Danger Dog Blog

Live from Nepal: Pokhara flora and fauna

Sunset on the rooftop of the Green Tara Hotel in Pokhara is always a treat.   This beautiful view comes with a great sound track as well...varied birdsong fills the air.   You can see more about the Green Tara on a previous blog.

A flock of green parrots added to the birdsong that was all around us.

We had breakfast by Lake Fewa, and watched the boats come in as we enjoyed our limitless coffee at Mike's Breakfast here in Pokhara.

There are still some nice old houses here in Pokhara but many of the corn fields are being replaced by huge 6 and 7 story hotels.   More about the architecture of Pokara is here.

We came across this lizard while strolling through one of the few remaining fields

This moth was in a friend's garden.

My friend tells me this is the flower of the lentil that makes dahl.   Very pretty.

This bee is enjoying this stunning orchid even more than I did!

Here is the full orchid.   Pretty.

On our 8-hour bus ride to Pokhara from Kathmandu, we stopped at a restaurant with a lotus pond complete with many frogs.

Of course, Pokhara is home to many nice Beware of the Dog signs.

 

How to commission YOUR pet's portrait on metal:

Now is the time to order:   Be ahead of the Pack!   I am in Nepal right now giving photos to the artists.   Deadline for this trip is May 20, 2013.  

1. Please send me a photo of your pet.  I will give it to three different artists, giving you a choice of 3 paintings and three people will get work.   Each painting is about one square foot and is on metal with synthetic enamel paint.   These can be hung indoors or out.

2. Let me know what you would like it to say.

3. Let me know what style of portrait you would prefer:   naive, realistic, colorful, etc.

4. Tell me your pet's name and breed.   

5. Send your photo to me at:   ampage1@gmail.com  
That's it !

Satisfaction is guaranteed as I accept no money up front.   If you do not like one of the three, you pay nothing, and the 3 artists are paid in full in any case.   Let me know what you want it to say and that's it!

 

The cost is $250 plus shipping.   Shipping is around $18 per sign (to and from the US).   And 9.75% California sales tax for California residents.  
Pay after choosing your portrait.  
Multiple pets on one sign cost more ($325 for Double, $400 for Triple).

 

Let's keep these artists painting.

 

This hand-painted art form is fast disappearing in Kathmandu, as it already has in most parts of the world.   I pay fair trade wages, the artists get to paint again, pet lovers get a choice of three paintings for each commission, and I get to help Nepali artists make a living.   Everybody is happy.   Rescue dogs from America get to rescue artists from Nepal!

 

 

Live from Kathmandu: Back in Boudha

We are back in Boudha and the stupa is newly outfitted with blue lights that put a wonderful glow on this holy site.   This is just before a sudden squall that made the prayer flags dance and put the stupa in a mist and made the crowds disperse as if by magic.

Words (and my not so great camera) cannot do justice to the beauty of Boudha.

A foreigner was dancing in front of a Jib camera crane on the Stupa this morning, drawing a huge crowd.   Something is up today as the Stupa has literally dozens of Nepali policemen and women stationed around the Kora.  

We have a new room -- after years at the Dragon.  The Dungkar Guest House, with its close proximity to the Stupa, is our new home away from home here in Boudha.

 

Dungkar Guest House room with kitchen

 

Thanks to my good friend and travel partner, Suzy, we now have an even better room.   Suzy certainly knows a thing or two about real estate!

Above is Tina the French Bulldog hand painted on metal by Megh Raj Thapa, Sufraj Khadka and Sagar Bista (clockwise from top left).   This is what you can expect when you order a Nepal Art Dog.   Tina made such a great Danger Dog that her owner could not choose and bought them all!

How to commission YOUR pet's portrait on metal:

Now is the time to order:   Be ahead of the Pack!   I am in Nepal right now giving photos to the artists.

1. Please send me a photo of your pet.  I will give it to three different artists, giving you a choice of 3 paintings and three people will get work.   Each painting is about one square foot and is on metal with synthetic enamel paint.   These can be hung indoors or out.

2. Let me know what you would like it to say.

3. Let me know what style of portrait you would prefer:   naive, realistic, colorful, etc.

4. Tell me your pet's name and breed.   

5. Send your photo to me at:   ampage1@gmail.com 
That's it !

Satisfaction is guaranteed as I accept no money up front.   If you do not like one of the three, you pay nothing, and the 3 artists are paid in full in any case.   Let me know what you want it to say and that's it!

