That 'warm' night !

It was cold that night but the aura inside was warm. There were girls, men, workers and all sorts of people. They were gearing up for an event, event of portrayals and joys. The 'invitation only' event expected people from a precise 'interest group', who could understand the portrayals being delivered that night.

It was a 'fashion show'. The shows don't always gather a huge crowd here and therefore, the organizers prefer to turn that to 'invitation only' event. I was fortunate to have made it there; thanks to 'one' of my good friends who offered me a 'free pass'.

I was a hardcore enthusiast of such events long time ago and therefore, I could relate the 'emotions' to 'different mindsets' at that event. It becomes one of the most 'awaited' for some while 'just fun' for many. Whatever that be, it is ultimately a 'journey' at the end of the day.

While I was walking randomly, I found a chair at one of the corners. Bought a bottle of beer and headed to that chair and started to check messages, status and calls on my phone.

'Excuse me'.

I turned around and it was a familiar face. I couldn't exactly tell who the person was but I had to reply.

'Hey'.

'What's up?'

'Nothing. What's up with you?'

'You dumb a**. What're you doing here?' 

I was literally shocked to receive such a reception from a stranger. She must know me, I imagined but didn't know how to respond to that question. 

'Sorry, I didn't quite recognize you'. 

'Ya right. See, I told you; you're such a jerk'. She kept going. I couldn't stop smiling but had to guess that she knew me. I apologized for not quite figuring out who she was.

'Really. Is that so?' 

'Sorry Ma'am'. 

'Alright, you wait for some time then'. She left.

I started to cherish the moments and was quite happy with whatever was going around. After some time, models started to set the ramp on fire. Gorgeous ladies and mind blowing attires, it was definitely one of the 'hottest' events I had been to recently. While I was cherishing the night, there was a brief pause and the 'MCs' announced a 'name'. I still didn't care who it was and then I saw that 'the lady' entered the show as a 'show stopper'. I was sorta close to the ramp and I still had no clue of who she was.

She ran down the ramp and went back. I kept looking, kept trying to figure out who she was but couldn't relate her anywhere. Life's a Journey I guess. You meet people, you stumble upon memories, you believe you know people and it goes on. My Journey has had some rough landings and crazy encounters and I still stumble upon people and act crazy. Some remember me while some still try to figure out 'who I was'.

Journeys of our own

Lone Journey; Your Way !

It was already a tiresome journey on the bumpy road and the dude sitting next to me asked the driver to stop the bus.

'What's the matter?', the driver was curious.

'Nothing. Just thought of walking my way ahead'.

'You must be crazy. Do you have any idea what's ahead of you', the driver showed mixed reaction.

'There ain't destinations. There are only Journeys', the dude smiled and got off the bus.

During this conversation, I was yet to make sense of what was going on. I had no clue why the driver of the bus was overly interested in the guy's decision. The dude got off the bus and started to walk. I had the front seat. I took out my camera and clicked a pic.

Later, I found out that the road ahead had to pass through a forest. A forest quite popular for sightings of wild animals.

'It wouldn't be a surprise to find him dead soon', the driver winked.

Well, journeys are lone and I guess, there are no destinations. Destiny is overrated. You don't reach anywhere, you just decide to stop there.

Sensual Arts; the most debated ones.

I grew up in the Terai plains of Nepal. It was a small town and with what I remember from my early days, it was hesitant to openness; be it arts, movies or fashion.

With time, I got opportunities to travel. I traveled and even had an amazing chance to study abroad. After my enrollment at the Art Institute of Ft. Lauderdale, the limit that kept suppressing me simply blew off. I was exposed to this enormous open ideas of exploration and that led me to come back home and explore. For my portfolio, I traveled extensively all over and ventured through the villages and cultures of Nepal. There is where I cam across these 'Sensual form of Arts'. These Arts were rare but still found in places across Nepal. They changed my entire perception. They no longer meant explicit sexual material for me, instead, they became precious and rare. 

Sensual Carvings - an eBook

The journey is long, yet full of excitement. Whenever I come across such carvings, they bring smile on my face. No matter how clean the intentions were, there must be some notoriety in their mind. Also, I become curious whether it was the Artist or the Contractor of the building who actually thought of putting such Carvings up there. 

