chameleon caste

last photos of 2006 - bodhanath stupa in kathmandu
the eyes are always watching

for better or worse, in many third world countries, i have a face that blends in. it has its benefits such as not being harassed as much by touts targeting gringo tourists, and in some instances, i've gotten the local price vs. the inflated tourist price. in all the countries i've visited in south america and asia, on many an occasion, the locals will talk to me in their native language, thinking that i'm from there. i've been spoken to in spanish, chinese, laotian, thai, burmese, hindi and nepali.
but last week, i had the funniest question asked to me by a hindu college student here in nepal. with a straight face he asked me, "what caste are you from???" normally, i'd have a wise-ass comment back to him, but i was so caught off guard by a question i've never heard before.
now i know that i definitely fit in, here in nepal.

the first photos of 2007, circling around the swayanabhuth stupa and its prayer wheels, also affectionately known as

the monkey temple

and the first thought of 2007:

Dónde está Ché Pelotas?