Sep 7
“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself” - FDR
We were out of bed and down in the hotel lobby before first light to begin our journey to the airport. The unbelievable chaos of Kathmandu’s domestic airport borders on the absurd, but what makes it so much worse is knowing what awaits you on the other end in Lukla. This time round, I knew what I was in for and frankly I was terrified.
Three flights down and one in progress. After twenty-two excruciatingly long hours in the air, I am finally on the last leg of the journey to Kathmandu. The last day and half of travel has been a whirlwind full of surprises, both pleasant and not so pleasant.
Hours 1 - 13: YVR - Hong Kong
On the first flight from Vancouver to Hong Kong, I did something I don’t normally do, I talked to a stranger.
Aug 27
This photo was taken in the heart of Thamel on a self-guided walking tour. I took somewhere close to two hundred photos that day and this is one of my favourites. I like it for many reasons. I like the contrast between the two of them in terms of their age, facial features and expressions. The child with her cherubic face looks so innocent and pure, while the older women (who I am assuming is her grandmother) has a face which look both wise and wizened. She is looking at the child with gentle calming gaze, which seems to contrast the child’s exuberance. I love that each line on the grandmothers face could probably tell a different story.
I am currently reading the book Little Princes by Conor Grennan. The book follows Conor's life altering decision to volunteer at an orphanage in civil war torn Nepal, where he discovers the shocking truth about the children's situation. They are not orphans at all! Child traffickers, praying on families in remote villages, promise to protect children from the civil war. For a large sum of money, the traffickers would transport the children to safety in Kathmandu, where they would then abandon them on the streets.
Due to the fact that I do not post a photo every day, I have decided to change the tag Photo of the Day to Photo of the Week. My goal in doing so, is to actually feature a new photo at the beginning of every week... instead of just when ever I feel like it. This is a baby step to improving my blog and finding a consistent rhythm to how often I post.
Anywho... Moving on.
This photo was taken on a 'self-guided' walking tour of the Thamel and Durbar Square area.
Bhaktapur is a medieval Newar town, located in the Kathmandu valley approximately 20km east of Kathmandu. From time immemorial it lay on the ancient trade route between Tibet and India, making the town rich and prosperous. It is the third largest city in the Kathmandu valley and was the capital of Nepal during the great Malla Kingdom until the later half of the 15th century.
This series of photographs was taken at Swayambhunath, an ancient Buddhist religious site, in the heart of Kathmandu. Click on any image to enlarge and start Gallery Slide Show:
Sitting atop a hill that overlooks the entire Kathmandu Valley, Swayambhunath is an ancient religious site, which plays a large role in the day-to-day religious practice of many Buddhist Newars. It is one of the most sacred Buddhist pilgrimage site in Nepal, second only to Boudhanath.
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I am an independent Film Producer and freelance Project Manager with a passion for travel, literature, culture and history. As an avid adventurer, I am always looking for my next travel destination!
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