Friday 6 October Nigel and I landed in Kathmandu after midnight from Dubai. I’d been here before and smiled inwardly at the memory of Nepalese paperwork. First queue was to pay for a visa. They only accepted cash, in any currency. Then the queue to get through immigration and show the visa. It wasn’t too […]
Annapurna Circuit 1 – first few days Read More »
Wednesday 11 October Nigel and I shared a room at each stop. He’s not good in the morning. “Are you awake, Nigel?” “Huh!” “Would you like to use the bathroom first?” “Huh!” “Shall I order breakfast for you, Nigel?” “Huh!” He was fine after breakfast and opened like a flower as the trek began, chatting
Annapurna Circuit 2 – from Chame to the Summit Read More »
Wednesday 18 October Today was the start of the festival of Dashain when everything closes, and the Hindi people go home to their families to celebrate. The Muktinath bus station was crowded, the short-wheel busses requiring a pre-booking. We had our seats so just sat there and watched the pantomime. Luggage was placed on the roof
Annapurna Circuit 3 – from Muktinath to Kathmandu Read More »
We haven’t had a living poet dominate the English-speaking sector since Seamus Heaney’s death left a huge gap ten years ago. His 1995 Nobel Prize was one of many honours. I’ve been reading his “Letters” book that came out in December. It is page after page of wonderful writing. It gave me a lift in