Friday, July 9, 2010
Boudhanath
one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world, home to many refugees from Tibet. I went there twice in one day, early morning and later in the afternoon. What a place to photograph..
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Happy Birthday Dalai Lama!
By attending a birthday party, one can easily end up at a police station.
While on their way to the celebration of Dalai Lamas’ 75th birthday on July 6th, many Tibetan nuns, monks and others who wanted to join the festivities were stopped by police.
Since the celebration took a place on private property near Tibetan camp in Patan, the police had no way then just let it be, however, what they tried to do instead was to prevent the many attendees from coming.
They stopped them on their way in taxis and escorted them to a police station at the other part of the town. Even though they released them later on, their approach was quite successful. Several of the monks who were participating in the program didn’t make it on time and alternatives for their contributions were altered.
The hands of China reach far.
While on their way to the celebration of Dalai Lamas’ 75th birthday on July 6th, many Tibetan nuns, monks and others who wanted to join the festivities were stopped by police.
Since the celebration took a place on private property near Tibetan camp in Patan, the police had no way then just let it be, however, what they tried to do instead was to prevent the many attendees from coming.
They stopped them on their way in taxis and escorted them to a police station at the other part of the town. Even though they released them later on, their approach was quite successful. Several of the monks who were participating in the program didn’t make it on time and alternatives for their contributions were altered.
The hands of China reach far.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Sam Smala
From France to Nepal to rock the house of Rastriya Nachghar in Jamal!
Mostly ‘jazzy’ Sam Smala was one of the bands that performed during an International Music Week in Kathmandu.
As tired as I was on the way to photograph them, once I arrived; their music brought me back to life. .
Mostly ‘jazzy’ Sam Smala was one of the bands that performed during an International Music Week in Kathmandu.
As tired as I was on the way to photograph them, once I arrived; their music brought me back to life. .
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Festival of Rato Machhendranath
When my colleges asked me the other day if I want to join them for this festival, they withheld to me an important information… the rest of Nepal was coming as well..
When I arrived to the spot, totally unprepared for what was about to happened, the whole scene looked very innocent, just few people around and some media waiting for an action. Considering the flexibility of nepali time, it took a while for things to get moving..
Hour later, out of a sudden EVERYONE was there.. My colleges disappeared and I was in a middle of this massive crowd that came out of a nowhere.. For about 15 minutes the situation was seriously out of my hands and I was thinking how in the world I let this happened...
I was no longer concerned about shooting, which doesn’t happen often, I just wanted to get out. I was standing on legs and other body parts that were not mine and was hoping that after I do get knock to the ground my camera and lenses will survive. I was in a river of people that was dragging me along to whom knows where in conditions reminding an oven - that’s how hot it is in here.
I got spit out by the crowd at one point, and thank God made it without any loss or breakage of equipment. I got enough of crowds for that day and found a roof to claim on, on the side of the road where the procession was headed to. It’s very impressive how welcoming are local people when it comes to access to their homes. It seems like anyone gladly opens up their apartment during a festival and lets strangers to use their balcony or their roof top, to watch the parade from.
I was able to breathe again, get some water and a fresh air (if there is anything that can be called that way in Kathmandu) and actually got to enjoy the biggest festival I’ve ever seen.
I found out afterwards that it was the God of rain - Rato Machhendranath - that was carried across the town in that huge chariot.
This festivity that already started a month ago, wasn’t quite over that day. It continued a couple days later, with attendance of Nepali President and the living Goddess of Patan, Kumari. (I will share in more depth later on.)
When I arrived to the spot, totally unprepared for what was about to happened, the whole scene looked very innocent, just few people around and some media waiting for an action. Considering the flexibility of nepali time, it took a while for things to get moving..
Hour later, out of a sudden EVERYONE was there.. My colleges disappeared and I was in a middle of this massive crowd that came out of a nowhere.. For about 15 minutes the situation was seriously out of my hands and I was thinking how in the world I let this happened...
I was no longer concerned about shooting, which doesn’t happen often, I just wanted to get out. I was standing on legs and other body parts that were not mine and was hoping that after I do get knock to the ground my camera and lenses will survive. I was in a river of people that was dragging me along to whom knows where in conditions reminding an oven - that’s how hot it is in here.
I got spit out by the crowd at one point, and thank God made it without any loss or breakage of equipment. I got enough of crowds for that day and found a roof to claim on, on the side of the road where the procession was headed to. It’s very impressive how welcoming are local people when it comes to access to their homes. It seems like anyone gladly opens up their apartment during a festival and lets strangers to use their balcony or their roof top, to watch the parade from.
I was able to breathe again, get some water and a fresh air (if there is anything that can be called that way in Kathmandu) and actually got to enjoy the biggest festival I’ve ever seen.
I found out afterwards that it was the God of rain - Rato Machhendranath - that was carried across the town in that huge chariot.
This festivity that already started a month ago, wasn’t quite over that day. It continued a couple days later, with attendance of Nepali President and the living Goddess of Patan, Kumari. (I will share in more depth later on.)
I certainly underestimated preparation for one of the most important annual celebrations in Nepal, to welcome the upcoming monsoon (rainy) season. Now I know..
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