Faces of Nepal
Photos and words by Richard Bull

This is the beautiful Dolma in Gosaikunda. She runs a lodge with her sister (term interchangeable with relative). Together they work from 5am to 9pm. From making breakfast for early starters, to fetching 30kg loads of water from the lake down the hill, to washing innumerable dishes, to cleaning the lodge's 12 or so rooms, the laundry, fetching wood and cooking evening meals for guests and their guides and porters. All, mostly at least, with a smile on her face.

Latest update to The Editors, May 10 2009)
Well the camera wasn't under warranty. There seems to be some arrangement between Canon in Singapore and the principle vendors in Kathmandu to allow selling of camera's and lenses without a standard international warranty. To get that you have to pay 15% extra which is not mentioned at the time of sale as it "would make prices uncompetitive with the other countries".

One reason given is that Nepal is so dusty that cameras and lenses are very often returned for repair at great cost to Canon. And it is true. Already my newest lens as as dusty as it is under my bed. So just be warned!