Mountains o' things

A trinket stall in the streets of Thamel, Kathmandu

Spaced out

Leftover from the indian celebration pics, but right now I'm too tired to place a proper description... zZZzzzzzZ...

Nikon D70s, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm DX ED VR 

Dance

Was quite perplexed by this pair of women (actually we found out later that one of them was, and still is, a man) that wore thick and elaborate makeup coupled with a bunch of peacock feathers hanging on their waists. Turned out that they were dancers, and performed in front of the mobile shrine. Whether it was planned or they hijacked the show, we'll never know.

Nikon D70s, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm DX ED VR 

The divine flaming coconut

What can I say? I'm fascinated by fire.

Nikon D70s, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm DX ED VR 

Spilling seed?

Priest cutting open a coconut as an offering.

Background: A neighbourhood Indian temple that I had no idea was there (I still have no clue where it is) held an annual celebration just last weekend. A couple of prayer stalls (the type you see during deepavali/thaipusam) were set up along the road told me that it was going to be a photo opportunity. Sure enough, after I went home to fetch my camera and some reinforcements, it had turned into a mini carnival, complete with dancing mobs and a mobile shrine.

Nikon D70s, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm DX ED VR

Asia Lantern Festival 2006 [5]

IMHO the only exhibit that made the RM 5 admission worth its money. A dragon made entirely out chinese cutlery. Not very lantern-y I know, but impressive nonetheless.

Nikon D70s, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm DX ED VR 

Asia Lantern Festival 2006 [4]

A statue of Avalokitesvara, facing four directions. It was nice to look at until its mouths, eyes and limbs moved (not in a nice way, mind you), and water started sprouting from one of its clasped hands.

P/S that green light you see on its forehead? It's a green laser that draws random lines on the floor... talk about tacky

Nikon D70s, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm DX ED VR 

Asia Lantern Festival 2006 [3]

There was a display made out of several lit spherical cages, each spinning in a different direction, with a disco ball within. A slower shutter speed made it look so much nicer :P

Nikon D70s, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm DX ED VR 

Asia Lantern Festival 2006 [2]

Huge red balls.

Nikon D70s, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm DX ED VR 

Asia Lantern Festival 2006 [1]

Went to a so-called Asian Lantern Carnival last week, which was quite pathetic. Given the name, we expected tonnes of people but were greeted instead with a huge empty space with less than a hundred people around. It probably wouldn't have looked as bad if there were more people, but some of the displays looked downright tacky at that point.

But as always, there were some scenes worth taking =)

Nikon D70s, AF-S Nikkor 18-200mm DX ED VR