learn photography and take more pictures

As I sat waiting for the parade to come on Lord Krishna’s Birthday, this little girl came and stood beside me. She stood there long and silent~ I smiled at her and she shyly glanced away. I couldn’t help but see how beautiful she was…I was surprised when several village children (who were from higher castes) came by and looked at her up and down like, “What are you doing here???” This brave girl kept her head up and simply looked away~ I was proud of her for holding her own and remaining beside me on that porch. I felt proud to sit beside her.

I noticed that her sandals quite literally had no bottoms to them…they were basically just the top part of the sandal. I wanted to buy her a pair of shoes, but did not know how to go about buying them at that moment without being “awkward”...
The parade went by and the little girl disappeared….

On one of my trips to buy books for the library in Kathmandu I had some photographs printed for my “friends” in the village and gave them out. I also had that photo of the little girl printed and I told the hotel manager… “I want to find this girl and buy her a new pair of sandals…” (I don’t know why this was so important to me, but I felt compelled….)
He agreed to help me.

The day before I left the village was a RAMRO DIN (great day_{)!
Everything went my way, including finding the little girl from the outskirts of the village… after long efforts we found that she lives 2 hours outside of the village… someone who knew her gave someone else a call in her village and sent her a message to come into Bandipur…}

I was able to give her and her sister new shoes… and she was so overwhelmed by this, she carried her shoes home in a bag…she did not want to put them on quite yet.

It was really awesome after sharing that story with the founder and the president of the Foundation they both agreed we would provide a scholarship for this beautiful little girl.
Now she will be able to attend school with a scholarship~
I’m so thankful.
:D

This Little Prince was walking down a few steps by the temple as I was walking up~ I love the way the light is hitting him…

This is a photo of a group of children who were playing in the rain outside of my hotel one day. I watched them for a long time enthralled in their joy and laughter~

What fun these sweet children had running through the village during the monsoon downpour without a care in the world, and filled with pure excitement and fun!

I love this photo for many reasons…

First, I adore these women who worked so very hard in the library… I gave them “extra” tips and tried to take care of them.

Second, although they are doing hard labor, they are elegant and graceful and never complain… they carry their burdens in life graciously… incredible…

and third,
they are so beautiful! The light, the colors, the spirit…
amazing…

I saw this little girl outside of the library and she looked so pretty~

These little children were sitting in front of their home as I walked through the village to the Three Taps area…the villagers were all gathering down there by the temple to begin the festival of Krishna’s birthday~

During this festival all the children “dress up” as Krishna and Rada (I believe…please forgive if I got it wrong!) But…
I saw these beautiful children and snapped a photo. (I promised to bring Dabika, the little girl on the left, her picture when I return to Nepal!)

:)

I am getting my cameras ready for the journey!
I’ve been letting my son take pictures with my bigger camera because he really enjoys it and I want to encourage his creativity. I was praying he did not do anything “weird” with it or “break” it… so far, so good.

I am borrowing my friends video camera as well so I can film the library being put together and opening, projects with the scholarship girls, and film whatever else looks interesting…

I am carrying a lot of technology with me and hope I do not run into any trouble as a result…
:D

Look Out!

I am very happy to say I had my little camera with me today and I got a nice shot of the moon while the sun was setting…
quite lovely!

Finally, maybe I can work on this goal~
:)

I need to practice my photography~
getting ready for Nepal~ this time I am also interested in maybe themes…
and possibly videotaping the volunteer process…
the lives of our girls…
life in general in Nepal….

:D

Here is a picture of the cornbread!!!
And I had forgotten how sweet sweet-tea is…..
YIKES!!!!