As I come to the end of my journey through Nepal, I realize that I arrived expecting to be impressed by its history. I came to see ancient temples, old cities, monuments, and centuries of architecture—and Nepal certainly gave me all of that.

But what stayed with me most was something I did not expect.

I was struck by the way this country seems to live with difference: Hinduism and Buddhism, different ethnic groups, different faces, languages, traditions, and ways of life existing side by side. Rather than feeling divided by these differences, Nepal often gave me the impression of people simply accepting one another and finding a way to live together.

Nowhere did I feel this more strongly than in Kathmandu. The streets can be chaotic. Traffic comes from every direction, intersections often have no traffic lights, motorcycles weave between cars, pedestrians cross wherever they can, and at first it all seems almost impossible. Yet somehow, it works.

During the ten days I spent in Nepal, I never witnessed a traffic accident. I never saw drivers screaming at one another in rush-hour traffic. There was noise, congestion, confusion, and constant movement—but very little anger. People seemed to understand that everyone was trying to get somewhere, and somehow they made room for one another.

I came to Nepal expecting to photograph its history, its temples, and its landscapes. I leave thinking just as much about its people, its tolerance, and its remarkable ability to make room for difference and disorder.

Nepal gave me beautiful photographs, but more importantly, it gave me a great deal to think about.