 

The cost is $250 plus shipping.   Shipping is around $18 per sign (to and from the US).   And 9.75% California sales tax for California residents.  
Pay after choosing your portrait. 
Multiple pets on one sign cost more ($325 for Double, $400 for Triple).

 

Let's keep these artists painting.

 

This hand-painted art form is fast disappearing in Kathmandu, as it already has in most parts of the world.   I pay fair trade wages, the artists get to paint again, pet lovers get a choice of three paintings for each commission, and I get to help Nepali artists make a living.   Everybody is happy.   Rescue dogs from America get to rescue artists from Nepal!

 

Tibetan Terriers on their home turf

While not technically Tibet, the Mustang District of Nepal borders Tibet and is home to many Buddhists from Tibet, whose customs, language, food and dogs have not been diluted by Chinese rule.  

Does any dog look more chill than this handsome Tibetan Terrier lazing on the porch of his home in Jharkot in the Mustang District of Nepal?   He is in his element.

This Tibetan Terrier has been cooling his paws in mud and is ready to call it a day.   The dogs all over Nepal sleep all day and bark all night (guarding the compound is their job, after all).

This shaggy example of a Tibetan Terrier from Dhakarjhong - a village far from the main road - sports a 'tika' or red powder placed as a blessing on his forehead.   His dreadlocks belie his traditional lucky status in this part of the world.

Not a true terrier, the Tibetan Terrier's role was as companion, shepherd and guard dog to his family.   They were highly esteemed, and still are.  They are larger than a Lhasa Apso.

Hugo & Minnie by Baba, 2010, Synthetic enamel on metal, available

Hugo and Minnie are a beloved pair of Tibetan Terriers who made a great pair of Danger Dogs a while back. 

Hugo & Minnie by Hari Timesina, 2010, synthetic enamel on metal, available

You can see more paintings of Lhasa Apsos and Tibetan Terriers at the NepalDog.com website.

One of the great things about Nepal is the friendly, laid back dogs.   Not only Tibetan Terriers and Lhasa Apsos, but Spitz's, German Shepherds, Pugs and Labradors are all popular.  And there are many, many mutts who are just as cute.

More on them another time!

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If you would like to have your dog (cat, horse, chicken , bunny, etc.) immortalized on metal here in Nepal, now is the perfect time to order.   I will be here in November, 2012, to order more Danger Dogs and Cats.

This hand-painted art form is fast disappearing in Kathmandu, as it already has in most parts of the world.   I pay fair trade wages, the artists get to paint again, pet lovers get a choice of three paintings for each commission, and I get to help Nepali artists make a living.   Everybody is happy.   Rescue dogs from America get to rescue artists from Nepal!

Now is the time to order:   Be ahead of the Pack!   Orders now accepted for the Winter 2012 trip.

 

HOW TO ORDER

To order, please send me a photo of your pet.   I will give it to three different artists, giving you achoice of 3 paintings and three artists will get work.   Each painting is about one square foot and is on metal with synthetic enamel paint.   These can be hung indoors or out, be framed or unframed.

While I am in Nepal, your pet will be featured on the Danger Dog Blog, as I stop into the artists' studios and document the works in progress.

Satisfaction is guaranteed as I accept no money up front.   If you do not like one of the three, you pay nothing, and the 3 artists are paid in full in any case.   Let me know what you want it to say and that's it!

Send your photo to ampage1@gmail.com or find out more at www.NepalDog.com.

Let's keep these artists painting.

American Dogs = Nepali Jobs.

Hello from Dogmandu!

Please check out the Nepal Dog YouTube Channel:   http://www.youtube.com/user/NepalDog

You will be happy you did!

Micro-finance through art patronage.    Trade not Aid.

 

Why I Love Nepal: Pop up fun.

The Monsoon is hot, wet and muggy by definition, but we manage to enjoy ourselves all the same.  Kathmandu is a city of pop up fun.   We never know what to expect.

After a night of refreshing and much needed rain, we awoke to see the magnificent Himalayan white mountains from our rooftop at the Dragon Guest House in Boudha.

When I arrived back in Boudha last night after making the rounds of artists, I came across this magnificent sight.   Thousands of colorfully dressed Nepalis throng the Boudhanath Stupa to watch dancing, parades and live music.   Never a dull moment here.

An early walk through town turned up this handsome Nepali dog zealously guarding his cotton ball rabbit.

