Photos

Another picture in my "People of Nepal" theme, this one taken in Patan.

Patan, also known as Lalitpur ("City of Beauty" in Sanskrit) was once an independent city state, but now has been almost absorbed by Kathmandu, separated from it only by the Bagmati river.
Patan has its own Durbar Square (just like Kathmandu and Bhaktapur), with its own set of magnificient hindu temples, and is also popular with diplomats and NGO workers who often reside there.

This old lady was sitting inside Taleju Temple, and for a small tip agreed to have her photo taken.
I have never been able to decipher her expression: at first she seems to emanate a resigned sadness. Then, looking better, a sort of resolute strength somewhat appears beneath the surface.
Looking even more, sometimes I seem to see a tiny, barely visible, sparkle of a smirk.

One of the most enigmatic portraits I have ever had the luck of capturing.

PS: I have reposted this picture to correct a small error that I previously made when watermarking the original one.