“Give the ones you love wings to fly, roots to come back, and reasons to stay.”

— Dalai Lama

In the beginning of the circuit trek, Geert hiked through the lower foothills which were dotted with many small and picturesque villages. In fact one of the nicest things about the circuit trek is the gradual rise in altitude which allows for good acclimatisation and avoidance of Acute Mountain Sickness. However, he did see quite a few very ill trekkers.

This scene in Bhulbule was a beauty. He sat down in the terraces and sketched the old lady who was chasing chickens away from her drying rice.

Later, when he was about to cross the suspension bridge in the background, a porter passed him and in his cane basket he carried a very old lady who was very ill. Nothing drove home the plight of the Nepali’s – and their tough living conditions more – than watching that scene.