Also briefly: I am in Pokhara, Nepal, having returned from a trek through the Annapurna region, including the base camp for Annapurna I. It was crazy, I didn't have the proper gear, and all in all I'm exhausted and a little sick now; but it was a great experience and I'm sure I'll write about it soon enough. At the moment the Maoist resistance has forced a transit strike on Nepal; there are no busses to anywhere--no local busses, none to Kathmandu, none to the border. The Maoists are well organized, courteous (I met some on the trail. I was forced to make a 'donation' of 400 rupees, or $6, and I was given a receipt so that other Maoists would know I'd already paid my tribute.) and at least in rumor, roughly as powerful as the government itself. The next seasons will be very interesting and possibly pivotal for Nepal.
I hope to have pictures up soon, and some more exhaustive writing. "Our Mutual Friend" turned out to be very good (I found another copy in Kolkata); I also had the unique struggle of trying to read "King Lear" on the bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara. Finding this impossible, I read it during a snow day up in the Himalayas. I can't wait to upload these pictures that look just like the dumb pictures every dumb person takes out here, expecting to amaze their friends but just garnering dirty looks. Cheers, all!
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