Pre-Earthquake Nepal

A friend and I visited Nepal for five days at the end of March, almost exactly a month before the devastating earthquake hit. We had a great time traveling through the Kathmandu valley region, including Bhaktapur, Dhulikhel, and Namobuddha temple. The highlight of the trip was seeing the well-preserved historical sites in Bhaktapur and Kathmandu, many of which have now been heavily damaged by the earthquake. I didn't take as many photos of these historical sites as I would have liked to, but I've included one of the best shots of Bhaktapur's Durbar Square below. I'm not sure how the earthquake has affected the people in these photos, but even if they weren't directly hurt by the earthquake, life will be very difficult for them while Nepal rebuilds after this disaster. I'm hoping for a speedy recovery.

Bhaktapur's Durbar Square almost exactly one month before the earthquake hit. The square was heavily damaged during the earthquake.

A woman arranges pots in Pottery Square, Bhaktapur.

A child peeps out from below an umbrella during a rainy day in Dhulikhel, Nepal.

Used soda bottled in our home stay home in Dhulikhel, Nepal.

During my trip to Nepal, we spent a night with a home stay family. The family ran a few small businesses, including a milk cooperative that offered loans for buffalo that could be repaid through milk sales. In this photo, our host shows us the log book of payments made in the milk cooperative.

Children play with toy guns near Namobuddha Temple, Nepal.

The Himalayas at sunrise. Taken near Namobuddha temple.

Namobuddha Temple in Nepal. The temple is where Buddha is said to have given his body to a starving tigress and her cubs. It is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in Nepal.

The Himalayas at sunrise. Taken near Namobuddha temple.

Prayer flags at the Namobuddha temple in Nepal. The temple is where Buddha is said to have given his body to a starving tigress and her cubs. It is one of the most sacred pilgrimage sites in Nepal.

This man pulled me aside and asked me to take a photo of him and his daugher on the outskirts of the historical town of Panauti.

A cycle rickshaw driver in Kathmandu.

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