I love Kathmandu. I have been there many times. I love the people too. It was nice to watch and read from your perspective.
Pashupatinath also left me with a strangely good feeling. I thought about how quickly we bury the person we lose in our culture. In Pashupatinath, people spend time with their loved ones while sending them off.
Do you know the term 'Umwelt'? It is the way each living being perceives the world in its own way. This is definitely the basis of this article. Our perception of death is different from Hindus. It is based on the collective unconscious. Also, the umwelt of flies is different from spiders. For example, they cannot see spider webs.
Hey. Thanks Deniz. It's a fascinating place and way of life, that's for sure. Your comments always give me something to think about. I now have a new word - umwelt - with an interesting concept. There's a metaphor in there somewhere that may come in useful one day. Thanks for that. 🙏🏼😊
What fine opportunity caught up with you in Kathmandu. There’s no better place for your first solo, only wished I was able to attend your exhibition. Waiting for your book. Till then, my best wishes to you and Angela.
Thanks for sharing your time there Ben. Hope to make the trip myself in the next couple of years. Its a fascinating place that has gripped my imagination since I was a kid.
Enjoyed the piece … gave my short time there more dimensionality. If documentary photography is not common there, how would you describe the work of nepalese photographers?
Thanks Pasquale! 🙏🏼 Documentary photography and visual storytelling does happen, I just didn't see it in the art galleries. So, maybe it's not seen as an art form and appears more online.
An amazing set of photos, Ben, and your description of the sometimes subtle, sometimes fundamental differences between western culture and Nepali culture brings the story to life. A book project would seem like a must. I've only visited Goa and Sri Lanka (both brief / 14 day holidays) but I got to appreciate some of the differences. Good luck with the ongoing project(s) and it'll be interesting, to say the least, to see what's next.
Thanks very much, Paul. Appreciated. 🙏🏼 I had the pleasure of Goa and Sri Lanka too. But briefer visits, and a few years back now. Definitely some cultural similarities, especially on the religious side of things. But also different and unique as most places are..
Great read again, Ben. It got me going through my old slides of Nepal and Tibet from 2001. I hadn’t seen them in a long time and I feel I should go back. I miss the place.
Cheers Daniel. And thanks again for your input along the way! 🙏🏼 I expect Kathmandu has changed a lot in the last 25 years. Its population has grown so much in that time, I wish I'd visited earlier.
It’s funny. I’m sure it has changed a lot. Even if only the same way the world has changed with cell phones etc. There was internet but only in internet cafe’s. But the interesting thing is that what I see in your photos isn’t that much different than what I remember.
I love Kathmandu. I have been there many times. I love the people too. It was nice to watch and read from your perspective.
Pashupatinath also left me with a strangely good feeling. I thought about how quickly we bury the person we lose in our culture. In Pashupatinath, people spend time with their loved ones while sending them off.
Do you know the term 'Umwelt'? It is the way each living being perceives the world in its own way. This is definitely the basis of this article. Our perception of death is different from Hindus. It is based on the collective unconscious. Also, the umwelt of flies is different from spiders. For example, they cannot see spider webs.
Hey. Thanks Deniz. It's a fascinating place and way of life, that's for sure. Your comments always give me something to think about. I now have a new word - umwelt - with an interesting concept. There's a metaphor in there somewhere that may come in useful one day. Thanks for that. 🙏🏼😊
What fine opportunity caught up with you in Kathmandu. There’s no better place for your first solo, only wished I was able to attend your exhibition. Waiting for your book. Till then, my best wishes to you and Angela.
Thanks so much, Edison. It was a pleasure catching up in person. I hope all is well with you. Until next time, my friend! 😊
Thanks for sharing your time there Ben. Hope to make the trip myself in the next couple of years. Its a fascinating place that has gripped my imagination since I was a kid.
Thanks for taking the time, Tom. I think you'll enjoy it!
Enjoyed the piece … gave my short time there more dimensionality. If documentary photography is not common there, how would you describe the work of nepalese photographers?
Thanks Pasquale! 🙏🏼 Documentary photography and visual storytelling does happen, I just didn't see it in the art galleries. So, maybe it's not seen as an art form and appears more online.
Great read and wonderful fotos! Well done.
Thanks Michael, much appreciated.
I really enjoyed this article.
Thanks Frank. Glad you enjoyed it.
An amazing set of photos, Ben, and your description of the sometimes subtle, sometimes fundamental differences between western culture and Nepali culture brings the story to life. A book project would seem like a must. I've only visited Goa and Sri Lanka (both brief / 14 day holidays) but I got to appreciate some of the differences. Good luck with the ongoing project(s) and it'll be interesting, to say the least, to see what's next.
Thanks very much, Paul. Appreciated. 🙏🏼 I had the pleasure of Goa and Sri Lanka too. But briefer visits, and a few years back now. Definitely some cultural similarities, especially on the religious side of things. But also different and unique as most places are..
Great read again, Ben. It got me going through my old slides of Nepal and Tibet from 2001. I hadn’t seen them in a long time and I feel I should go back. I miss the place.
Cheers Daniel. And thanks again for your input along the way! 🙏🏼 I expect Kathmandu has changed a lot in the last 25 years. Its population has grown so much in that time, I wish I'd visited earlier.
It was my pleasure!
It’s funny. I’m sure it has changed a lot. Even if only the same way the world has changed with cell phones etc. There was internet but only in internet cafe’s. But the interesting thing is that what I see in your photos isn’t that much different than what I remember.
Enjoyed reading this one. Never been to Nepal but it’s certainly a country I would love to visit. Japan Will be next for me, enjoy your time there.
Hey thanks Ruben. Glad you enjoyed. It’s a fascinating place, if you can handle the rough and ready vibe. 😊
Having been to India and Myanmar in the past I think I can handle it 😅
😂😂 in that case, you'll be fine!