Panauti, Nepal. This is a photo of a local school in Panauti in the Kathmandu Valley of Nepal. Children go to school from 10-4, Sunday through Friday.
Photo Gallery
This photo was taken in the old quarter of Gyantse, Tibet. Yak or cow dung is commonly dried and then used for fuel in homes.
This photo was taken in Shigatse,Tibet somewhere along the Tashilunpo Monastery kora. The kora takes about one hour and goes into the hills behind the monastery. Tashilunpo itself is the largest functioning monastery in Tibet.
Boudhanath, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. This is one of the world's largest stupas and is one of the most important Tibetan Buddhist monasteries outside of Tibet. It is one of 10 World Heritage Sites in Nepal.
Swayambhu, Nepal in the Kathmandu Valley. It is sometimes referred to as the Monkey Temple due to the many monkeys who call the temple home. For Buddhists, it has been said that worshiping at Swayambhu can carry thirteen billion times more merit than anywhere else in the world.
Pashupatinath, Nepal. Pashupathinath is one of the most important pilgrimage sites for Hindus. The photo is of one of the sadhus,or holy men, at the site. Genuine or fake sadhu? Hard to tell but he sure looks the part to a novice.
This photo was taken in one of the numerous chapels at the Pelkor Chode Monastery. Gyantse, Tibet.
Daily prayer offerings at the Pelkor Chode Monastery in Gynatse, Tibet. This was taken in one of the numerous chapels.
Chomulungma, or Mt.Everest, photo taken from the plane as we flew to Lhasa from Kathmandu.
The Potala Palace was first built in the 7th century but took its modern form in the 17th century under the supervision of the 5th Dalai Lama. The Potala is lit up at night--the best view can be enjoyed from a plaza constructed across the street by the Chinese government.
Located at 16,500 feet above sea level, Rongbuk Monastery is reportedly the highest monastery in the world. Situated just miles away from Mount Everest or Qomolangma in Tibetan, it is certainly the monastery with the best view in the world.
Since Yamdrok Lake is a holy site in Tibetan Buddhism, water sports, fishing, swimming, and even dipping your toes in is not allowed. Yaks, however, are allowed to bathe in this lake.
Prayer flags line almost every hilltop and mountaintop in Tibet, thought to carry prayers to the deities on the wind. This collection, at a rest stop overlooking the holy Yamdrok Lake, was particularly bountiful.
Norbulingka Palace was used as the Summer Palace for the Dalai Lamas until 1959. Through this gate was a park and pond used for reflection and relaxation.
The colorful courtyard of the Lhasa Tsamkhung Nunnery. Note the prayer wheels and female pilgrim towards the bottom of the photograph.
The Lhasa Tsamkhung Nunnery was very colorful and home to dozens of nuns--it was also one of the few Tibetan Buddhist monasteries/nunneries we visited that allowed pictures.
The spiritual heart of Tibetan Buddhism, Jokhang Monastery was packed with pilgrims and worshippers from across Tibet. This moment shows a monk getting a moment of peace away from the crowds.
Traditional Nepalese dinner--papadams, aloo, pickles, chapati, lentil soup.
Women working in the rice fields in Panauti, Nepal. They called to our guide in Nepali that they wanted their pictures taken because they "looked beautiful!"
After being invited in to this women's home, we discovered she was a weaver. She weaves colorful strips of sheep wool that is cut and sewn into traditional Tibetan aprons.
Sampling yak butter tea at a home visit Xigaze, Tibet.
Tibetan Picnic - Norbulingka Palace Park - Lhasa, Tibet
Tibetan women spin prayer wheels along the route of the Barkhor kora in Lhasa, Tibet.