Eurasian Griffons feast on remains of buffalo carcass

Visiting the village of Dhungakhani ("Rock Mine")

The village of Dhungakhari lies near a rock mine in in the rural area near Tansen.


Farming families in Dhungakhari grow fruit trees, graze buffalo and tend ancient terraces.


A view inside one of the homes


Waste from the toilet and buffalo dung is fermented in this fermenter to generate gas for heating and cooking.



A homemade broom lies on the swept floor



An Erythrina Stricta tree on their farmland



Blooms of the Erythrina Stricta tree

Visiting Lumbini, birthplace of Lord Buddha

Via rickshaw for the last 100 meters.



The sacred tree where Buddha's mother rested before giving birth to Lord Buddha.

Placing an offering at the tree.

Near the shrine is the pool where Buddha's mother bathed before giving birth after her long journey.

Tibetan refugee community on the outskirts of Pokhara

Tibetans fled the Chinese invasion of their homeland 50 years ago, taking refuge in this area on the outskirts of Pokhara.

Woven goods and souvenirs provide a source of income.



Might her dog become woven into a sweater?

Trek up Sarankot Hill for better view of the Himalayas

Jyam Bhang, who accompanied Sherpas on the ascent of Mt. Everest, assists Bonnie on descent from the Saronkot Hill.

Young mother on Saronkot Hill, with 11 day-old infant. Something to think about - no running water, no transportation, miles of walking to any hospital or medical aid!

Dakshinkali Temple and ritual animal sacrifice

Animals are cleansed in the Bagmati River before being led or carried to the sacrificial altar.


On the way to the sacrificial altar with his cleansed, pet rooster, this young Hindu gentleman feeds his pet with some final, few corn kernels.

One of the sacrificial altars, this one inscribed with a "male" skeleton.

Richard S. Ehrlich (at http://www.geocities.com/asia_correspondent) recounts
“In 1780, Nepal outlawed human sacrifice. Animals, however, are allowed to be killed to satisfy the goddess Kali, and for other ceremonies. Devotees who cannot afford to sacrifice a goat, pig, lamb or waterbuffalo, offer a less expensive chicken or duck. Carcasses remain the property of the believers who brought them, and are carried home or taken to the chamber where the temple's butchers skin and debone the meat for a small fee according to devotees' requests.

Everyone seems to think the slaughters will please the gods and grant a boon to whoever makes such an offering. Animal sacrifice is common in Nepal, the world's only Hindu kingdom. Nepalis kill animals to sanctify weddings, new homes or religious festivals. Upon purchasing a new car or truck, the owner sometimes splashes its exterior with fresh animal blood, to ensure the vehicle doesn't crash whenever it is driven.

Many times, pooja is merely symbolic -- an offering of butter, yogurt, money or flowers. When an animal is to be sacrificed, however, it should be an uncastrated male which is killed, apparently as a display of life's potency.

At Dakshinkali's temple complex, set amid trees in a tiny valley between two mountains, swarms with men, women and children carrying their squirming prey. Hindu symbols, including brass tridents and snakes, adorn the shrine's walls and canopy.

Some devotees don't wait to return home to dine on the dead meat. Instead, they picnic in the forest next to the shrine, roasting their meals on campfires while the slitting and hacking continues below amid clanging of bells and shouts of prayer. “