Travel, photography, climbing, Saudi Arabia, Nepalnoreply@blogger.com (Nick Hardcastle)Fri, 30 Aug 2024 19:11:45 +0300Blogger http://www.blogger.com234125http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/en-usnoMalaysia, travelTravel in MalaysiaTravel in Malaysianick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.ukhttp://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2011/03/now-at-different-address.htmlSat, 19 Mar 2011 18:52:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-1584542787364012014I've not been blogging here for a while, but over on wordpress:http://nickhardcastle.wordpress.com/0nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2008/10/moved-to-wwwhobnailcomblog.htmlSun, 5 Oct 2008 21:11:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-3625970375645743353Hi, Thanks for visitingI have moved my blog tohttp://www.hobnail.com/blogWhich is my own website and server setup. Please visit me there.0nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2008/09/change-of-address.htmlMon, 15 Sep 2008 20:56:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-2520367486362803087Change of addressOriginally uploaded by nick_hardcastleIf you read my blog you will want to no that I have changed its address. It is now at http://nickhardcastle.wordpress.com.Why change? Well Wordpress makes it much easier to edit the layout of my blog and it offers more tools than blogspot. Eventually (when I remember the password for my server ...) I will host the blog directly on 0nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2008/09/view-from-muktinath.htmlSat, 13 Sep 2008 22:45:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-8864683681829376378The view from MuktinathOriginally uploaded by nick_hardcastleI am still plodding my way through the photographs I took in Nepal this summer. The quality of light was generally poor, apart from in Muktinath.I might have to do the Annapurna circuit again sometime, in different weather, although I must admit that it wasn't a very exciting walk.0nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2008/09/blog-wordle.htmlThu, 4 Sep 2008 21:14:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-9014578484013488456Blog WordleOriginally uploaded by nick_hardcastleWord clouds used to be so time consuming to make. Not now - http://wordle.net/create0nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2008/09/facebook.htmlThu, 4 Sep 2008 20:46:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-3907714579024863626Facebook Originally uploaded by nick_hardcastleI just met an old friend on Facebook as I was changing my profile picture. Fantastic. I haven't seen her for 13 years.0nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2008/09/thamel-market.htmlWed, 3 Sep 2008 21:55:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-409274072200664355Thamel marketOriginally uploaded by nick_hardcastleWhilst I was making this shot a young man was hovering by my elbow asking me about photography. Are you a professional? Is that a very old camera? Why don't you buy a new one? Don't people use digital nowadays? Do you speak English? Will you talk to me? Why are you ignoring me? Am I bothering you? I answered only one question - the last - and he 0nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2008/09/thamel.htmlWed, 3 Sep 2008 20:58:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-7467141910744791056ThamelOriginally uploaded by nick_hardcastlePtGui Pro has been updated to version 8 and it is awesome - faster, more accurate and capable of making incredibly good blends. This hand held panorama was made with 4 shots using a 16mm fisheye on my D30nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2008/09/young-blue-tit.htmlWed, 3 Sep 2008 20:04:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-6505922311128607965200807221Originally uploaded by nick_hardcastle0nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2008/08/my-lounge.htmlSun, 31 Aug 2008 18:53:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-750984342076094959My loungeOriginally uploaded by nick_hardcastleI love this room at sunset as it floods with light.0nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2008/08/200807021.htmlFri, 29 Aug 2008 13:38:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-3199964617434311304200807021Originally uploaded by nick_hardcastleElectricity first appeared in the upper Manang valley in the 1990s. Since then it has transformed rural life - television, sattelite phones, and electric blenders to make salt tea. Oh ... and the most terrible Nepalese films of DVD.0nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2008/08/2-july-2008-danaque-bhratang.htmlFri, 29 Aug 2008 12:44:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-4154754668463403082 2 July 2008Danaque to BhratangMy friends will tell yo that when I get hungry I become irritable. It’s true, so last night I ordered food early, aware that the service in our lodge was unlikely to be fast. An hour and a half later and there was still no sign of activity in the kitchen. My crew and the lodge staff were all sitting transfixed in front of the television watching a Nepali action 0nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2008/08/nassim.htmlThu, 28 Aug 2008 18:25:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-1961640420664258208An NassimOriginally uploaded by nick_hardcastleMy garden is looking very dry, but amazingly there are still quite a few flowers around. I made this 