Posted on September 18, 2014 by Thomas Bethune
A fully decked out transport lorry descending into the Nubra Valley, 2008

A fully decked out transport lorry descending into the Nubra Valley, 2008

The season where the road is open is very short, and everything that needs to be brought in must come in during the short summer. There were many of these trucks coming and going with everything from lumber, diesel fuel, to bananas and other foods. The Leh to Nubra Valley road is wrought with danger. On the two occasions that I traveled the road, I saw where vehicles went off of the edge and down a very steep embankment. Casualties are common.

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A FEW MORE IMAGES OF DISKIT AND THE NUBRA VALLEY

Posted on September 16, 2014 by Thomas Bethune

Diskit Sunset, Ladakh, 2008
Sunset over Diskit in the Nubra Valley

Diskit Sunset, July 2008

Diskit Sunset, July 2008

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THUPTEN

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Thomas Bethune
Thupten

Thupten

My visit to Ladakh was in response to the family of the girl (Tenzin Angmo) that we sponsored. We were invited and urged to visit them in their Buddhist community in Ladakh. It worked out that I was the only one that could go, so in July of 2008 I went.

The above photograph was taken on the roof of their family home (which sadly was destroyed in a flash flood in 2010).

Leh Airport

Leh Airport

I flew from Arcata to San Francisco to Seoul South Korea where I spent a week, and on to Delhi. From there I flew over what I call the “front range” of the Himalaya to “the worlds highest commercial airport(10,800′)” in the city of Leh where Thupten (the father of Tenzin Angmo) met me. I spent the first 24 hours acclimating to the altitude.

This home was completely washed away in the flood of 2010. Thupten, Lamo and Tenzin Angmo barely escaped with their lives. They lost everything.

This home was completely washed away in the flood of 2010. Thupten, Lamo and Tenzin Angmo barely escaped with their lives. They lost everything.

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LITTLE TIBET

Posted on September 14, 2014 by Thomas Bethune

The Road from Nubra Valley to Kardung La , 2008
THE ROAD FROM NUBRA VALLEY TO LEH VIA KARDUNG LA, 2008

Over the next several postings, I will share some of my experiences from my travels in Ladakh in 2008. I  do not intend to write a travel blog with this subject, but I do intend to share some of the photographs that I think are worthy of showing and sharing.

This image is of the road between the Capital city of Leh and the Nubra Valley. Supposedly, this is the highest motorable road in the world (advertised at 18,000+’). Whether it is or not, it is an amazing trip. In the far distance there is a bit of the Karakoram Range which has some peaks over 25,000′. In between, is the Nubra Valley which is on the old Silk Road. Geographically, this area is the northernmost province of India, and the Nubra Valley is very near Pakistan.

 

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FURTHER WORKING AN IMAGE

Posted on September 11, 2014 by Thomas Bethune

Illuminated Meadow
I shared an earlier version of this image a few entries back. This morning some friends and I discussed what it was that caught my eye with this composition, and I realized that it was the seed heads of the grass that I wanted to be the subject. This rendering is much closer to my initial vision. I am glad that I was able to talk it over with some very competent artists – thanks Hal and Pam.

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BRINGING UP THE REAR, OR CABOOSE RAT

Posted on September 11, 2014 by Thomas Bethune

Bringing up the Rear
Sometime around 1972, and near Caliente, a caboose brings up the rear of a Southern Pacific freight train. I spent lots of time working the rear end of freight trains. I always prefered working the mountain (Bakersfield to Palmdale) vs the valley (Bakersfield to Fresno). Note the helper engine ahead of the caboose.

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ABOVE THE FOG ON FICKLE HILL

Posted on September 9, 2014 by Thomas Bethune

Fickle Hill Sunset_
ABOVE THE FOG

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TRAVELS

Posted on September 6, 2014 by Thomas Bethune
Sunrise at 18,000 feet.

Sunrise at 18,000 feet.

I spent the past week in Santa Fe visiting relatives. There was spotty internet connectivity, and so I was disconnected in a very refreshing manner. I think it is important to let go of our connections so that we may experience something different. Perhaps to me, it is a form of freedom whenever I detach from my routines – if just for a few days – a sort of sanctuary. I even left my main camera and laptop at home.

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I WILL BE OFFLINE FOR A FEW DAYS

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Thomas Bethune

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SOUTHERN PACIFIC TRAIN NUMBER 52 AT PALMDALE ON ITS LAST RUN

Posted on August 29, 2014 by Thomas Bethune

The Last Eastbound San Joaquin Daylight
I took this photograph in Palmdale California sometime in 1973. This was the last SP San Joaquin Daylight to run east. On this day I had worked a freight from Bakersfield to Palmdale and waited for the very late running train. The train was extra long and I recall had a helper engine along with the standard SDP-45 locomotive.
The Last Westbound San Joaquin Daylight
I took this photograph earlier in the day at Cliff Siding west of Tehachapi. The sign on the nose of the locomotive reads “Last Pokey”. This is the last train number 51, also The San Joaquin Daylight.

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