There are so many positive things

Ayako Watanabe
Japan, Photo Project
June, 2012

Among all of the dust and honking of Kathmandu there are so many positive things that will stick with me forever. The main thing will be the food. For my photo-story project I choose the issue of hygiene in street food.
This was a perfect topic for me because food is what I am the most passionate about. I believe that food is one of the best ways to experience the culture of the country. I went around Kathmandu snapping photos of various types of street food such as Panipuri, Samosas, Mixed Chat, Momos, and cut fruit. It would have been hypocritical for me to advertise the importance of street food in Nepali culture without trying it.
As I took photos I was able to try all of the different types of street food and each of them left a mark. The Momo’s were my absolute favorite. At first glance they look identical to Chinese dumplings; however, after taking one bite I realized how different they were. With every bite the flavor of the buff and the Nepali spices left a strong impression on my taste buds.
I will leave Nepal with no regrets, and plenty of memories thanks to everything I’ve been able to experience through my project.