360 degree shot this morning when I came back from the dentist. I blame the root canal surgery, without anesthetic,for the poor colour on the QTVR version. It is Ramadan next week, which means that the dentist will only be working early in the 0nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2008/08/yarchagumba.htmlMon, 25 Aug 2008 19:13:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-44892051260260129YarchagumbaOriginally uploaded by nick_hardcastleYarchagumba, a rare parasitic fungus that grows on caterpillars in the himalayas, is highly prized in Nepal. It is used in traditional medicine, notably as an aphrodisiac. Cordyceps sinesis is collected from high grasslands in Dolpo and sold on to traders in the market towns. In 2008 each piece was fetching Rp200 in the rural areas, and up to US$0nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2008/08/yarchagumba-collector.htmlMon, 25 Aug 2008 19:12:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-5895272887237441368Yarchagumba collectorOriginally uploaded by nick_hardcastleThis small collection of yarchagumba will fetch enough money to feed the family for a week or two.0nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2008/08/blog-updates.htmlSun, 24 Aug 2008 16:14:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-6269409531252173901 I have added a blog updates section to my website www.hobnail.com 0nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2008/08/winnowing-rice.htmlSat, 23 Aug 2008 19:41:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-2327523739367479829Winnowing riceOriginally uploaded by nick_hardcastle1 July 2008 Chamje (1425m) - Dharapani - Danaque (2400m)I was awake at 5 this morning. Somebody was going around the hotel across the road waking up the surveying crew staying there. I’d watched them arrive last night. They were a dysfunctional group of Nepalese who obviously didn’t enjoy each others’ company. As they waited for their dhal baht,0nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2008/08/cannabis.htmlFri, 22 Aug 2008 15:20:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-5454120597612985728CannabisOriginally uploaded by nick_hardcastleCannabis grows everywhere near the lowland villages on the Annapurna circuit. It is used for making a pickle amongst other things.0nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2008/08/30-june-2008-bahundanda-to-chamje.htmlFri, 22 Aug 2008 13:53:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-186935276021430891 30 June 2008Bahundanda (1310m) to Chamje (1425m)One hundred and fifteen meters! How deceptive the figures are. We spent the day climbing and descending as we followed the river upstream. The valley became more precipitous and we had to climb over each spur as the river was in spate. As a result of 10 km hike took us over six hours.Apart from a little drizzle, today was fine, although 0nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2008/08/on-road-to-bahundanda.htmlFri, 22 Aug 2008 00:22:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-2477507227735574867On the road to BahundandaOriginally uploaded by nick_hardcastle0nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2008/08/chickens-roosting-bahundanda.htmlFri, 22 Aug 2008 00:01:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-5244586820584172562Chickens roosting in a shopOriginally uploaded by nick_hardcastleWhilst I was in this shop, or rather standing in the street in front of it, my porter Binod was changing his jeans in the toilet - a small thatched, wooden hut. He disturbed a small nest of wasps, which despite being only 4mm long delivered 8 stings in as many seconds. He fell out of the hut in a torrent of what I assume was bad 0nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2008/08/land-crab.htmlThu, 21 Aug 2008 16:42:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-6730302784229762130Land CrabOriginally uploaded by nick_hardcastleA land crab and babies on the trail from Beshisahar to Bahundanda. It scurried across the road like a Bangladeshi worker trying to cross the highway in Saudi - seemling oblivious to the danger.0nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2008/08/29-june-2008-beshisahar-bahundanda.htmlThu, 21 Aug 2008 16:10:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-2728811116317210950 29 June 2008 Beshisahar - BahundandaI was woken shortly before dawn by the reving of the bus engine. the driver had parked it on the waste ground in front of the guesthouse late last night. I wasn’t sure it was a good move then, as the land was beginning to flood. This morning it looked like a padi field ready for planting. A group of men, would be passengers I suppose, were rocking the bus 0nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2008/08/200808211.htmlThu, 21 Aug 2008 15:50:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-1793865077063610462200808211Originally uploaded by nick_hardcastleI am back in Saudi! How did the summer go so fast? I have been experimenting with my new shoot-through umbrella, shopping and talking to Mary May.0nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)http://nickhardcastle.blogspot.com/2008/08/200806291.htmlTue, 19 Aug 2008 11:25:00 +0300tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23804292.post-5970191765931479844200806291Originally uploaded by nick_hardcastlePreparing the fields and young rice plants for planting out. Annapurna region, Nepal.0nick_hardcastle@yahoo.co.uk (Nick Hardcastle)