MUSTANG, LAND AT THE END OF THE WORLD... (Nepal, 2009)

High in the Himalayas lies Mustang, a community of about 9000 Nepalese of Tibetan origin. Protected by the natural boundaries of the mountains, for centuries the kingdom was left to itself. Even when the Chinese invaded Tibet in 1951, Mustang remained out of reach. In political terms, presently the region is part of Nepal and open to foreigners. But it is still a land without asphalt and autos – a country at the end of the world, frozen in time. In Mustang distances are measured in hours, not in kilometers. A specific, Buddhist way of life is passed on to new generations, who without this knowledge would find it difficult to survive in this unique but unforgiving landscape. As Dalles wrote in her diary: ‘The vastness of the landscape reminds me of how small we are, but at the same time it helps me realise that we can be as strong and powerful as the mountains by conquering them.’