Nepal: hard workers

Because Nepalese work outdoors commonly, even in Kathmandu, in some ways it is easier to catch them at it than it would be us. In this post, I've separated pictures of people working between the Everest region trek and in Kathmandu.

Workers in the highlands:

There are donkeys and yaks on the dirt path, but mostly there are people, playing the role we'd fill with Mack trucks.


This young woman is carrying empty kerosene containers downhill to be refilled. No individual or beast could bear all those bottles if they were full.


This gentleman's face suggests a lot of years carrying a lot of loads.


These cheerful young men were our porters, sunning themselves after a very short day. We were a good gig with relatively little baggage.


Building sites we passed were a reminder that labor is cheap in Nepal. These women are chipping away at stones to make them more rectangular for inclusion in walls.


These hotel workers in Namche Bazaar seem to be taking a break after completing the laundry. They reminded me of folks I am acquainted with at home.

Slideshow of workers in the Everest trek region is here.

Working in Kathmandu

In the city, people sell each other the goods of life.


Want meat for dinner? The butcher will cut it for you, fresh ...


...while you wait.


At temples, various offerings are available for purchase.


Artists refresh the paint on monuments and religious sites. This seemed to be underway at most places we visited.


This was a modern building site using good quality materials, but I doubt OSHA would approve this guy's footgear.


Within a short walk from central Kathmandu, one comes to planted fields where agricultural methods look to have endured for centuries.

City workers slideshow.

Disclaimer re what a tourist can see.