Sofia makes us look back. It can be both good and bad – but we always learn something in the end. I wish the world leaders would learn from looking back too.
Sofia has shared some very special experiences from her looks back in time – please visit her lovely site for more inspiration!
I did not know where to go with this challenge at first, but as I have been scanning old slides and right now Nepal and Peru, I have tried to find some of those overwhelming experiences I had as a young woman never been outside of Europe before.
In my home we had many grand picture books from travels near and far, and during winter time my nose was deeply buried in them. I read and savoured everything about interesting places, and two of my major dreams were to see the Himalayas and the Andes. All the treasures hidden, Machu Pichu, Annapurna, Mount Everest…Shang-ri-La from the old novel by James Hilton…
In 1986 we flew to Kathmandu in Nepal. Here are some important ”looking back moments” from that journey. Moments of beauty and moments of pain and sadness. I certainly grew up some and learned much from these experiences.
After some days in Katmandhu and biking in the Kathmandu Valley, we decided to go to Dakshinkali. D is an important Hindu temple in Nepal where they sacrifice animals to the fierce goddess Kali. Not a place for the weak hearted – like me. But I went. This was a place that truly made me understand the difference between reading facts and seeing them in real life.
There were endless queues with people holding flowers or leading goats to their last minutes. The stairs down to the temple was crowded with holy men and disabled people.
This woman suffered from leprosy and hade neither fingers nor toes. I could not bear to look at her closely. This day was a day of tears only.
Today I do not regret I went, but that very day, and for some weeks after, I really did. Leprosy was in my mind something fearsome from the Bible, and I automatically kept the distance to this poor woman.
Fishtail Mountain – or Machapuchare (6993 m) – is the majestic mountain close to Pokhara, where we stayed for some days at a Ghurka lodge. I knew about the British Brigade of Ghurkas, they were considered among the bravest and most feared soldiers in the world.
We had a lovely stay, and planned an Annapurna hike some day in the future. (But this never came true.) Our last day here, a big monitor lizard walked by our breakfast table, something I very clearly remember as I was home alone…
Back in Kathmandu again, we went to Nagarkot in the early morning to walk towards the best point for the sunrise over Mount Everest – Sagarmāthā (himmelens huvud). A sensation never forgotten. Was I really here?
We also wanted to go to Chitwan to see wildlife from a bit closer up. (It’s us two in the photo, taken by someone I no longer remember.) While we passed through the river in an oxcart, the owner asked us if we came from Sweden – we said we did. ”I’m sorry about Olof Palme”, the man said. That was both surprising and heartwarming – so overwhelming to sit in an oxcart in the middle of nowhere and people knew that our prime minister had been shot less than a week ago.
The next long journey was in 1987, and went to Peru and the Andes.
Machu Pichu needs no introduction. This photo was taken when we first arrived at the top and could see the old city. The moment I went through the opening in the stone wall, is one of my best moments ever. And certainly when it comes to travel. No picture in the world can show the feelings I had there and then.
I had read a great deal about the Nazca lines too. They cover an area of 500m2 in southern Peru. They were made 500BC -500 AC, and there is still no answer to why or what for. Only theories.
We soon realised that our plane was very small and only took 6 passengers. OK, smaller planes are said to be safer… but when I looked out of the window and saw them pumping up the tires by hand…I had my doubts.
We survived of course, and had a great flight seeing signs that Von Däniken had proposed coming from outer space.
This is one of the animals in the Nazca lines – The Condor
We went by train over the great plain to Cuzco. A wonderful tour with llamas, vicunjas and the majestic mountains. The trust and confidence these happy women showed! They threw up their handmade carpets to us in the train and expected them to either be bought or to come back again! And it never failed.
The Uros are an indigenous people of Bolivia and Peru. They live on floating islands in lake Titicaca near Puno. I guess they still are – and I had seen them in my books. They used Totora reeds to make reed boats and the islands they live on. On the islands they grew different vegetables and potatoes and they had pigs too. An island lasts for about 25 years.
I hope you could follow my thoughts, and maybe understand something of how much I learned during those two journeys. Travel is one of the best teachers.
