Pictures from an Earlier Visit to Tibet

taking a break from legal London Life….

or otherwise known as “getting your smile back….”

I used to travel a lot, and then you leave your 20s behind and work, career, family and all the usual commitments take priority. As you get older you lose your confidence to “just jump on a plane”. When I was 26 the only prep I did for a trip round Annapurna was the Lonely Planet Guide and a small backpack. I didn’t realise it gets quite cold over 4,000 meters! Lucky, some people I met on the way had “over-packed”.

Its time to remind myself about what’s going on in the world, how other people live and what’s really important, and hopefully a few fun challenges on the way.

You reach a certain age, the kids are getting grown up, and life and pressure should get easier, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. People are getting ill, and a few good ones have lost the fight, and a few other hardy souls who have survived years of bringing up a family, paying the mortgage, and battling with serious jobs. Then when it should all be easing off, the pressure cooker tops, and maybe because we don’t have the distraction of those kids and all the stuff we were dealing with, it all starts to get a bit too much……

This blog is dedicated to a good friend of mine Andrew Rose, who sadly lost his battle with cancer earlier this year. Andrew lived a full life, he had an amazing career, a fantastic family, and travelled all over the world. One of his favourite trips was trekking to Everest base with his son Edward. Gone but not forgotten.

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Arrive Kathmandu

Its been 20+ years since I was in Kathmandu and Thamel (the central and tourist area). For this part not much has changed.

Kathmandu, a vibrant tapestry of chaos and culture, pulsates with energy that enchants and overwhelms in equal measures bustling streets teem with a kaleidoscope of sites, sounds, and smells, where ancient temples stand in juxtaposition to modern structures. The cacophony of honking horns, chanting street vendors and the gentle clang of temple bells fills the air, creating a symphony of urban life. Narrow alleys wind through bustling markets where colourful saris and spices vie for attention amidst the throngs of people. In all of this frenzy the city’s rich history and spiritual auger linger, offering a glimpse into Nepal’s varied and dynamic present and past.

Kathmandu is the capital city of Nepal. The city stands at an elevation of approximately 1,400 metres (4,600 ft) in the bowl-shaped Kathmandu Valley of central Nepal. It is surrounded by four major mountains: Shivapuri, Phulchoki, Nagarjun, and Chandragiri. Kathmandu Valley is part of three districts (Kathmandu, Lalitpur, and Bhaktapur), has the highest population density in the country, and is home to about a twelfth of Nepal’s population.

Historically, the Kathmandu Valley and adjoining areas were known as Nepal Mandala. Until the 15th century, Bhaktapur was its capital when two other capitals, Kathmandu and Lalitpur, were established. During the Rana and Shah eras, British historians called the valley itself “Nepal Proper”. Today, Kathmandu is not only the capital of the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, but also the headquarters of the Central Development Region of Nepal. The Central Region comprises three zones: Bagmati, Narayani, and Janakpur. Kathmandu is located in the Bagmati Zone.