Previous month:
March 2016
Next month:
May 2016

April 2016

Live from Nepal: The friendly dogs of Pokhara

Pokhara is in holiday mode.   Their new year has just begun.   The dogs are having fun, too.

Street dog of Pokhara
A shaggy Nepali dog enjoys New Year's Day

This happy dog has been celebrating the New Year's Day by playing and jumping in and out of Lake Fewa with his doggy pal.

 

Dogs play near Lake Fewa in Nepal
Dog friends play in Pokhara

 

Here is the same dog as above playing with his friend that has discovered a stray shoe to play with.

Happy dog in Lakeside, Pokhara,Nepal
Fluffy dog in Lakeside, Pokhara

This friendly dog watches over the street scene of Lakeside from its high perch.

Boxers in Nepal
A happy Boxer dog in Pokhara

A trip to Pokhara is never complete without a walk up the hill to The Castle, a hotel with lots of boxers - live and stuffed ones too!

This is Branigan's daughter.  Branigan has been taxidermied and now presides over Branigan's Pub.   

DSCN9874

This handsome puppy is very happy to get some loving.   This dog has personality plus.

DSCN9883

This German Shepherd is a fine example of why they are so popular worldwide.   What a beauty!

Folk art beware of dog art hand painted on metal in Nepal
Folk art Beware of Dog art hand painted against a backdrop of the Himalayas

Above is an example of what you can expect when you immortalize your pets here in Nepal.   You give 3 artists fair trade work and get a choice of 3 lovely paintings to boot!   I am here in Nepal right now awaiting your order!

More later.   Stay tuned to hear more about Nepal and the Danger Dogs from Nepal fair trade art project.   

If you are near Brighton, England, during the month of May, please stop by and see the Danger Dogs live...

 Where and when to see The Dog Show?   

THE DOG SHOW  

33 sillwood road, brighton, bn1 2le

Brunswick TOWN trail venue 2

Saturday and Sunday, 30th April, 1st, 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, 28th, 29th May,

11.00 to 18.00

You can learn more on their facebook page:   https://www.facebook.com/thedogshowbrighton

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Now is the time to order:   Be ahead of the Pack!   Orders now being accepted for the March 2016 trip.  I will be back in June 2016.

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:   [email protected]  
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 $22 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 Nepal: Flora and fauna of Pokhara

The wildflowers of Nepal are colorful and varied.   From the large Rhododendrons (known as Lali gurans - the national flower) to the tiny blue Gentian, there is a wide range of flora here.

Wildflowers of Nepal - Gentian
Tiny Gentian flowers cover the hillside

You can imagine how pretty these tiny flowers are as they spread across the hillsides near the village of Ghatchyina, an hours bus ride north of Pokhara.

Lali gurans - the national flower of Nepal
Rhododendrons in Nepal

The pretty flower above is a Lali Gurans, the national flower of Nepal.   We know them as Rhododendrons.   They cover the hillside.   Higher up in the mountains, they are red in color.   Nepal is home to hundreds of varieties of the Rhododendron.

 

Tumeric root in flower in Nepal
Tumeric root in flower

 There is a field of Tumeric not far from our hotel in Pokhara.   This healthy root also has a lovely flower.

Wild strawberries and ageratum in Nepal
Wild strawberries and ageratum

Here we have wild ageratum along with a mini-strawberry.   They are as tasty as they are pretty, though I did not eat this one!

Bird's nests in a shop near Pokhara
Bird's nest in a shop near Pokhara

These nests are in nearly every shop in Pokhara.   The parent birds fly in and out and feed their babies.   This nest is hanging from the ceiling at a small restaurant.  They are considered good luck for the store.   There are 3 nests in this shop.  These birds do not eat grains, only nectar and flies - always a good thing.

Gautali birds in Nepal (Swallows)
Gautali birds (Swallows) in Nepal



Here are the baby birds' parents.   These birds are known as Gautali in Nepal and Swallows in English.   Notice the split tail...

Folk art portrait of a Eurasian Dog
Lou the Eurasian Dog

This is Lou, a Eurasian Dog - a mix of Spitz, Samoyed and Chow.   A good example of what you can expect when you order your very own Danger Dog from Nepal.   The above portraits are by Dilip Niroj, Sagar Bitsa and Sufraj Khadka (clockwise from above left)

More later.   Stay tuned to hear more about Nepal and the Danger Dogs from Nepal fair trade art project.   

If you are near Brighton, England, during the month of May, please stop by and see the Danger Dogs live...

 Where and when to see The Dog Show?   

THE DOG SHOW  

33 sillwood road, brighton, bn1 2le

Brunswick TOWN trail venue 2

Saturday and Sunday, 30th April, 1st, 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd, 28th, 29th May,

11.00 to 18.00

You can learn more on their facebook page:   https://www.facebook.com/thedogshowbrighton

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Now is the time to order:   Be ahead of the Pack!   Orders now being accepted for the March 2016 trip.  I will be back in June 2016.

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:   [email protected]  
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 $22 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!