Dusk falls in Pushkar

Pushkar, in the state of Rajasthan, India, is a sacred town for Hindus.  It's also a popular spot for foreign tourists, an oasis far removed from the stress and hassle of city life.  Hindu legend has it that here in Pushkar a drama played out between lord Brahma, creator of the universe, and his two consorts.  This picture was taken from a hill topped with a temple dedicated to one of these dueling Goddesses, Gayatri, while the hill in the distance holds a temple to her nemesis Savitri.  The great Thar desert beckons in the distance.

Faces of Nepal

If you're looking to visit a country with friendly people, look no farther than Nepal.  Warm smiles and open hearts are easy to come by over here.  It's also a great place to capture some memorable portraits. Locals who spotted a camera around my neck often yelled out the request "one photo!" when I passed by.  Due to this welcoming attitude, I was able to snap dozens of portraits while in Nepal.  Click on the link below to view some of my favorites!

Click here to see the photos!

The Nepali Bus Survival Guide

Ready for adventure? If you've come all the way to Nepal, then chances are the answer is yes. The lure of the highest mountains on Earth draws huge numbers of thrill-seeking travelers to this small mountainous land. But you don't need to climb Everest if excitement is what you're after. Just hop on a local bus. Challenging topography has played a big part in hampering the creation of roads and other infrastructure in this rugged country. In fact, the latest UN report cites Nepal as the second-least developed nation on Earth outside of Africa. So, expect some harrowing journeys that might leave you questioning why you ever left home. But you didn't come here to be comfortable, did you? With this in mind, I've compiled the following list of tips for surviving a long ride on a Nepali bus. Let the adventure begin...

Back to School

The sight of smiling schoolchildren has the power to warm the heart of anyone, anywhere. Even if the young ones are strangers from a strange land, it's hard not to hope that they are receiving a quality, well-rounded education in a productive learning environment. In the developed nations of the West, our relatively strong public school systems have allowed many of us to almost take this as a given. But in my travels I've come to appreciate that most people in the world cannot take a solid education for granted. Nothing in my travels brought this reality closer to home than a visit to Shree Saraswoti Kunja Primary School, just outside of Pokhara, Nepal.

The Top of the World

The mighty Himalayas loomed behind as I walked down the tarmac to the tiny sixteen-seat propeller plane that awaited. I stepped onboard, took the seat directly behind the pilot, and stuffed my ears with cotton balls in preparation for the quick but noisy flight ahead. Minutes later the lakeside city of Pokhara was but a fading oasis below. I soon realized with a startle that tremendous snow-capped mountains had suddenly risen above both flanks of the plane. We were literally flying through some of the tallest mountains on Earth, in mere minutes passing rugged terrain that would take days to cover on foot.

Wandering these Ancient Streets

A lone woman emerges from the intricately carved window above me. She surveys the scene below her, a scene no doubt similar to ones that she has witnessed before, but always with some new detail to observe.  Crowds weave their way through the narrow rubble-strewn street, dodging bamboo-crested rickshaws, speeding motorcycles, and maniacally-piloted taxis. Proud women file past in immaculate, brilliantly-colored dresses. A tired porter trudges by, his back-breaking cargo strapped onto his forehead and many miles to walk still in front of him. The pungent aroma of exotic spices reaches her welcoming nostrils, offering a brief respite from inhalations of the polluted city air. She quickly glances down at me as I make my way towards the ancient temples glimmering in the afternoon light. Directly ahead of me is Durbar Square, the beating heart of Kathmandu and by extension, all of Nepal.