Back in Kathmandu....again!  This place is starting to feel like home...

Another month has passed and it's time for an update and some new photos.

Firstly, from Bhutan, where I've featured on a bona fide postage stamp, been trekking and camping in the snow and went to one of the big, colourful festivals in Paro.

Personalised postage stamp.

Our trusty canine guide Pinku - who accompanied us for the whole six-day trek.

Kids 'n' guns at the festival

After the relatively relaxing 10 days in Bhutan it was time for three weeks of gruelling trekking in the Everest region. Things started badly when the door of the small plane to Lukla wouldn't shut, and the air hostess was instructed to hold it closed (thankfully someone intervened and managed to shut it!).  Landing on a short runway which heads straight into the side of the mountain was a little hair-raising.

The next few weeks was a battle against a range of ailments - vomiting, the 'd' word, high altitude 'Khumbu Cough' and occasional hyperventilation.  I've rarely had so much fun!  In spite of all that, the guides somehow managed to cajole me to Everest Base Camp, up Kala Pattar and Gokyo Ri, and over two high passes, the Cho La and Renzo La.  The views were stunning, but this time I mean it - NO MORE TREKKING! ;-)

Grinning but not bearing it at Base Camp.

The view from the Renzo La - Everest in the centre, to the right Nuptse, Lhotse and Makalu in the distance.

We were lucky to meet a Nepalese celebrity up near Base Camp - Nima Gombu Sherpa -who has summitted Everest 16 times and is currently preparing for a 17th attempt.  He's the second man to grace the Everest Beer bottles, following the original label of Tenzing Norgay in his iconic summit pose.  Nima very kindly came and chatted to us one evening and took our minds temporarily off our ill-health. Good luck to him in the next month.

So, it's back to Delhi on 1st May where I'll be heading up to north-west India to visit Amritsar, McLeod Ganj (home of the Dalai Lama in exile) and then on to Ladakh, where there is fantastic mountain scenery and ample opportunities for trekking...........ARRRGH!