Geo: 32.1024, 77.5619From the Golden Temple I managed to get the free bus to the train station and boarding the train, my plan is to get the Toy Train from here over to Dharamasala, then the bus to McLeod Ganj. Unfortunately the Toy Train isn't running as hasn't been for almost a year so I end up heading to the bus station and just caught the bus. I enjoyed the journey and it is nice seeing the mountains again, there are a few tourists on the bus and strangely enough I recognize them all from staying at the temple. I get into a guest house, unfortunately the restaurant is closed so I can't get even a cuppa on arrival, I head out to the town which is small and easy to find your way around.After a ... read more

Geo: 28.5483, 83.8037Trekking notes won't interest everyone… or they may just tear at you to get here! Be warned.From Kathmandu I meet up with my guide Nima and head through to Pokhara on the microbus, these small buses take 5 hours instead of 8 hours on the local bus, taking 3 hours off the journey time, but it's all down to the lunatics that drive them. They go at terrifying breakneck speeds on these treacherous roads and to be honest it's just better not looking to closely at the road, better to just quickly enjoy what scenery you can on the way past. Anyway thankfully I arrive safely and spend the night in Pokhara after hiring a bike on arrival and heading to get my ACAP and TIMS permits, that allow access into the Annapurna Region. ... read more

Geo: 27.877, 82.5236 This really was an incredible journey, Santa from Thimi Ceramics had arranged for me to go and visit rural pottery villages way out in the west of Nepal. I left Kathmandu on the 'tourist bus' at 6:30am with Santosh who picked me up by taxi and was to drop me off in Lamahi where I would then be collected by Arun, and taken to his family home. The journey was around 12 hours and the road being Nepal was just chaos. We passed Chitwan and Bhutal, and started heading up the mountain roads until finally we arrived at Lamahi. Arun came to collect me by motorbike, and we rode out 20km to his family home taking in the most stunning sunset over the River Rapti. I feel like I've arrived in the African ... read more

Geo: 27.673, 85.4279 I decided to head off to Bhaktapur for a couple of days! Packed my wee day sack and went for the local bus at Ratna Park. Only 22Rs which is nothing to get here and the whole bus told me when it was time to get off!! I paid 1100Rs which is fairly steep for my ticket into Durbar Square but I did get them to validate it for one week as I'm going to stay overnight at least. I find it very similar to both Kathmandu and Patna's Durbar Square although the buildings are fantastic they all have the same theme. Braktapur has lots of interesting wee backstreets and really is a fascinating place all round but realistically though I have come in search for the Potters Square, which I am dying ... read more

Geo: 28.1911, 85.2986 After meeting John and Lindsay in the Everest Steak House, I bumped into Chris from the Annapurna Circuit who's heading off white water rafting in the morning… and after a few beers I decide to join him, (even though I am completely exhausted... at least I can see again (that's another story)), sure what else would I be doing on Hogmanay. So much for a few rest days in Kathmandu! So up at 6am, packed and away! What am I doing… honestly? I went up to the rafting place and they could fit me in, so I signed up for 2 days, paid and I'm on a bus heading to the top of the Bhote Kosi River for a Grade 4+ white water rafting experience. I tell you ignorance is bliss, I couldn't ... read more