Frames from the Mt Everest Region [2010]

Namaste! is the greeting you get while walking on these mountains from every person with all age groups. Photographed during my trek from Lukla to Phadking on 28th September, 2010 

Tibetian Chantings! This is the usual sight at every village one would encounter. Photographed in the Solu Khumbu district of Nepal on 27th September, 2010

Smile from the mountain! Photographed this smiling boy near the village Tengboche on the way back from the Mt Everest Base Camp on 10th October, 2010.

One of such profession on mountains. Many people chose to be porters or graze yaks or goats. Photographed this person on 27th September, 2010. 

Baby photographed on 27th September, 2010. The future of most of the babies are decided. If it is a girl, she would manage the restaurant and if it is a boy, he would become a porter or a guide for trekkers. 

Unforgettable expressions! Face is the index of mind as they say. One can deeply understand the challenges behind these mountain people once you look at their faces. Photographed on 28th September, 2010

A porter for life. A strong Nepali man posing to my lens at his few-minute-break for rest on the mountains. They are almost comparable to the yaks in carrying the loads of the trekkers in these mountains. Photographed on 9th October, 2010

Playful boy captured while returning from the base camp near the village Dingboche on 9th October, 2010.

Limitless Porter! People are so strong that whatever they carry is a mountain for us. They do it so well and they have accepted their role as porters and hence they depend on such limitless work. Tough looking porter carrying plywood sheets on the mountain. Photographed on 27th September, 2010

Perhaps the kids are training themselves to be strong porters or the guides. Photographed on 10th October, 2010

Its a world wide web for sure. Connectivity is everywhere and even in this tiny village of TokTok at an altitude of 2850m. Photographed on 10th October, 2010

Bye-Bye is what they said when they looked at us returning from the mountains. Photographed on 10th October, 2010

Samanyu

I loved his smile. He is my friend's son and was very friendly while I was clicking his pictures. Photograph taken on 2nd September, 2010

Eastern Ghats - Veerappan's Land

Village women working under the sun with the back drop of the wild scrubby forest of Eastern Ghats. The photograph is taken in a village near MM Hills on the way to Palar.  Photographed on 14th August, 2010.

Village boys curious to see photographers on the streets. They were ecstatic to look at their pictures after showing it to them. Photographed on 14th August, 2010.

School girls of the village posing at the cameras. While others were posing for my friend's lens, this girl was excited to turn towards me. Photograph taken on 14th August, 2010.

Many children in this area walk a huge distance to go to the Government School in MM Hills. In spite of they going to the school, education remains a major challenge in these areas. Photograph taken on 14th August, 2010.

Trying a different pose. This girl was coming back from the school and was super excited to pose for a single portrait. Photograph taken on 14th August, 2010.

What's happening? is what they are trying to understand after looking at me taking such a long time to click their picture. They were really close to the lens and were curious to see this picture. Photograph taken on 14th August, 2010.

and the joy! children were very excited and cheerful after the photo session in this village. They had good fun with the cameras around. Photograph taken on 14th August, 2010.

The typical village scene. A woman working hard under the sun to separate the grains from the harvest. Photograph taken on 14th August 2010.

MM Hills is a holy place and there are many devotees of Mahadeshwara (Shiva) in this region. It happens to be a very spiritual place for such saints to have their establishments as well. Naagamale [Hill of Snake]  is a place near to MM Hills which has a big temple of a Snake god. This saint was photographed at Naagamale on 14th August, 2010.

Naagamale is a place where many people come to follow their traditional beliefs. One such belief of offering bangles to the god is captured. Many such beliefs happens to be around this place from a very long time. People follow them religiously. One has to walk up to this temple for about 10 kms from MM Hills. Photograph taken on 14th August, 2010. 

(C) Srikanth Amalladinna