Ali Ali Rangi Changi

They sell alcohol in Nepal. There are other people in this world with just as much inclination as me to get drunk on a regular basis. These are the two most important facts I have discovered in the last 6 weeks in this tiny oasis-like kingdom at the foothils of the Himalayas.

Greetings from Pokhara, the beautiful lakeside city in central Nepal (400km west of Kathmandu), and gateway to treks in the Annapurna region. Having been here the last 4 weeks I am pretty much a local now, and have finally had the kind of holiday I guess I've been craving since I left Australia - lazy days of swimming, reading and watching DVDs, drunken nights of silly dancing, chatting up lovely ladies as any newly single man should, and celebrating the resurgence of English cricket (sorry guys, but there are just as many Queenslanders in their team as ours!).

The Nepal odyssey all started back in Kathmandu. After the bumpy ride down from the Tibetan border, passing through no less that six Army checkpoints on the way into the Kathmandu valley (at least foreigners get to stay on the bus, unlike the locals), we (being the Dirtman and I) were still in two minds as to what to expect from this country which our governments had told us to stay away from, and was expected to degenerate into Civil War or dictatorship at any minute. What we were confronted with upon arrival in Thamel was a truly wonderful adventureland of western delights (I think I've said this before...) and fantastic people (except the guys trying to sell you hashish every five steps). We'd arrived right in the middle of the Monsoon season, so there really was no problem justifying our sedentary lifestyle during our convalescence after some hard Tibetan travels. It wasn't hard to fill the days... Steak breakfast at the brasserie, The first test at Lords at the Irish Bar, and then listening to Nepal's best musicians jam all night at the Full Moon Bar. Or just stay at home reading the complete works of Louis De Bernieres.

But enough was enough. After two weeks and having only really seen one temple and a lot of pubs, it was time to get going again and go to Pokhara. Surely a lakeside city surrounded by beautiful mountains and day treks would be enough to snap one out of this slothful lifestyle? Of course it was. That was until I met Stuart the crazy pom on our last night in Kathmandu, and proceeded to spend my remaining hours with him at the blackjack table instead of in bed. And also until Stuart followed us to Pokhara just in time for my 29th birthday, which of course had to be celebrated in style. Pokhara, we thus discovered, has a number of fantastic drinking establishments. Our fates were sealed. And there were more tests to watch between Australia and England in the cricket.

Its been three weeks now (and a win and a draw by the poms, watched in their beautiful entirety by moi), and although we've been out on the lake a number of times, dabbled with a few treks for amazing views (although the monsoon keeps concealing the wonderful Annapurna range for all but 10 min a day in the early morning), been delighted by the antics of the local kids with their "soccer ball" and "school pen" scams, taught our waiter such useful english as "I'm just going to drop the kids off at the pool", and successfully avoided hitting Sacred Cows in the middle of the main street whilst riding the bus, it really took an illness to old Stu (I'm sure it was the chillies or the 100 rupee note, not the 20 vodkas and coke!), and meeting the incredibly spritual face contortionist pommy Aimee, that has convinced us to abandon this hedonistic lifestyle and head for the hills. As of tomorrow, we (myself, Alastair, Aimee, another Aussie Simon, and Stuart if he doesn't die) are all officially in detox mode as we trek the Annapurna circuit for the next three weeks, minus the alcohol, cigarettes, and late night outings to the "mini Busy Bee".

And thats all I really have to say about that. I know there is more I could write, and many more observations I could make on this wonderful country, but to be honest, my brain is mush. Yeah, sorry about the seven years of University you paid for Mum and Dad! I promise after my detox to give a more educational blog, with the usual controversial comments that have given me not only a loyal following among my friends, but hate mail too!! (see the last blog's comments). Take care everyone and I'll be in touch in a few weeks.

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