Nepal - photo essay
Annapurna and Machhupachare
I took over 900 images during my time in Nepal and I think that I missed so much too. Here are some….
We started our Journey In Kathmandu…
Basantapur Dabali -The Markets in Old Kathmandu.
Basantapur Durbar -The Old Palace - 14th Century - Hanuman-dhoka Durbar Square.
Walking the streets of Tamil - crowded, vibrant, aromatic, noisy, narrow and overhung.
Steps leading to the Monkey temple - the oldest Stopa
The Monkey Temple Stopa - tall and imposing
Prayer flags over Kathmandu. From the Monkey Temple
The Umbrella Orphanage - giving hope and a fresh chance
Phreni - the start. Welcome to Annapurna Sanctuary - its time to climb. This is Nepali Flat - a bit of up and a bit of down.
On the way to Dhampus and our first night - terraced fields, rice paddies and water buffalo.
Is this encouragement to not hog the toilet. The logs above the toilets are hollow, the ends blocked off and a hole drilled in them. They are then used as beehives. This addsa new dimension to the squat toilets. Langruk.
From My Window at Chhomrong, 5 am Machhupachare wakes up.
Also at Chhomrong - Annapurna, the first light of the new day and prayer flags .
Chhomrong to Dovan. A forest path.
Macchupachare towering over us at 7500+ metres. Steep, aloof and untouched. Climbing is not permitted on this peak. Dovan
The scale is huge, this water fall slices through the face like a hot knife through butter. The cliff is towering over 200m tall. Dovan to MBC
Snow at Machhupachare Base camp or MBC. 1.2c at 8am
First Light over Macchupachare
Cold? No not really…
Machhupachare base camp
A shepherd’s hut and grinding stones on the way to ABC. Over summer, shepherds bring their animals up the valley to graze in the bowl of the sanctuary. Huts are reused.
Finally… Me just above Annapurna Base Camp, with Annapurna South dominating the background.
For those who venture above ABC and climb to the hieghts, the outcome is not always certain. This is a shrine to those who tried, succeeded but perished in the attempt.
From just below ABC the view of Machhupachare is inspiring.
We walked, but the Russian expedition used alternate transport…
and finally - Annapurna South
May 3rd, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Awesome, Andrew. Great photos of a world I’ve never would have seen without you!
Thanks,
Miguel
May 3rd, 2008 at 2:32 pm
I’m taking it you forced the kids to sleep in the tents while you were in five star accommodation up the ridge :-). Great photos look forward to seeing more at next meeting.
May 3rd, 2008 at 3:19 pm
I am in awe… these photos are utterly amazing!! I thought the first few were stunning - the buildings, masses of people etc until I went further down the page. I agree with Miguel’s comment. I am speechless and amazed at such a beautiful place that you have had the opportunity to visit and make a difference within.
I would like to know why climbing is not permitted on Macchupachare - is it sacred or more that it looks completely unable to be climbed?
Thank you for sharing these and i’m sure the other 800+ are equally as stunning! Amanda
May 3rd, 2008 at 5:01 pm
Macchupachare is a sacred site. There was one expedition that tried to climb it, they got within 60M of the top and had to turn back. Apparently, there has been an unofficial attempt by a solo climber, but its thought he died in the process. Since the one official expedition, the mountain has been closed.
The mountains just appear out of no-where the foot hills and lower peaks (which are higher than Mt Cook y 2000ft) are dwarfed by these huge faces.
I loved getting up at 5am to watch the mountains wake up, as the first light of the day strikes them. Mornings are clear and crisp, by evening the heat haze in the Himalayas or the pollution from wood fires, brick kilms and vehicles (emmission standards are not relevant in nepal, the focus is having a vehicle that works) in the cities and towns makes viewing poor.
May 3rd, 2008 at 8:38 pm
Andrew, amazing photos and extremely jealous. Look forward to seeing more of the photos when next down under.
May 4th, 2008 at 4:12 am
Your pictures are so beautiful, I felt like I was there.
May 4th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Amazing piccy’s, incredible experience!!! Memories to treasure.
Excuse my ignorance, but what exactly is ground by the grinding stones?
May 4th, 2008 at 9:38 pm
Hi Phil
Grinding stones aree used to grind rice, wheat and oats into flour. Looks like a …… of a job to me.
This is very much the tradional approach to life. Shepherds are the only people allowed to burn wood fires in the conservation area for cooking and heating. Everyone else uses Kerosene or gas
May 13th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
OK so next time take me now that Hutton has moved on to the JS! Great pics A, want to swap an’ check out my China ones?