I took this photo at a gathering at one of the newest monasteries in Kathmandu. The plates were endless and looked like silver melting.~

Nepal's holy river

Quiet Kathmandu

Woke up to quiet streets and a quiet Kathmandu. The Maoist are active again. This morning, I was trying to get home from a friends house and ended up taking a two hour walk home. All modes of transportation have been stalled. It was actually really peaceful. Not to say that I am in favor of the strikes, but it does cut emissions seeing not a vehicle is in sight... only a few lucky and daring motorcycles. Everything was shut down in fear that the Maoists will hassle them if one's business is open.

The blind

You feel complete compassion when you watch the blind trying to cross the main "chowks" or intersections in Nepal. Clinging to the side rails, looking in panic. It is as chaotic as one would imagine even with a set of eyes. I felt for this guy yesterday, he had no sense of direction, dodging motorbikes and mac trucks and hoping to hear all sounds around him for any sense of protection. You forget about the blind living in this city and how they probably become recluses because the city is just too much to take on. The bus drivers are known to be mad. Just a few weeks ago, a driver pulled right up on the side of the curb in a main intersection and killed a few innocent people who were buying some fruit and vegetables. They hit and ran. Soon a majority of the blue buses in the city (a sign of this bus company) were set in flames. This was their attempt to get any sort of revenge.

Jardin

The gardener at Wild Earth works hard producing as much as he can within our small plot of land~These flowers will be dried, crushed and ground into our soaps and oils~

A frightening sight....

I had to take this photo of my roomate.... we were in a taxi, going "out" bracing ourselves from the smoke and wearing our facemasks! In the beginning, I hard time getting used to them, but now its the norm.

Everyday Kathmadu~