Chalise Village, Relief Distribution and Report with photos before and after the earthquakes.

Hello friends,

Many many thanks to all of you here in California, on Facebook, and beyond who have pitched in with over $13,000 to support our Nepali friends. Chandra Gurung visited his village of CHALISE and has sent many photos and one video of the area.

The first relief flight sent food and medicine we bought and an assessment team to the villages. After that tools and work supplies were purchased to start rebuilding the 3 day trail to the area. 

When the second earthquake hit, many were working on the trail, and some lost their lives.

Chandra then bought tarps, food, food staples like salt and cooking oil, lentils and rice, and delivered them via helicopter to his home. The link below show images of where your generous donations have gone, they have gone to the families you see, and to bring people to hospitals, and to help them keep their hopes up. Thank you from everyone of them.

Included is a Google Earth map detailing the location of Chalise below the high Himalayas. There are also before and after images of the school we have been supporting, and photos from a happier time for them two years ago.

As the 3 month monsoon season is about to start, Chalise and Sertung are completely cut off by road and trail, the only access is by helicopter, and the rains will put a stop to that. 

Sadly, the government is overwhelmed by and estimated 500,000 homes destroyed in rural villages like this, with 3 million people facing the same problems.

Our hope is that Chandra can get enough supplies and medicines up there before the rains.

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All of the photos can be enlarged by clicking on them. 

The remote view North including the Sertung Valley, Chalise Village, and the Himalaya towards Tibet.
I labelled the high peaks to locate the area and give scale.
These villages are completely isolated.

Two years ago all of the people enjoyed a distribution of school supplies for 60 or more students.

The school after the first earthquake.

The school after the second earthquake.

Celebrating at the school two years ago.

Even the youngest children received supplies.

Note the school building in the background.



Chandra and team arrive by helicopter with relief supplies.

1. Delivered earthquake relief to Chalish Village , Tarpaulin, Salt, Cooking oil, Soap, Lantle, Matches, cloths and Cooking powder etc for every houses, through sky way.

Chandra's house before and after

Other structures, homes, granaries.

Chandra transported his grandmother and another elderly woman to the hospital in Kathmandu.

Chandra's report text from his email tonight:

Earthquake Report 

Title: - Relief Fund for Remote Chalish Village 2015

25 April 2015 massif 7.9 and second 7.1 magnitude rector earthquakes are in Nepal. Due to these mega earthquake many monastery, temple, school, University, Hospital and many houses are destroyed in beautiful Himalaya Nepal in 2015.

Chalish Village Dhading is 100km from center point of earthquake 7.9 magnitude rector. So Chalish Village also not saved by earthquake; where school and all remote traditional villages were destroyed in 25 and 29 April 2015. “CHALISH VILLAGE” also totally destroyed, Chalish is remote village of Nepal it takes 1 day drive and 2 days walk in hilly region of Nepal.  The needs of Nepali people are actually too great for their government to cope with and small villages are not a priority for the government or even International Organization due to geographical far distance not access of road to deliver rebuilding things. I am promise to rebuild my village and this is where I am decided to do something, contribute and make it my promise as much as I can.

Your helping hands make happy to rebuild for earthquake victims of Chalish village. Your personal or collective contribution to assist the Nepalese people with a guarantee that the money will go directly to the people without administration expenses, then you should consider donating here and i will personally ensure the funds reach the village of Chalish. 

See Photos of chalish village after earthquake; I visited whole village when I was there for relief materials distribution. 

1. Deliver 6500kg Rice for Chalish Sertung VDC.

1. Earthquake Relief distributed to all Chalish villagers and near villages of Chalish those are staying in Kathmandu and victim from earthquake; 10650kg rice, blanket, salt and oil etc.

His temporary home in Kathmandu

Thank you!

The epicenter of the Nepalese earthquake

The red marker on the map pinpoints the epicenter of Saturdays 7.9 earthquake in Nepal, exactly where we ended our three week trek around Manaslu in Besisahar.
We have had some preliminary contact with our friends there, but not all, so far just Chandra has checked in.
Here are some images from 2012 that visually describe the walk between the two towns. We are keeping these people in our thoughts as they go through this difficult time.
The location is along the Bahundanda to Besisahar Road on the Marysgandi River, 70 Kms. northwest of Kathmandu.

Epicenter on road from Bahundanda to Besisahar

Chandra and a friend in Chamje

Cutting rice,  Bahundanda

District school near Bahundanda

The rice terraces below Bahundanda.

A bushel of rice

The stunningly beautiful valley of Bahundanda

He was 80 plus years old and still bringing 30 pounds of feed to his water buffalo.

Our "Super View" hotel, Besisahar.

Our super view, Besisahar.

Bread vendor, Besisahar

Some bricks, some rebar, some 8,000 meter mountains, Besisahar.

 Kathmandu:

Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu

Pashupatinath, with some luck it is still standing, Kathmandu.

Ancient Crypts in Kathmandu

Seaside Surprises

Some days I find myself out wandering the coast, not quite sure what to photograph. Then something very common catches my eye, something I may have seen hundreds of times. a different angle or maybe a change in light, but the forms and designs and movement stops me long enough to consider an image. These are a few of those surprises.

Abstract Wave #1, San Simeon Pier

Abstract Wave #2,
San Simeon Pier

Abstract Wave #3,
San Simeon Pier

Kelp Designs,
San Simeon Coast

Indian Paintbrush, Salmon Creek
Southern Big Sur

On the subject of light

I needed to produce some prints for a meeting of photography friends. Looking back through the last few months of work I found a few images on the subject of light. Photographs that were created by the lighting, a spontaneous occurrence, and some planning on my part. A very mixed bag.
Each image can be enlarged for a bit more detail.

The last hour after a large Pacific storm at Point Piedras Blancas.

Two nights before Christmas along the Morro Bay Embarcadero

The house at Moss Beach, Spanish Bay, Pebble Beach. I am intrigued by the shadows and diminishing light on the trees. 

Slate River Canyon, Crested Butte, Colorado. The wet dirt road just glistened as it wiggled away into the mountains.

A surprise Red Octopus in the tide pools near San Simeon, my first encounter with these.

Candy canes and lights in the grass,  Palm Springs, Christmas.

November Ramblings

Ah, Fall. The early morning sunlight along the coast, the fire red daybreak behind the pines, the glimpses of local wildlife, and the deciduous creekside colors. Days on the beach with just a few people. All familiar places in a softer, quieter tone.

Sunrise, Arroyo Laguna, November 1st.

Sunrise, Arroyo Laguna, November 19th.

6AM Behind the Pines

A day at the beach, San Simeon Cove.

This year the water temperature is 64 degrees well after Summer, San Simeon Point.

The Elk and the Coyote, Arroyo de la Cruz.

Sycamore, Cerro Alto.

Exhibit of the Nepalese Photographs

Update: The Nepal Exhibit will show at Linnaea's through November.

Dear Friends.

I am excited to announce that I have been asked to exhibit images of Nepal for the month of October and November at Linnaea’s Coffee House in San Luis Obispo.

You are cordially invited to join me at the opening night, Friday October 3rd. 6 - 9pm. We will be serving wine, beer, and hors d’oeuvres in coordination with Art After Dark and the San Luis Obispo Arts Council.

Many of the photographs on display are the first prints of the images, and I am looking forward to sharing them with you.

I hope to see you there.

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