstaged, even chaotic and chaotic. But it was this rawness that highlighted the urgency and authenticity of the event, revealing what was really happening inside the eye of the riot storm.
What started as a motorbike travel vlog has now gone beyond a personal journey and become a part of history, witnessed and recorded from an unexpected perspective.
Just two days after being posted, Harry's latest video has surpassed 15 million views, transforming him from an unknown vlogger to an "unofficial videographer".
Nepal rocked by 'Gen Z' movement
Accordingly, the flame of the movement began to smolder many months ago, when Nepalese youth, especially Gen Z, became increasingly dissatisfied with inequality, corruption and the wealth of the elite. While thousands of young Nepalese were forced to leave their homeland to work in the Middle East, Malaysia or South Korea... under harsh conditions, the children of government officials freely flaunted their lavish lives on TikTok and Instagram: designer clothes, parties, supercars, luxury travel.
Discontent reached its peak when the government suddenly issued a ban on a series of social media platforms (including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, YouTube...), with the reason of "managing fake news" and "ensuring cyber security". For a generation that grew up with social media, this was the last straw.
The situation has become acute as thousands of young Nepalis are forced to leave their homeland to seek work in the Middle East, Malaysia or South Korea, while politicians live in luxury. "It is the anger of the people," said former Supreme Court judge Balaram KC. Wealth inequality and corruption have long been building up, leading to protests that erupted after the government's social media ban was the "last straw".
The protests quickly turned into riots, with arson and violent clashes across Kathmandu. Some rioters even attacked and set fire to five-star hotels, symbols of wealth and luxury. The Hyatt Regency, near the famous Boudhanath Stupa, was severely damaged. Hotel manager Bhushan Rane confirmed that no staff or guests were injured, but the property had to be temporarily closed.
Not only hotels, many political residences, including Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's private residence, were attacked and set on fire. Photos showed smoke rising from the parliament building, the presidential palace, the central government office and the prime minister's residence. The building of Kantipur Publications, Nepal's largest media outlet, was also burned down, showing the severity of the discontent.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli resigned on September 9, a day after 19 protesters were killed in clashes. However, the situation is still unstable. According to the Nepalese Ministry of Health, the death toll has now risen to 1,034, with 34 people killed and 1,300 injured.
Although Gen Z leaders have claimed not to be behind the arson, analysts say it is an inevitable consequence of decades of resentment. MP Rajendra Bajgain, whose hotel was set on fire, publicly resigned in solidarity with the protesters: “For too long, we have been silent about corruption and privilege.”