Besides, there are so much to explore. The temple, the place, the tradition at that time, the history, the ideas behind the construction of such monuments have actually paved the road towards our curiosities. History holds enormous mysteries and sometimes, they're simply unfold-able. Yet, we can ask people to pour in their thoughts and breed a discussion, a discussion that will be healthy enough to see these arts with an artistic intention. And maybe, someday, we'll be open enough to undertake our journeys into the vast mysteries behind these rare Arts.

Sensual Carving 

These are random thoughts. I'm wrong. Wrong all the time, but who cares. It's just what I see. It's just what I believe. And therefore, your refusal of my belief makes these Arts the most debatable ones.

The images can be viewed at:
Smashwords

Khumbu Seracs and the Tragedy; Support SHERPAS !

The worst accident in the history of Everest mountaineering occurred Friday, 18th April's morning on the South side of the world's highest peak. 

Khumbu Icefall; ©mountainsoftravelphotos.com

At around 6.45 am Nepali time, an avalanche occurred on the southern side of Mt. Everest, at an elevation of approximately 5,800 mts. The accident zone, famous as 'The Golden Gate/Popcorn Field' lies in the khumbu Icefall. Khumbu Icefall has numerous unstable seracs and the Clibers need to hurry to pass them as quickly as possible. The most suitable time to pass them is around early mornings before the sun rises and temperature goes up. The disastrous accident occured when a large Serac broke off from the slopes of the western shoulder of Mt. Everest, right above the Khumbu Icefall. 25 Sherpa guides were buried by the avalanche. They were busy fixing ropes and preparing the South Col route for their clients.

Seracs; © beyondak.com

Hanging seracs ©summitpost.org

Sherpa guides have a challenging task to find and maintain a new route through the Icefall every year. Since they are the ones who are quite familiar with the Moutains, they take up such risky tasks and they are the ones who face the danger first.

© Nat Geo

Ang Kaji Sherpa was one of 12 climbing guides on the Friday's accident. He was working with a team of elite Sherpa, who were setting up ropes to prepare the way for their clients to follow in the days to come.

Sherpas take up one of the most dangerous tasks in the world. If you want to support them and their families, here are some links.

Thank you.

Sherpa Education Fund

Himalayan Trust

The Juniper Fund

American Alpine Club

(P.S. Please share if you believe they should be supported for the families and people they leave behind for the sake of other peoples' safety.)

(Text, video and image compiled from internet)

Hear from the Climbers who actually witnessed the tragedy.

Paul Valin's testimony

Joby Ogywn's testimony

Read more on Everest:

Jon Kraukauer

       

The repercussions !

Impeded by value priorities, one starts pleasing people. The society expects and it's not a surprise that people do exist inside a society.

The stand YOU should believe in.

The cultural norms and beliefs of people are shaped by the way they have been brought up. Parenting shapes the mindset as well. We've been in a blissful state to many of my foreign friends who see the western societies as 'constraint'. We have been set free with a lawless government and that is heavenly, to them. Maybe we are yet to realize the freedom because, as you grow up, you've been fed a kinky culture. Boundaries that STOP you from hitting the walls, the barriers. 

There starts the obedient YOU, pleasing others. Your own stand keeps loosing its firmness and is being grappled by the mentalities around. You become older each day but the 'fake you' takes on its toll. You keep denying, 'that's not me', but alas, you've been fooled already.


 

And finally, you become YOU. Shaped and molded according the perceptions of the people around. The repercussions start showing its colors. Smile and don't bang into the expectations of the societies. Keep it simple, obey all and keep it that way. Your stand is no where to be seen. That's the us, here in the Southern world. The deadly grip commonly seen in the grown-ups. 

The freedom FLIGHT you should yearn for

Above's image is just a picture I managed to take the other day. I talk and I have talked with folks. Sad, I see it in them. A rigid tradition and futile belief. We need to train ourselves to be free. Free from the barriers that have tried to cripple us. We no more in decades old world. Things have paced up and left us far behind. Also, its 'we' who are going to be 'societies'.

In contrast, I've seen 'misfits' too. They are my favorites. 'Misfits' who refuse to believe others' random guesses and are confident enough to follow passions. 

(I am in Nepal, a beautiful country nested between India and China. The beautiful landscapes here are awesome, however, some societies are plagued with decades old tradition. I am a firm believer of 'change' and also advocate that 'change' has to come to 'the way children are brought up' here).