With the city wide road expansions, I am losing some old Danger Dog friends on the Kathmandu gates.   I am glad to see this Collie still there.

Every Danger Dog has a tongue in Nepal.

This 'Be Ware of Dog' sign is naively typical of what one might see on a Nepali compound gate.   Love those teeth.

This colorful portrait of a white Labrador Retriever is by none other than Baba and is right around the corner from his studio.   I'm glad that the Nepali locals are getting into the Danger Dog spirit.

More to come.   Stay tuned.

If you would like to have your dog immortalized on metal here in Nepal, now is the perfect time to order.   I will be here for another 6 weeks ordering portraits. 

This hand-painted art form is fast disappearing in Kathmandu, as it already has in most parts of the world.   I pay fair trade wages, the artists get to paint again, pet lovers get a choice of three paintings for each commission, and I get to help Nepali artists make a living.   Everybody is happy.   Rescue dogs from America get to rescue artists from Nepal!

Now is the time to order:   Be ahead of the Pack!   Orders now accepted for the Summer 2012 trip.

 

HOW TO ORDER

To order, please send me a photo of your pet.   I will give it to three different artists, giving you a choice of 3 paintings and three artists will get work.   Each painting is about one square foot and is on metal with synthetic enamel paint.   These can be hung indoors or out, be framed or unframed.

While I am in Nepal, your pet will be featured on the Danger Dog Blog, as I stop into the artists' studios and document the works in progress.

Satisfaction is guaranteed as I accept no money up front.   If you do not like one of the three, you pay nothing, and the 3 artists are paid in full in any case.   Let me know what you want it to say and that's it!

Send your photo to ampage1@gmail.com or find out more at www.NepalDog.com.

Let's keep these artists painting.

American Dogs = Nepali Jobs.

Hello from Dogmandu!

Please check out the Nepal Dog YouTube Channel:   http://www.youtube.com/user/NepalDog

You will be happy you did!

Micro-finance through art patronage.    Trade not Aid.

 

 

Spider Art from Nepal

Kathmandu artists are no strangers to spiders in their hometown, but they jumped at the chance to paint an animal of a different color.

This four-eyed spider is lovingly recreated by Sanjib Rana.   This painting is acrylic on metal and perfectly captures the hairy fascination of this spider.   This portrait is 12" by 15".

I will try to get an id of the type of spider and will update you when I learn.

Megh Raj Thapa took some liberties with the color background of this dramatic spider.   This is synthetic enamel on recycled metal and is 12" x 12".

Last but never least, we have Baba's portrait of a spider on a golden flower.   Also 12" by 12", using synthetic enamel on recycled metal.

The original photos were taken by Miriam Schulman.

For pricing and more information on these charming folk art portraits of spiders from Nepal, please visit NepalDog.com on the Spider page.

If you look closely, in center frame, there is a rather large spider ensconced in his web. This photo was taken in the small town of Darbang, in the province of Myagdi.   I recommend getting off the beaten path to this traditional village.   After completing the Annapurna Circuit, stay a while in Galeshwor, then trek up the hill to Darbang.   We stayed in town 4 days and went exploring in each direction each day.   More on Darbang can be found in a previous Danger Dog Blog.  

Hope everyone enjoyed Earth Day.  

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I am planning to return to Nepal soon, so if you would like to order your own Danger Dog (or Danger Spider) now is the time.

This hand-painted art form is fast disappearing in Kathmandu, as it already has in most parts of the world.   I pay fair trade wages, the artists get to paint again, pet lovers get a choice of three paintings for each commission, and I get to help Nepali artists make a living.   Everybody is happy.   Rescue dogs from America get to rescue artists from Nepal!

Now is the time to order:   Be ahead of the Pack!   Orders now being accepted for the Spring 2012 trip. 

Please send me a photo of your pet.  I will give it to three different artists, giving you a choice of 3 paintings and three people will get work.   Each painting is about one square foot and is on metal with synthetic enamel paint.   These can be hung indoors or out.

Let me know what you would like it to say.

Let me know what style of portrait you would prefer:   naive, realistic, colorful, etc.

That's it !   Click here for pricing.

Satisfaction is guaranteed as I accept no money up front.   If you do not like one of the three, you pay nothing, and the 3 artists are paid in full in any case.   Let me know what you want it to say and that's it!

Send your photo to ampage1@gmail.com

Go to www.NepalDog.com for more information and current pricing.

Let's keep these artists painting.