Gears Are In Motion

Gears are in motion, plans are being made. I've spoken to Sushila and Namche is out as there will be no reliable electricity for 3 months from the beginning of June. And I think Mustang would be too isolated for me to get reliable connectivity to work.

So, Pokhara/Annapurna is on the cards. I'd like to get a car and drive from Kathmandu. And we'll see how it goes but I wouldn't be averse to visiting Chitwan National Park if we have the time.

Return to Nepal

That's it. I'm buying our flights to Nepal. Not sure if we'll go to Solo Khumbu or Pokhara (and thus Annapurna Circuit). We can decide that later, like when we're packing or on the flight. ;-)

I'll need to work while I'm there so I'll need access to electricity and connectivity. The connectivity aspect can be handled with my Nepali sims in phone and iPad (as those who regularly read this blog already know) but the summertime means monsoon season and this can and does cause landslides which tend to knock out the electrics.

Right then, tix are booked for outbound on 28/6 and back on 19/7.

Happy King's Day!

Well, after a long and eventful hiatus (that I'm not particularly at liberty to blog about as I must protect the guilty), I am living in Maastricht. Tomorrow is King's Day (Queen Beatrix having stepped down last year) and the Markt (which is right in front of my window) is being done up for big celebrations. I live in a building that was converted from the old Gemeente Spaarbank so it has high ceilings and big windows.

Old City Hall/Markt - Maastricht

And I've been told there's a massive rave on tonight in the park, so I'm going to head on over there later to check out the music.

But check back soon as I'm planning to do a write-up on how people can help the families of the brave Ice Doctors who died on Everest last week. I have been told that it costs $100/month to send a child to a boarding school in Kathmandu and I personally think that's the best way to help. YMMV. There are also links to other charities that help in the area aggregated at Peter Hillary's page.