This adventure was postponed to summer 2015, because of the devastating earthquake in Nepal earlier that spring that killed over 7,000 people and reduced much of Katmandu to rubble. An old city made largely of brick, stone and wood; we watched citizens rebuilding their homes and businesses a brick at a time. We visited temples that were no longer, and met with the “living goddess,” or Kamari, a pre-pubescent girl selected by the Shakya clan of the Newari Buddhist community who is believed to be the incarnation of the fierce goddess, Durga. She is also worshipped by some Hindus in this country. Carried wherever she’s taken, she won’t set foot on the ground again until she begins her period, at which time, a new goddess will replace her.

We also went to the Pashupatinath temple complex on the Bagmati River, the most well-known cremation ground and in existence since at least the 8^th century. There, we were chased by a large woman who came out of a river with a dagger. You can read more about this experience in my book, River of Offerings. Profits from Nepal photographs go to the Juniper Foundation, an organization created by our guide, Melissa Arnot, who has climbed Everest six times, her final ascent with no supplemental oxygen.