The first few days on the Annapurna circuit took us threw many small little villages surrounded by growing mountains, green life and for the most part, smiling locals. Not everyone is happy to see you, and who can blame them. 70,000 hippies, gear heads, racers, trekkers and all around cheapskates tramp through their backyard every year asking to take photos of cute children and wrinkled grandparents. Hell, I wouldn't want to smile for that many trespassers in a year either.
Others look at the flashy boots and bags, compare them to their flip flops and tattered clothes and ask for a donation to the grocery bill. Then, others flash a gigantic smile and give you their address in exchange for a printed copy of the final photo.
No matter your experience, many trekkers memories of the faces they see rival those of the monstrous mountains. From old to young, snotty nosed and dirty handed to dread locked hotel owners, the locals who live on and make a living from the Annapurna Circuit are just as important as the views.
Waiter in Bhulebhule
Hamming it up for the camera
A typical workload on the trail
Shopping queue
Standing on guard
Posing
Family portrait
Here's to you
Mother and daughter
Local girls pose
Luckily, we stayed at the same hotel as local local leaders on a trek and got treated to the best meal on the trek.
that man on the top had an awesome smile! I also like that most of portraits here have blurry kinda faded background.
ReplyDeleteIs there any way people can leave comments for each photo, not for the whole updates? what do you think?