The top of the world – Nepal

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The physical impact of the massive earthquake that hit east of Nepal’s capital Kathmandu on 25th April 2015 is everywhere to be seen in damaged buildings. Invisible to tourists is the human impact: 9000 dead and 22,000 injured.  An aftershock hit on May 12th killing a further 153 and injuring 3200.

By comparison the experiences of individual tourists are trivial. Collectively, of course, tourists have a valued role to play in providing revenues to help Nepal recover. Continue reading “The top of the world – Nepal” →

India from the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal

Our travels across southern India are almost complete. Trains have carried us 570km from Kochi on the west coast, overlooking the Arabian Sea, to the French colonial town of Pondicherry, looking out across the Bay of Bengal on the east coast.

Romantic as this journey sounds, the reality of India’s railways have a way of imposing themselves on such fanciful notions. Train travel in India is nothing short of a test of character. Not for the faint hearted the bone shaking carriages rattling along jostling passengers to sleep or distraction depending on temperament.

Continue reading “India from the Arabian Sea to the Bay of Bengal” →