"Of temples, mountains a ..." a Nepal Travel Page by GillianMcLaughlin

With 4 weeks notice and 2 weeks planning I headed off to Nepal with my LP, backpack and return ticket. I had just over a month off work. Those who had been before me told me a month was too long for such a small country - 3 or 4 days would do.

In the event, I used my month to the full, taking in everything from an amazing trek in the Annapurna range to watch the sunrise over the mountains, an elephant ride in the sourthern jungle lands of Chitwan, early morning walks through ancient towns in the Kathmandu valley and just hanging about in the coffee shops of Kathmanu.

I made friends with stall-holders who took me out visiting, and invited me to dinner. I had to go to the dentist somewhere along the line. I had a ball! An absolute ball!

I hope these pages give you a little flavour of what is in store if you decide to visit.

Among the tips you will find an inordinate number of suggestions for avoiding and dealing with tummy bugs... personally my month passed untroubled, but this was not the case for many people I met... don't let it put you off, but do think ahead.

I was fortunate enough to visit during the massive Dipwali festival. This week-long festival cuplimates with a hige family party. The hotel I was staying in invited all of us guests to join them for the party. This included receiving our gift of a Thika, all home made from pastes made from flowers.

Would you get a load of that white skin! It glows in ultra-violet light you know!

A 4-day trek from Pokhara can lead you to a small mountain village, where you spend (a bit of) the night. A couple of hours before dawn you set off on a near-death hike to reach the summit of Poon Hill to watch dawn rise over a 360 degree panorama of 6000m + mountains.