Road Maintenance, a photo from Samdrup Jongkhar, East

Photographer's Note

The final leg of my journey across Bhutan was from Trashigang to Samdrup Jongkhar - a city on the border with Indian province of Assam. It had rained for several nights and the roads were in a rather bad state. The drive that was supposed to take less than 5 hours lasted 8 hours instead.

These kind of problems with the mountain weather happen very often and the roads are constantly maintained. It is a job done mainly by immigrants from Nepal, locally known as Lhotshampa ("people from the southern border").

Not only the Lhotshampas do long hours of hard work but also their living conditions are well below normal Bhutanese standard. Please have a look at some of their homes included in WS.

This is the less idyllic face of Bhutan...

krzychu30, daddo, jjcordier, gildasjan, timecapturer, Kofman, annjackman, CLODO has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

marabu61 (11587) 2013-09-16 12:47

Witaj Kasia
I really wouldn't wanted to travel those roads under these less than favorable conditions. That really looks dangerous, greatly enhanced by the mist. The heavy lorry traffic has scared me on the roads of Raijastan enough already, never imagine in the mountains.
This is a picture with the real sense of adventure in it and again proves your ability to documentary photographing.
have a great day
Daniel

gojo (1769) 2013-09-16 13:32

Hello Kasia,
What an adventure, and it really shows!
Great atmosphere through excellent light management.
Goran

krzychu30 (15512) 2013-09-16 14:20

Czesc Kasiu,
faktycznie,zarowno drogi,jak i warunki zycia(sadzac po zdjeciach zamieszczonych w WS)pozostawiaja wiele do zyczenia i sa dalekie od naszych standardow.Niestety.
Zdjecia ma bardzo interesujacy,dokumentalny wymiar przedstawiajacy nam blizej inna,mniej "turystyczna" strone Butanu i zycia w nim.

Pozdrawiam serdecznie
Krzysiek

saxo042 (38078) 2013-09-16 15:19

Hi Kasia,
A fine picture with these special conditions. It looks very misty and wet here and all colours are softened and subdued. Still, there are many activities going on and there many details to study here.
Kind regards
Gunnar

daddo (28748) 2013-09-16 16:18

Zdravo Kasia. The image captures well the conditions both in weather and state of roads that one finds in higher altitudes. The fog gives it an even more isolated look. And in a way it confirms the adage- Out of Sight Out of Mind- and here I am referring to the Nepalese immigrants and their exploitation. Pozdrav. Klaudio.

jjcordier (79299) 2013-09-16 22:51

Kasia
Excellente photo-document remarquablement compos嶪 et magnifiquement r嶧lis嶪.
Amicalement
JJ

gildasjan (43826) 2013-09-17 0:46

Bonjour Kasia
Tr鋊 bonne sc鋝e de ces travaux de maintenance sur cette qui me parait tr鋊 dangereuse.Le voile atmosph廨ique donne un tr鋊 bon cachet � cette image.
Bonne journ嶪
Amicalement
Gildas

timecapturer (49288) 2013-09-17 4:29

Hi Kasia
an original shot this and one that tells a story. The road looks hazardous enough without meeting this maintenance crew. Full of atmosphere and a great insight into another world and its everyday issues. Excellent!

Regards - Brian.

sandpiper (6788) 2013-09-17 6:08

Hi Kasia

Life is hard, we are lucky, never forget that as travel through these obviously poor areas. The workshop shots are good too. Great composition and a good daily life shot.

Chris

annjackman (23019) 2013-09-18 1:17

Hello Kasia,
You came across a great moment for photography even though the road conditions made you journey long. I love the softness of the light suggesting a heavy mist - very atmospheric.
Kind Regards, Ann

CLODO (45116) 2013-09-20 10:01

Hi kasia

a superb report of your travel in Buthan, the mist adds a fantastic mood to the shot.
Congratulations
CLODO