Parahawking!

Imagine floating in a paraglider in Nepal with the distinctive point of Macchapucchare behind you. Could it possibly get any better than that?

Yes it can! Scott Mason has done just that by combining his two passions: falconry and paragliding. Scott uses rescue birds to find the thermals that make for excellent paragliding.

Birds wind up in Scott's care because they have been injured, they fell out of the nest, their nest was cut down, or they were kept as pets. When possible, the birds are returned to the wild. Those that are too badly injured or too tame to be set free, are still cared for, exercised daily and kept in Scott's ever-expanding group of aviaries. The ones that cannot be returned to the wild, but are capable of training, get a new job: Parahawking!

Bob, an Egyptian Vulture, has been called in for mid-air refueling.

And he's off again, locating thermals to keep our paraglider aloft... and to earn more snacks!

Both vultures race in for a snack from Katrina's hand - looks like Kevin won that round! Better luck next time, Bob.

Fish Farms, Pokhara

Of course, the views from the air are nothing short of stunning...


... but, to be able to live the ancient dream of soaring, literally, with the birds, is unbeatable!

The end of a very good day!

Approaching the landing field. Run water buffalo, run!

After we land safely, local kids earn extra income packing up our gliders.

Woo-hoo!

And here's the guy who kept me alive: Brad Sander, who set the world record for altitude in a paraglider - over 25,000 feet! But everyone who was at last week's costume party just knows him as Bond. James Bond.

Just hangin' with our pals

To learn more about parahawking and raptor conservation, visit Scott Mason's website: www.parahawking.com

For some amazing pictures, see Katrina Keating's parahawking blogs on her site
www.katrinakphotography.blogspot.com

Patan, Nepal

Durbar Square

Patan is only about 2 Kilometers from Kathmandu, but it is a world apart. I'm sad to say that K-K-K-K-K-K-Kathmandu is not what one envisions when listening to Bob Seger's song. I'm told that it was a paradise, but that was 30+ years ago. These days, Kathmandu is a noisy, dirty, polluted and rather charmless sprawl that nobody is too fond of.

By contrast, Patan is more relaxed, less touristy and has preserved many of its amazing buildings, thanks in part to UNESCO support. Happily, we skipped Kathmandu and went straight to Patan from the airport.

We stayed in a beautifully restored, traditional Newari house (not pictured here). A great place run by lovely people - the same family that has owned the building for over 200 years! The only drawback is that the ceilings are about 5'8" tall (oh, my back!) and the doorways are much lower (oh, my head!).

Pigeons of Patan

You talkin' to me?

Gentlemen of Patan

Street sweeper and trainee

Girl and Prayer Wheel, Golden Temple

Monkey Statue and Chain, Golden Temple

The origins of ayurvedic massage?

During the dry season people must carry water from the well

Patan Palace Courtyard

Dogs: Sacred and Otherwise

Durbar Square "Skyline"

Colorful Rituals of Nepal:

Novice and Monk, Golden Temple

Usually, photographs are not allowed of this ritual. For some reason the monk took a shine to me and gave me permission. He also sprinkled holy water on me and gave me a flower which is meant to bring good fortune. My "guide," an entertaining itinerant man named Vishnu, was very surprised at all of this and kept telling me how lucky I was.

Examples of Newari Architecture:

Time to say namaste