PHOTO ESSAY: A rickshaw driver and his dog are winning hearts in Nepal's Kathmandu

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — In the heart of Kathmandu’s tourist hub, Thamel, many cycle rickshaw drivers wait eagerly to take tourists on rides in the vibrant neighborhood.

But Babu Tamang’s rickshaw comes with an added twist: a wagging tale and tufts of orange and white fur that delight passengers, with many leaving an extra tip for the hardworking man and some ear scratches for his eight-year-old pup.

Tamang, 57, has always been fond of dogs.

Two years ago, he was crushed when his wife told him a leopard killed his 10-year-old dog, Putle, in his home village, a six-hour drive from the Nepali capital. After mourning his faithful companion, he stumbled upon a rough-looking dog in a garage where he parks his cycle rickshaw.

It was love at first woof.

“He never leaves me alone,” Tamang says with a smile. “Living in this city, away from my family, Shyam has become my closest companion."

Shyam, a name for the Hindu god Krishna, goes to work with his human every day. When Tamang gets a passenger, Shyam trails behind the rickshaw, drawing smiles and pets from passersby. As soon as the ride is over and the fare paid, Tamang signals for the pooch to hop onto the rickshaw.

Now that it's peak summer, Shyam seeks shade beneath the rickshaw during the midday heat. “He gets oil stains from the chains, so I have to give him a bath,” Tamang says laughingly. “But he doesn’t like it, and we often get into a little fight over it.”

Tamang shares a small apartment with two other rickshaw drivers who accept Shyam’s constant presence.

The only time he is separated from his canine best friend is when he visits his village.

“Dogs are not allowed on public buses, so I have to leave him behind in the garage with a mechanic friend. It makes me sad,” Tamang says.

As the sun sets and the lights come on at the end of a long workday, Tamang's rickshaw slowly makes its way back with reliable Shyam following closely.

"He’s not just a dog, he’s my family.”

This is a documentary photo story curated by AP photo editors.

Shayam, the canine, follows Babu Tamang's rickshaw in Kathmandu, Nepal, Friday, July 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Shayam, Babu Tamang's canine plays with a stick on the street of Thamel in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, July 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Babu Tamang arrives with his canine Shayam as his apartment mates prepare lunch in their small rented house in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, July 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Babu Tamang speaks with his apartment mate as his canine Shayam sits beside him in their small rented house in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, July 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Babu Tamang and his dog Shayam return home after work in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, July 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Shayam, the canine, follows rickshaw of Babu Tamang in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, July 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Babu Tamang and his dog Shayam wait for passengers at Thamel, a popular tourist hub in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, July 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Babu Tamang gives a bath to his dog Shayam in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Babu Tamang tries to catch his canine Shayam to give him a bath in Kathmandu, Nepal, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Babu Tamang carries his dog Shayam while playing in their small rented house in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, July 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

A passenger offers extra tip to Babu Tamang and for his canine Shayam after a ride, in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, July 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

A tourist takes a photo of Babu Tamang and his canine Shayam in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, July 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Babu Tamang pulls out his rickshaw while his canine Shayam waits nearby in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, July 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

The feet of Babu Tamang and his dog Shyam are seen as they both take a nap before heading out to work in their small rented house in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, July 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Shayam, the canine takes a nap after a meal in a small rented house of Babu Tamang in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, July 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Babu Tamang gently encourages his dog Shayam to eat in their rented house in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, July 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Shayam, the dog, sits nearby as Babu Tamang and his friend prepare lunch in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, July 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Shayam, the dog follows Babu Tamang from their small rented house as he leaves for work, in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, July 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Babu Tamang and his dog Shayam wait for passengers in Thamel, a tourist hub in Kathmandu, Nepal, Wednesday, July 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

Shyam, the dog, shakes off water from his body after being bathed by Babu Tamang in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Sunday, July 13, 2025.(AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha)

KOHALA, Hawai‘i--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 15, 2026--

Kuleana Rum Works, the Hawai‘i-based distillery known for its additive-free, award-winning rums, today announced the release of “An Open Letter on Additive-Free Rum,” written by Founder & CEO Steve Jefferson, addressing why rum is now facing the same scrutiny and market shift that reshaped tequila a decade ago.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260107792953/en/

Consumers across spirits are demanding more honesty about how products are made. Additive-free labeling has already transformed tequila and is reshaping whiskey and RTDs. Drinkers now expect producers to protect natural flavor instead of masking it, and bartenders increasingly use transparency as a measure of quality. The letter positions rum as the next category entering this accountability cycle, as more consumers begin to question undisclosed sweeteners, flavorings and added color.

Tequila provides the clearest precedent. Producers who embraced additive-free methods helped premiumize the category, while brands relying on undisclosed additives now face growing skepticism. According to the letter, rum is approaching the same turning point. Jefferson explains that Kuleana Rum Works was founded on additive-free principles: growing heirloom Hawaiian kō (sugarcane), fermenting and distilling fresh juice at lower proof to preserve natural character, adding nothing after distillation and holding all blending partners to the same standards. Every rum — whether distilled in Hawai‘i or sourced — is verified additive-free through independent lab testing and supplier documentation.

“Consumer expectations are changing fast across spirits,” said Steve Jefferson, Founder and CEO of Kuleana Rum Works. “People want honesty in what they drink, and they’re rewarding producers who protect natural flavor rather than covering it up. Additive-free isn’t a trend — it’s becoming the standard, and rum is now facing that shift head-on.”

Additional detail in the letter underscores how production choices such as fresh juice fermentation, low-proof distillation and a strict no-additives policy create transparency and flavor integrity that align with what the market is valuing.

About Kuleana Rum Works

Founded on the island of Hawai‘i in 2013, Kuleana Rum Works crafts award-winning, additive-free rums — led by its signature Hawaiian Rum Agricole® — from fresh kō (heirloom Hawaiian sugarcane) grown on its regenerative Kohala farm. Now available in 17 states and Japan, Kuleana Rum Works champions excellence, transparency and community stewardship. Visit kuleanarum.com to learn more.

https://kuleanarum.com/additive-free/