Nepali Times

There is a growing demand for autonomy for the postal service. The general consensus among postal employees is that bureaucratic red tape is hampering efficiency and driving away business.

Trekking in Mustang, you pay Rs25 for a "sun bath". Fancy name for something many Valley residents are familiar with: solar-heated water.

Philanthropy is finally gaining ground among Nepalis who are moved by a sense of equity, rather than the possibility of religious or spiritual payback.

The heady combination of vile food, unlikely travelling companions and worsening jetlag makes for many insights, some of them clich?s that come back with surprising freshness.