Lake Pokhara, Nepal (2001) - Despite the placid look, all was not peaceful in Nepal when I visited in 2001. Civil war had reignited with a thunderous explosion as Maoist rebels tried blowing up airports, kidnapping town leaders, and ambushing police patrols with a hail of bullets. Making matters worse, I had gotten deathly ill with strep throat during my stay, so I elected to recover in the “resort town” of Pokhara.
I took this photo on the first day I felt well enough to walk around. It was a quiet, calm day, much like the tranquility this image represents. Unfortunately, the following day, violence ripped through town, and I came down with a Nepali intestinal parasite, which later plagued me for weeks.