Hanoi Bar

ao dai

Driving in the countryside near Hanoi one recent afternoon I came across these women collecting grasses in their traditional gowns, called ao dai.

Gecko Wine

Update

I'll be paying some more attention to the blog as I work on cataloging my photos. This scene was in the southern delta region of Bangladesh.

End of the trail

Ellipsis

The End of Baked Goods

Though most climbers trying for the summit from base camp had yet to shove off, the baking season was over and the last oven was shouldered out.

Day Whatever

Beautiful walking upward to Everest, we passed by a funeral pyre for a porter who succumbed to alcohol poisoning at base camp.

Snow Day

The hike from Namche Bazaar to Deboche started out hot and dry but by the time we reached the lodge in the tiny settlement four hours later weather had moved in and covered everything in dense fog. Snow began to fall at dusk in windy sheets over the awning of our empty camp. At over 12,000 feet the scene was intensely beautiful. The lodge owner was as excited as we were since it was the first snow fall at Deboche in almost two years. It had also been 2 years since we'd seen our last New England winter. We slept below the temple at Tengboche and woke up to a white landscape where it had been red dust the day before. There were plenty of rest days built into the schedule and a slow start was in order with a look around in the afternoon.

Rest Day in Namche Bazaar

We had a rest day in Namche Bazaar to acclimate to the altitude and do a day hike up to a good view point of the high peaks. A full moon provided beautiful light for midnight photos.

Day 2: The Trail to Namche Bazaar

The trail up to the town of Namche Bazaar climbs steadily and steeply to an elevation of 3,440 meters. Views of the Himalayan peaks tower directly above and it is easy to feel that there isn't a more beautiful place on earth as this. The day is warm and clear as we set out for the first major settlement on our trekking route. Namche Bazaar is not quite far enough along to feel beyond civilization. There is internet here and the apple pie is a specialty. The main street is lined with shops selling every type and style of counterfeit gear. Still, as the path climbs beside a glacial river the sense that we are moving toward the upper limit of the earth is real. As we come around the last turn toward the town a buddhist procession winds up the mountain pass.

Flying into Lukla, First Day on the Trail

A view of Mt. Everest along the Kathmandu-Lukla flight path



The flight from Kathmandu to Lukla takes about an hour with an abrupt landing on a short mountainside uphill airstrip at 2800 meters.



Airport approach



Porters count their earnings at a lodge in the Himalayan town of Lukla, where we met our guide and porter and started along the trail into the Khumbu Valley.



Gateway to the Khumbu Valley with a view of the scared Khumbu mountain.

Ama Dablam and the Everest Base Camp Trek

I am slogging through about 30 gigabytes of photos from our Everest base camp trek. It was one of the best hikes I've ever done and I photographed far too much for anyone's tastes. I'll get back here with some more photos soon.

Brass Figurine Makers in Kathmandu

Wandering the narrow alleys outside Kathmandu I came across a very small operation of metal workers making figurines for sale on the streets, in stores and to private commissions. The apartment block was filled with sounds of hammering and in each tiny room people banged away at statuettes.

School Kids in Rural Bhutan

Nepal and Bhutan - Quick Edits

Preparing my lunch, Nepal



Prayer wheel, Bhutan



Girl with her puppy, Nepal



Thimphu, Bhutan




Bhutan has been a great experience, but we are jumping ship in hopes of trekking in the Everest region of Nepal.