Stories from the Road

After a random discussion with a friend over a beer, I decided Nepal would be my next destination. From decision to “boots-on-the-ground” it took just three days.

I boarded the plane, richer in experience, richer in art and with all my vital organs.

Rounding the corner of the kiln, I came across two young men shoveling and grinding big chunks of coal into the coal dust that would be used to stoke the kiln fires. With only filthy head wraps to protect them, so much coal dust was pouring out from the 3-walled corrugated iron shack that you could hardly see them.  I have never seen worse working conditions in my life. 

Everywhere I went I was followed by 10 - 20 curious locals, all asking me my name and my nationality or asking to have their photo taken. “Trump! Trump?!”

The next morning the roads to the airport were thick with morning mist; this offered an amazing opportunity to take photos of farmers walking through this eerie, dreamy landscape.

One of the more interesting things I saw was a slew of young boys, squatting next to large plastic tubs of live fish, smacking the surface of the water with their hands… little human aerators…

Rising early, we headed into the heart of Bogra City. The central Railway Bazar was an amazing opportunity to capture all the busy activity of a market, with the added excitement of avoiding getting hit by the train that WENT THROUGH the market. The narrow stalls haphazardly put together with sheets of metal and hanging tarps allowed amazing streams of light to filter through.

After two very intense days in the crowded and polluted streets of Dhaka, it was time to jump on a flight to Rajshahi in the West, close to the Indian border.

I arose from my deep slumber to the gentle sounds of the Muezzin’s call to prayer, an alarm clock since the days of The Prophet Mohammed. After a quick chai (aka: Rocket Fuel), we arrived at Gabtoli, a small local port where dozens of barges, filled to the brim with jet-black chunks of coal, were docked. An army of men and women streamed in an endless conga line, before us.   

“You know they burn people alive there, right?” “They are desperately poor and would do ANYTHING to get your money.” “They’ll lock you into their tuk-tuk, splash gasoline on you and if you don’t pay them, they will set you alight!”

At the end of 2014, I traveled for one month through Nepal. It was one of the most amazing experiences of my life (Click here to see photos).  Part of that journey involved a seven day silent meditation retreat. Read about my experience below.