Durbar Square, Bhaktapur, Nepal 2007

Durbar Square, Bhaktapur, Nepal 2007

Sadhu Durbar Square, Kathmandu, Nepal 2008. A Sadhu is an ascetic wandering monk.

Sadhu Durbar Square, Kathmandu, Nepal 2008. A Sadhu is an ascetic wandering monk.

A Man Consults His Mystic, Kathmandu, Nepal 2008

A Man Consults His Mystic, Kathmandu, Nepal 2008

Death Row. Captive Chicken, Birganj, Nepal 2008

Death Row. Captive Chicken, Birganj, Nepal 2008

Lie & Die, Kathmandu, Nepal 2008. It is said that no one can lie to this deity and Kathmandu police regularly question people in front of it. Onlookers appease the beast by smashing bananas into it’s mouth.

Lie & Die, Kathmandu, Nepal 2008. It is said that no one can lie to this deity and Kathmandu police regularly question people in front of it. Onlookers appease the beast by smashing bananas into it’s mouth.

Taxi Birganj, Nepal 2008

Taxi Birganj, Nepal 2008

Nepalese Woman and Child overland to Kathmandu, Kakarbhitta, Nepal 2008

Nepalese Woman and Child overland to Kathmandu, Kakarbhitta, Nepal 2008

Kathmandu Durbar Square, Nepal 2008

Kathmandu Durbar Square, Nepal 2008

Bodhnath Stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal 2008

Bodhnath Stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal 2008

Yuksom, Sikkim, 2008. A flat tire yields a Sikkimese cultural bonanza hidden in the woods. This helped to break up a 48 hour journey via bus, share taxi, and horse and buggy from Gangtok, Sikkim to Varanasi, India.

A 120 km trek to 17,000 feet (5000 meters) complete with yaks, rickety bridges, yak fights, washed out roads, a visit inside a yak herders hut for Yak cheese and several Sikkimese ceremonies along the way.

Because of its remote location in Nepal and difficult access from India, the Kangchenjunga region is not too popular with trekkers. It has, therefore, retained much of its pristine beauty. In Sikkim too, traveling into the Kangchenjunga region has just been permitted. The Goecha La trek is gaining popularity amongst tourists. It goes to the Goecha La Pass, located right in front of the huge southeast face of Kangchenjunga. To spend 2 weeks there was mystifying.