Pictures: Nepal

There's something humbling about the Nepalese Himalayas. Sheer size, for one; 10 of the 14 tallest mountains (over 8,000m) in the world are Himalayan. It's things like standing at 4120m (about 2.5 miles) above sea level and still being dwarfed by 360 degrees of snow-capped peaks at Annapurna Base Camp that really put ones size (both physically and metaphorically) into perspective.

Nepal is a kingdom of contrasts where lush landscapes mingle with the barren rocky tundra of the Tibetan Plateau, Buddhist temples brush up again Hindu shrines, and only in recent years are the boundaries of the cast system between social groups being pressed and transcended. Other than the occasional nuisance of a band of tribute-demanding Maoists, the Nepalese are a fantastic people who love to share their energy and vigor.

Click here for the pictures