Elsie's MyPhotoAlbum

Put yourself in these pictures! The cultural and scenic diversity of Nepal is difficult to describe and hard to imagine until you see and experience it firsthand! Picture travelling from the sub-tropical jungles of the Terai region on India's border to the foot of Mt. Everest in a space of approximately 140 km! In that short distance you can ascend from about 70m above sea level to the highest point on Earth (8850m). From its ancient capital of Kathmandu, through the mountains and down to its sweltering lowland plains, it is one of the most compelling and awesomely beautiful countries in the world. A must see for Adventurers or those who simply love history, people and beautiful scenery. You don't have to be a mountain climber to enjoy the Himalaya or the country and Nepalese people...the following photos answer one of the questions of "WHY?" travel in Nepal. Are you interested in Nepal travel, volunteering your skills or giving other support to village projects? Please contact Elsie James at stilltrekkin@hotmail.com

All of the photos in this album were taken by Senior Trekking Guide (and Company Director) Ramesh Dhamala, Ecological Treks & Tours (P) Ltd., Kathmandu, Nepal, and have been used with permission. The Upper Mustang region is a fascinating part of Nepal. It is located north of the Annapurna Range of the Himalaya and is very similar to the Tibet in culture and environment. Originally part of Tibet, the ruler of the Upper Mustang area voluntarily agreed to sign a Treaty with the King of Nepal - more than 200 years ago. In return, Nepal agreed to protect the culture and traditions of the Loba people of the Upper Mustang region by restricting access to their territory. The region was opened to a limited number of foreign visitors in 1991 and remains a controlled area requiring a special permit to enter that costs US$700 per person for 10 days - more if you wish to stay for 13 or 16 days! The present King, a direct descendant of Ami Pal, the original monarch, will be the last of his line by terms of the treaty. At his death the area will become simply another District of Nepal. The annual Tiji Festival celebrates is a colourful celebration of the triumph of Good over Evil.

Among the 25 Million people of Nepal (give or take a few depending on which source your figures come from) there are two main ethnic divisions...Indo Aryan whose forefathers are believed to have immigrated from northwestern India and the Tibeto-Burmese people of the Himalaya. It's fairly easy to distinquish between these two major groups, but there are a myriad of sub-groups many having their own distinctive languages and cultural traditions. The many faces of Nepal are a fascinating study for anyone's camera.

In April, 2007, in partnership with the Nepali NGO, Ecological Protection Forum and under the sponsorship of Medical Mercy Canada, we launched a new program in a test area of Dhading District. Focus Groups and Health Awareness workshops were scheduled with participants that included Community Health Workers, Health Teachers, Community Health Volunteers, Municipal Leaders from all political parties and Representatives from Village Mother's Groups. The 178 attendees discussed Health and Environmental challenges in their region and shared ways and means to address the problems they faced. Workshop presentations included "Preventing the Spread of Communicable Disease", "What is a Balanced Diet?", "Improving our Environment", "Personal Hygiene and Sanitation" and other subjects critical to gaining and maintaining a healthy family and community. The workshops were preparatory to mobilizing Community Health Teams. Each team's objective will be the development and implementation of educational programs and community activities to increase knowledge of the preventative measures that can be taken to improve individual, family and community health standards. Each will address problems specific to their community. The overall message to be conveyed is that "I am responsible for my own health and well-being, then the health of my family members and finally the general health of my community by helping to maintain a healthy environment. The responsibilityof others begins when I have done all that I can to help myself." Team Leaders are now conducting a house-to house survey with an objective of visiting 85% of the 5000 families in the test area over the next four months - teaching basic health/environment concepts, observing and assessing specific needs where community action may ultimately be required to assist families.

This album contains two videos. The first is an introduction to the village schools, and people of the Tipling region, a remote valley at the foot of Nepal's Ganesh Himal Range of the Himalaya. The second video tells the story of a medical/dental camp held in Pachighari Village in October, 2005

Village health services in Nepal are basic at best, and sometimes totally non-existent. Once each year WHAG, in partnership with a Nepali NGO, Ecological Protection Forum and the dedicated support of Nepali and western volunteers, bring medical and dental services to various villages in Dhading District. For more information see http://www.epfnepal.org.np

Literally the "18 Wheelers" of Nepal...whether on the trails throughout the countryside or on the narrow winding streets of Kathmandu, these amazing men, women (and even children) move the commerce of Nepal on their backs. In the City they move refrigerators, TVs, sofas, beds and other household and office furnishings. On mountain trails, in the absence of roads, all food stuffs and other retail commodities plus construction materials of every description are carried by porters from roadheads and small air strips to villages. The weight of some loads are unbelievable as these photos will show. Porters are vulnerable to abuse by their employers...many desparate for cash income...they will carry loads beyond safety limits knowing if they won't do it...there are 10 others in line behind them ready to step in and accept the load. Standards in the trekking industry are beginning to improve thanks to organizations such as the International Porter Protection Group and Porters Progress Nepal who have been raising awareness among Trekkers and trekking agencies re their responsibility for the safety & working conditions of Porters. Local Porters, however, continue to endure incredible challenges in order to provide a living for their families. Every person who employs a Porter in Nepal has a responsibility to see that conditions improve - and that includes foreign trekkers. Too many Porters and their families continue to be victims of preventable death, injury, illness and accidents every year. There are industry standards..but they need to be enforced. PLEASE DO YOUR PART!

Nepal has experienced a 10-year political conflict from 1996 to May, 2006. Hopefully that is now ended with the recent establishment of an interim government and a UN monitored disarmament plan. "Fallout" from that conflict has included a significant increase in the number of children left homeless, orphaned or simply in need of assisted care because a single, surviving parent is financially or emotionally unable to care for them. CFO provides loving care and the opportunity for education until a new family is found, a surviving parent's situation changes, or the child matures to the point of becoming independent. The photos in this album were taken on the opening day of the Dashain Festival, 2006, when the children received special gift bags from a group of 9 and 10 year old girls in Kelowna, B.C., members of a Primary Class at the Church of Jesus Crhist of Latter-day Saints.....half a world away. Wide eyes and big smiles were everywhere. It took awhile for the children to realize that the toys and books contained in the bag were theirs alone! (A visiting friend, Nahil Elrayees, photographed the action!)

Every year Buddhist, Hindu, Bon and Jain pilgrims along with many Western & European trekkers make the journey to Mt. Kailash...believed by many to be the Throne of the Gods, the Footstool of Shiva and the centre of the universe where the Gods come down to Earth from realms above. For Tibetan and many Asian pilgrims, this journey requires a significant financial and physical sacrifice to accomplish but is considered essential to their eternal journey through various incarnations to achieve Nirvana. In this remote corner of the earth, even for those whose religious beliefs are very different, you cannot help but feel the spirituality that surrounds this place that is so sacred to millions of the world's present and past inhabitants. A trip to Mt. Kailash and nearby Lake Manasarovar (where it is believed immersion will wash away your sins) is both a physical adventure and a spiritual journey of self discovery.

I'm fortunate to live in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies - just an hour's drive to Banff National Park. Over the years my feet and my camera have covered a great deal of these magnificent mountains. Although not as high as my beloved Himalayas, they are, nevertheless, spectacularly beautiful and attract visitors from all over the world in both summer and winter. Despite the many people who visit one or more of th six National Parks in the Rockies it is still possible to find wildnerness and hike all day without seeing anyone else.