Nepal Travel Notebook

01

JANUARY - MAY 2021

NEPAL

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

JANUARY - MAY 2021

A TRAVEL PORTRAITS COLLECTION

JANUARY - MAY 2021

Nepal, 2021 Sauraha, Chitwan National park

The trip served as an escape gate from the second wave of the pandemics. After the sudden end of Turkey’s stay, we found ourselves separated on different continents.

When the whole world was closed, Nepal opens its doors to us and welcomed with open arms.

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

This notebook gathers a collection of sketches and photographs made during our trip to Nepal in 2021.

Mohit K. Sharma

JANUARY - MAY 2021

Partner of life and travel, we have explored this country for three months. It was not our first visit, but the first one where we could spend a long time getting to know Nepal’s culture and way of life.

Used to travel in a faster pace type of travel, and with the country halfway recovering from the total lockdown of the pandemics, we have adapted to this new way of traveling little by little.

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

JANUARY - MAY 2021

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

KATHMANDU VALLEY 01. City view from Yog Hostel 02. Boudha stupa 03. Shri Pashupatinath temple 04.Swayambhunath stupa

Durbar square Kathmandu, Kathmandu Valley

JANUARY - MAY 2021

Group of plazas in front of the Old Royal Palace. It consists of several temples, shrines, and idols, and also serves as a gathering point in the city.

Ruined during the 2015 earthquake, the main foundations remain in place. In the different steps of the temples, you’ll find the locals seating sharing stories.

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

Alleys of Thamel Thamel, Kathmandu Valley

JANUARY - MAY 2021

Something magic about the streets of Thamel is that they hide many squares, temples, and ponds out of the main arteries of the neighborhood.

When you dare to get yourself into alleys that take you to other alleys, you might find that small stupa, that small shrine, or that site works and piles of debris where to have a sit and relax from the agitated streets.

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

School time Thamel, Kathmandu Valley

JANUARY - MAY 2021

Thamel gets flooded with students in uniforms twice a day. Now that tourists are scarce in the area, these events bring back the lively ambiance of the area.

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

City slow life Swayambunath, Kathmandu Valley

JANUARY - MAY 2021

There is always a place to have a sit, with chia or not, and chat with the neighbors. The streets are the extension of the houses, even now in pandemic times.

During hot weather days, a good shadow with a bench is the best friend of slopped roads.

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

A basque-tibetan girl Tibetan Refugee camp, Pokhara, Gandaki region

JANUARY - MAY 2021

During our visit to the Choeling Buddhist Monastery, we met this little girl whose face was enigmatic and completely different (but also similar) to all the Tibetan kids.

After talking with her auntie, she told us that her dad was a Basque Country man, married to a Tibetan woman.

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

JANUARY - MAY 2021

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

GANDAKI REGION 01. Phewa lake, Pokhara lakeside 02. Pumdikot 03. Begnas lake with Anapurna range in the back 04. Begnas lake fisherwomen

Losar 2021 Jangchub Choeling Monastery, Pokhara, Gandaki region

JANUARY - MAY 2021

An amazing festival to celebrate a sort of New Year in the Tibetan Calendar (similar to Chinese New Year).

The celebration consists of a series of dances and chantings in different traditional costumes, happening in the Monastery main square. In each dance, they wear different dresses and carry various objects with them. In a pile in the center, they gather together some of these objects that they end up setting on fire.

After the monks finish the rituals, pilgrims and visitors should go around the fire three times to remove the bad happenings of last year.

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

JANUARY - MAY 2021

Boudha Stupa Boudhanath, Kathmandu Valley Buddist devotees go around the stupas counting their prayers with the beaded necklaces. Doesn’t matter how young or old they are, devotion is clearly seen in their eyes while practicing the rituals.

Just come, observe, and maybe imitate. Rotate the wheels and let the chantings of Om Mani PadMe Hum sink in you.

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

JANUARY - MAY 2021

Narayani Aarti Narayanghat, Bharatpur, Bagmati region Nisha’s family invited us to come to the aarti in the ghats of Narayani River. It was the first time they would assist to a ceremony like this, as their grandmother passed away one year ago.

This aarti was a special one, just one month before the maha shivaratri. The ceremony concluded with a strong storm, the first after long weeks without rain.

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

JANUARY - MAY 2021

Gaukhureshwor Mahadev Pooja Dhulikhel, Bagmati region To go to Shiva’s Guest House you have to cross the beatiful and solemn Gaukhureshwor temple. The old temple sits in a small valley, and has a scenic entrance through a stepped slope accompanied of several shivalingams.

