I am working already for 8 years in Nepal. I work for a Dutch software company and in that role I visit Nepal more at least a few times per year. And a few times per means around 5 trips in average from 2 ot 3 weeks. So if you calculate that i have been at least 8 years * 5 times * 2 weeks = 80 weeks (minimum) in Nepal.

And in my opinion Nepal is one of the most interesting countries in the world. In the northern part it has the Himalayas, 7 of the highest mountains in the world, including the mount Everest of 8850 meters high. In the south it is only a little bit higher than my home country, the Netherlands, with 100 meters above sealevel. In the north it is cold, the mountains are so high that thunderstorms are not going over it but keep on trying to do so. Hopeless of course but very spectacular to see. And Nepal has Rhinos, Elephants, Tigers, 70 different kind of snakes (sorry shanti), Bears, Crocodiles and so much more. And is hosting 10% of all the bird species in the world, over 850 different species. In no other country you will find this amount of different birds. So a paradise for nature lovers. And i am a nature lover so that seems a good combination.

There is only 1 small problem, i have my own company. And in the last 8 years I have been out 2 times to visit a popular place in the weekend, Pokhara. In almost 8 years….Normally when I am in Nepal I am at 8am in the office until at least around 6 pm. And then rush to the hotel, spend 15 minutes on dinner and then start to do my mails and other stuff. in the weekend I used to work and let people come to the office to be most efficient. Customers who are visiting us for a week in Nepal see more of the countries unbelievable nature an beauty then i did in 8 years. I did something wrong. Last time i blinked my eyes i was 25 now i am 50. Have no clue where that time is gone…

Until 3 months ago.  After 8 years I decided (or should i say, i was forced :)) to see more of Nepal and take time of in the weekend. And i can tell you, Nepal is wonderful. 2 weeks ago i went to Chitwan, a national park in Nepal, and i stayed there for 2 days. How could i have been so stupid for 8 long years in a row? In the Netherlands i go to the Hoge Veluwe to make pictures but with all respect for the Hoge Veluwe, there are better places. In the Netherlands the most dangerous animals are very likely the biting insects and not to forget the chi-walla from the neighbors. In the first hour in Chitwan I was confrontated with crocodiles from 3 meters, only 2 meters away while i was sitting in a canoe, of course very stable.

It was amazing and a wake-up call for me. I love my work in the ICT but photography is my passion although i know i will never make money with it. But i love it and i loved my time in Chitwan. Only 150 km from the capital you are in a completely different world. Sometimes you are stupid but luckily not stupid enough to not admit it.

More of my pictures you can find in my gallery and I promised myself to work harder and relax more. And i believe that is not a contradiction. so you will see more post and blogs from me here.

have fun !

frank.