Students playing on top of a hill near Manamaiju Marg

Students playing on top of a hill near Manamaiju Marg
Dadagaun, Kathmandu, Nepal, December 31st, 2015

I saw these students as I passed a small, alternatively grassy and sandy hill near Anju’s sewing shop. They had been playing by climbing the hill and then running/tumbling-with-wild-abandon down one side of it.

From left to right, back to front they are:

Krishala,
Binita,
Dibya,
Prasamsa,
Shristy, and
Nabina (in front with OBEY hat)

View fullsize

If you would like to donate to Mercy Corps’ Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

If you would like to donate to UNICEF’s Nepal Education fund please click here.

Malina and Nabina, bahini and didi

Malina and Nabina, bahini and didi
Manamaiju, Kathmandu, September 6th, 2018

I met Nabina about fifteen years ago; and her sister Malina a couple of years later, when Nabina would often carry her younger sibling around.

View fullsize

A younger Nabina holding a younger Malina.

If you would like to donate to Mercy Corps’ Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

If you would like to donate to UNICEF’s Nepal Education fund please click here.

Nirmala and Sabitri

Nirmala and Sabitri
Balaju, Kathmandu, September 5th, 2018

Nirmala and Sabitri both teach Classes 1, 2 and 3 at the Niharika Shishu Kunja High School located near the Bais Dhara (22 water spouts) at Balaju Park.

Extra: Photo Kathmandu

Extra: Photo Kathmandu
Patan, November 6th, 2015

Right now there is a fantastic outdoor photography exhibit in Patan called Photo Kathmandu. There are over twenty displays of photos, some taken just after the first earthquake in April, other photos taken a generation ago.

I love this exhibit. Since the photos are mostly hung up outdoors—literally on the walls of the neighborhood buildings—it is open and welcoming to all. People walk by in their daily routine and a photo catches their eye and they stop to look. A grandmother and grandfather walk by the "A Democratic Awakening" display, and get in close to look at the large black and white photos. For one of the exhibits, a friendly volunteer shows you through a small door and suddenly you are in the photographer Juju Bhai Dhakhwa’s actual house; you see the photos he took of his wife and children, and standing there saying welcome is one of his sons, now grown.

I cannot say enough good things about this exhibition that has been put together.

And all this while you are walking the beautiful streets of Patan, a city of brick and fantastic temples awash in history.

If you happen to be in Nepal right now, please take an afternoon to go visit the Photo Kathmandu exhibits in Patan. It goes through November 9th, and it's fantastic.

(below are some photos from a few of the exhibits)

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

View fullsize

••••

As always, If you would like to donate to Mercy Corps’ Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

If you would like to donate to UNICEF’s Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

Four friends

Four friends
Manamaiju, Kathmandu, October 28th, 2015

Siblings Sachem and Subashna (in the blue and yellow) with their friends. In the sideyard entryway of their apartment building.

One of the first times I met Sachem and Subashna, they motioned me to bend down like they wanted to tell me a secret. I leaned down and canted my head to hear better, and they kissed my cheeks.

If you would like to donate to Mercy Corps’ Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

If you would like to donate to UNICEF’s Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

Friends in the doorway of a beauty shop

Friends in the doorway of a beauty shop
Manamaiju, Kathmandu, October 28th, 2015

Perhaps one-hundred-and-fifty meters past Manamajiju Temple, the main street thins as it enters an area of older buildings built closer together.

On your right, as the road thins, there is a small two-doorway’ed beauty shop where I met these friends enjoying each others company.

Pantee (in purple),
Sujina (in the background) and
Kashari (in the red head scarf).

I believe it is Kashari’s shop.

If you would like to donate to Mercy Corps’ Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

If you would like to donate to UNICEF’s Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

View fullsize

Teachers at Niharika school

Teachers at Niharika school
Balaju, Kathmandu, October 4th, 2015

Three teachers that work with the youngest children at Niharika school—Anupama, Purna and Beli.

A candid taken between a series of posed photos.

If you would like to donate to Mercy Corps’ Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

If you would like to donate to UNICEF’s Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

View fullsize

Friends harvesting

Friends harvesting
Phutung, Kathmandu, October 28th, 2015

After Nag Pokhari [snake pond, so-called for the statue of a naga in the middle], there is a S-curved jog in the road with fields of rice on both sides.

In the field to my left, I could see the familiar face of Ramita (in the head-scarf), so I hopped down to the field (it's about three feet lower than the road) and walked over.

A tarp or canvas had been laid out on the ground and they were taking clumps of cut rice stalks and beating them on the ground to shake off the rice kernels. When the stalks were empty, they were handed to Siddhi who would arrange them on the stack.

I asked them if they wanted a group photo and they were up for it, so I politely told them basnush, basnush [sit, take it easy] and joked with them while I took a few photos. 

From left to right, they are Gita, Bishnu-maya, Ramita, and Sarlina.
Siddhi is standing on top of the haystack.

If you would like to donate to Mercy Corps’ Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

If you would like to donate to UNICEF’s Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

Doma

Doma
Balaju, Kathmandu, 2002

I forget how exactly I met Doma, but probably from walking by her house. Doma was such a sweetheart, so friendly, and I always made sure to stop by her house if I was walking to or from Balaju Bypass.

On my next visit three years later, I stopped by to see her family, but they had moved and the neighbors didn't know where to.

I am sure that wherever sweet Doma is today, she is making people’s days brighter just by being there. How I would love to see her again.

If you would like to donate to Mercy Corps’ Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

If you would like to donate to UNICEF’s Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

Raman and Sushmita

Raman and Sushmita
Manamaiju, Kathmandu, October 2015

I arrived at Sushmita’s house and she pulled me aside and asked me "Guess who this is". I searched my mind, but I couldn't think of who it could be. Then she told me "Remember the baby you held [back in 2002]?"

Her nephew Raman is thirteen now—a lot taller than I remember.

If you would like to donate to Mercy Corps’ Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

If you would like to donate to UNICEF’s Nepal Earthquake fund please click here.

View fullsize

Holding Raman back in 2002.