Every Monday happens a pooja organised by a member of the community. We sat with the devotees for chanting in preparation for the pooja.

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

JANUARY - MAY 2021

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

SAURAHA TOWN LIFE 01. Rural landscapes in the village 02. Tharu traditional village 03. Butterfly hotel 04. Hati chowk

Magar festival Narayanghat, Bharatpur, Bagmati region

JANUARY - MAY 2021

Magar community is a small Buddhist group from Nepal. Many of them come from the tharu villages in Chitwan.

They celebrate many festivals where all, old and young, wear traditional clothes and jewelry. During a visit to Narayani ghat, we witnessed one of their festivals, showing their colours to a cloudy day.

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

Nisha Sauraha, Chitwan National Park, Bagmati region

JANUARY - MAY 2021

Our little sister while we were in Sauraha. She lived behind Parbat corner shop with her mom and sister. Chatty and always smiling, she likes to pose for the camera or the pencil.

We enjoyed with her some nice walks in the village and had the best treats in town. Having dinners with her family, cooked by her sister Parvina, made us felt completely at home.

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

JANUARY - MAY 2021

Hari and his mom Sauraha, Chitwan National Park, Bagmati region Hari ji and his son Ujjal run the small corner shop Parbat, where you will have the best home-made food that can be found in Sauraha. We spent there day and night having chia and enjoying food, occasionally observing mesmerised the rhinos walk Gainda chowk.

Going there every day was a ritual, and felt like showing up at home for lunch. Sometimes, Hari’s mom, one of the liveliest old ladies in town, would pay a visit, bringing tikkas and blessings with her.

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

JANUARY - MAY 2021

Ricardo Sauraha, Chitwan National Park, Bagmati region One of the most singular characters we met in Nepal. A baba soul, wandering around barefoot with a self-made didgeridoo and decorated with intriguing tattoos that he patiently made every day as part of his owns rituals.

Initially quiet, Ricardo became part of our little family in Sauraha, sharing beautiful conversations with a chhaang bottle on the table.

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

JANUARY - MAY 2021

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

SAURAHA WILD LIFE 01. Elephant breeding centre 02. Buffala crossing the river 03. Tiger’s Den sunset view 04. Lizard in wheat fields

JANUARY - MAY 2021

Sundar Namobuddha, Bagmati Region We met Sundar in Qatar when he was working as a tea boy in our partner’s company. Soon we encouraged him to demand fair conditions and this led him to come back to Nepal and start a small family business for trekking tourism.

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

JANUARY - MAY 2021

The family of Sundar Namobuddha, Bagmati Region A humble home at the top of Namobuddha, Sundar is now building a homestay next to his home, with amazing views of Himalaya. During my visit, I got to meet his family, who was preparing the ginger just collected before the rainy season started.

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

JANUARY - MAY 2021

Bus stories: Pokhara local bus Pokhara, Gandaki region At first glance, the local transport in any Nepal city might seem scary as it is chaotic and extremely outdated. But once you start using it, you find out that actually is easier than it seems and can take you almost any place you want.

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

JANUARY - MAY 2021

Bus stories: Kathmandu to Dhulikhel Kathmandu valley A bit anarchically, but the use of masks is commonly extended in public transport. As seeing the numbers rise again after some months of open borders, people take precautions to face the pandemics.

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

Bus stories: Banepa to Sanga Bagmati region

JANUARY - MAY 2021

A rudimentary but extended way of making a baby porter: take any scarf and wrap it around your torso; done.

This way of carrying babies and little children is very common in mountain areas, where women make few kilometers a day walking or by bus to make the daily errands.

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

JANUARY - MAY 2021

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

BAGMATI REGION 01. Anapurna range view from Namobuddha 02. Snow view hotel 03. Lantang range view from Dhulikehl 04. Gaukhureshor Mahadev in Dhulikhel

JANUARY - MAY 2021

A TRAVEL PORTRAITS COLLECTION

Fundación Vicente Ferrer Dental care campaign 2021

JANUARY - MAY 2021

I was invited to participate in a dental care campaign to be carried out in the region of Andhra Pradesh with the NGO Fundación Vicente Ferrer.

These three portraits are the initial sketches part of a series of posters and pamphlets for kids to learn how to take care of their teeth.

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

JANUARY - MAY 2021

A COLLECTION OF TRAVEL PORTRAITS

JANUARY - MAY 2021

A TRAVEL PORTRAITS COLLECTION