Before finishing off with the volcano Misti at Arequipa, I want to thank you so much for Setting a Mood in every post last week! Incredible variety on how we can create moods and how we can feel differently about them too.
Next week Anne’s challenge will be on Intentional Camera Movement, ICM. You can learn all about it by checking out the various online tutorials or wait for instructions from Anne. She says it’s all about having fun and there’s no wrong way to do it! Hope to see you then – and before that, stay nice and curious.
Leya 
Such a beautiful post, Ann Christine. I am awed by it all!
Thank you, Lindy ♥
Travel really affects people in different ways so I know what you feel. I haven’t been to a lot of places as compared to others but every time I look back at my travels I get teary eyed. Too dramatic haha
What a wonderful collection of heartfelt stories and beautiful insightful pictures! –
I stayed altogether for almost 15 months in Nepal since Covid and I haven’t seen many of those places. Plus local friends showed me pictures from decades ago to demonstrate the vast change.
Your gallery together with the text is certainly a unique enrichment in this area. And this counts for the incredible Peru trip as well.
Thanks a lot for taking us on this wonderful and inspiring journey back in time, Ann-Christine!
I found you today in the spam folder! Sorry. Thank you very much for a beautiful comment!
No worries at all. Happy, that you found and liked it :). – On my part: So sorry for the delayed responses. Wasn’t able to use the computer for a few days due to sickness.
Hope you feel better now!
Thanks so much. Slowly getting there. ❤️🙏
❤️
It is a testament to you, Ann Christine, that your travels affected you so deeply. The photos are full of life and wonderment.
Wonderful as always Ann-Christine. My husband and I (as you know) have traveled widely but you’ve chosen places I’ve never been and probably never will, so thank you for that. I love that you dove so deeply into some of your oldest experiences. What fun to re-experience them as you save your images. How fortunate we are to have seen so much of the world and yet a bit sad to think we can never really see it all first-hand! We are fortunate to live in a time when photography offers us so many second-hand experiences through images like these.
Thank you, Tina, I agree. We are fortunate. And understanding different cultures are important, especially as we travel much and others travel to our countries. If we don’t try to understand each other, the world is lost.
I am so grateful to have met different cultures before getting too old!
And photography is a means to understand the world better. It is great to have this opportunity.
Lovely travel memories, Ann-Christine!
I learned much from them, thank you.
Thank you for sharing these wonderful images and memories with us.
Thank you for reading and liking! I was young, but learned fast.
What great memories Ann-Christine. I loved your photos and stories.
Thank you, Anne! We learn all the time, don’t we? But I was a young country girl and it didn’t help much being well read when you stood in front of such an old culture and its traditions. But I learned. So glad you loved my stories.
😍
You know already that I share your belief that we learn from travelling, and I’m grateful that you shared something of what you learned on these trips with us. Beautiful photos and often moving reflections on your experiences 🤗
Thank you, Sarah. I was young and eager to learn too, even if things felt frightening.
Thank you very much, dear Ann-Christine.
Your photos of Nepal brought back memories of my extended stay there about a decade ago. I spent several months there and found it difficult to leave. I am especially grateful for your picture as I hardly ever photographed on my journeys.
All the best
Klausbernd 🙂
Thank you – good to hear you liked Nepal too!
After reading your post I wonder if any other places you’ve been to had the same effect as these two. They do seem to be places that change personalities, deeply. I love everything about your post, Ann-Christine, thank you so much.
I am so glad you liked it, Sofia, despite much of it being a bit sad and maybe depressing. Nepal was a tough experience for me, but I was determined to come closer to their culture and accept rituals from generations back – even if it was a strain. It is in most of us to learn and understand for the future.
Peru was easier. Poor people there too, but the joy of living and loving, laughing and singing was exceptional.
Places that change personalities, yes, at least both countries and people helped me seeing the joy in a very simple life. And to see how problems and sickness were dealt with without having the means for curing it. And so much more. I believe we grow from not always shying away…
Thank you again for a very interesting challenge. I am greatly enjoying the different posts!
Such is life, and we are who we are because of all of it.
