Well, hello!! I have been trying to write this blog now for quite some time. Each time I try I get distracted by one of the 270 aftershocks we have had since the initial 7.8 earthquake on April 26, During what appeared to be a quiet time we had either a new quake or a very large after shock of 7.4.
It has been a devastating time for Nepal and many are without safe homes to go to and are sleeping in fields outside their house in tent cities that have popped up all over.
The damage is real and it is seen nearly everywhere.
And yet the damage is not nearly as bad as had been predicted for the past 10 years so that is the good news. The prediction was that the airport would shut down, several areas of the valley would collapse and and close to 100,000 would be lost during the first few days. The good news is definitely good and everyone is thankful for that. The airport has been open and running quite nicely, many restaurants are back open and the stores have not been depleted as of yet. Crazy as it seems, within two days of the earthquake, there were actually people back out in the tourist area shopping. I know this is not what was shown on the news but it really was like that!
The bad news is that, even though the numbers are lower and the destruction is less, there are thousands left to live outside, trying to get tents, tarps, hand sanitizers, and general goods. Many schools are still not open and many kids are still sleeping under tarps and in tents outside of their home. The other bad news is that the rains are coming and what was made weak by the earthquake will only become weaker. The following video is what appears to be a “controlled” release of water from a landslide. The military went through the city to evacuate it but as you can see, many stayed to watch what would happen. It’s a bit shocking.
When the monsoon hits full force, I am not convinced any of the flooding will be controlled. My plan had been to upload and present other photos I have taken at various times since the initial quake, but I have just not had the time nor the motivation to do so. Well, and my internet has been very intermittent. To say the least. As the time passes and the aftershocks become less and it slows down just a bit at work. I will present other photos. Hello, Mother Nature.. there is nothing subtle about you.
rfljenksy - Practicing Simplicity 