This was travel in different times, Ann-Christine, before the word tourist became a slur. My response to the leper and goat slaughtering would have been much the same, and I’m sad to admit that it probably still would today. How wonderful to see the world through your young eyes, and know the wisdom you’ve earned since then. Thanks for sharing your memories.
Jo, travels and experiences changes us over life. Still, it is strange to look at old pictures and remember something of the person we were then, isn’t it? I had to get a grip to manage that place in Nepal, and I could not watch them kill the animals. I could not today either. I looked at my husbands pictures afterwards.
Today though, I wouldn’t have been afraid to go closer to that poor woman. I could have nodded and shown more compassion.
What a great ‘journey’ in many senses of the word. One thing I enjoyed, apart from your many wonderful experiences (you ARE well tavelled!) was how much you’ve developed as a photographer, from the days of film & point-and-shoot to the incredibly accomplished photographer you are now. Even though your earlier photos are great too.
Yes, my journey in many senses. And I had no camera in those days – it’s my husband who took all the photos. He has developed some too…!
Fabulous
Thank you, Sheree.
Pleasure Leya
An amazing post in many ways.
Thank you. Precious memories.
This was touching and certainly life changing journey to you. The photos are gorgeous as are the places. the touch of reality in certain places can hit us hard to us coming from the western countries
Thank you, Ritva, yes, reality becomes real and it is sometimes tough. As an animal lover I could not watch it. The old slides still let me recognise the motifs, and I am glad you found them interesting.
Those must be wonderful memories, formative in some ways. There is an excitement that I feel even now when I travel to a completely new part of the world. I imagine you must have felt that: a new country where you might be surprised at every turn. It was interesting to discover that I read some of the same books while growing up. Shows you how connected the world was even a lifetime ago. Lovely photos, of course.
They are treasured memories. And I agree, there is still excitement in traveling. I love it that we read the same books in our youth. And finding out how connected we all are is still fascinating.
I am glad you could enjoy the old photos despite deteriorating quality. I keep restoring the old slides from our travels. And love doing it.
Simply astonishing! Thanks for sharing!
thanks for reading and commenting!
Beautiful.
Thank you, Tim! Not top photo quality, but memories are more worth!
Wonderful photos of people and iconic places.
thank you, Rebecca. The quality of old films are not always super, but fun to have for the memories.
I agree. Travel is the best teacher. I can almost guarantee the most interesting people I’ve met are people well travelled and well read.
I particularly enjoyed your photos of Peru. Not on my bucket list, but still an interesting destination.
I also have a fascination with the Himalayas – mainly Tibet. Ever since I first read 7 years in Tibet by Heinrich Harrer when I was 15. I also read his second book, Return to Tibet many years later. It led to an interest in Mountaineering (even though I’ve never climbed a mountain), the Himalayas, Buddhism, and Tibetan Medicine (which I studied in the early 1990s when I did formal training in western Herbal Medicine). My 2005 trip to Nepal – camping/hotel 12 day introductory trip – got cancelled when my spinal condition deteriorated.
Vicki, I have the same fascination for Tibet, but not the knowledge of medicine that you have. It must have been interesting studies! I never read the book, but saw the film. I am sorry you did not reach Nepal in 2005, but hope you still have feelings for the country.
I agree about interesting people being travellers and readers. Yesterday we were invited to a real gem of a lady, Anna Hegarty. World traveller and entrepreneur. What an evening!
Thank you for a thoughtful post, reminding us how how travel can broaden our perspectives and hopefully compassion. May we, and especially our leaders, learn from the mistakes of the past.
Thank you for your thoughtful comment, and yes, we can only hope.
A wonderful journey of life Ann-Christine 🥰
A journey of life, yes, Brian. When I look at the pictures and remember those strong feelings I had, I can still feel tears in my eyes.
Oh, my, you brought back wonderful memories of our trip to Peru with your beautiful images. Fantastic gallery!
I am glad to have brought back memories, Egidio! I am happy I could finally scan them and remember our first travels, because feelings and memories from that time were stronger than they are now. Even if I still enjoy traveling, the strongest feelings are not there anymore.
Looking back is so helpful. I love your mountain views.
Thank you, VJ. Helpful, yes, but also painful and joyful at the same time.
Yes, there is that too.
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