Of course Kathmandu is already high in the sky, and it's a place where it's possible to get extremely high. After checking in our hotel late at night we ventured out to get a nightcap drink. in the centre of Kathmandu, there are lots of hip and happening bars catering to the trekkers and climbers who come to do epic things in the mountains. Before and after - they come to relax and recover in Thamel the backpacking area (and also the wholesale exporting area). I can tell you after midnight it is a wild and bizarre place, and would seem to be full of groups of young people totally stoned, and totally happy having the time of their life.


So we decided to get high, but being responsible adults we stuck to a quick shot of Black Durban.. the local whiskey and headed to bed. After doing our job we planned to set Sunday aside to get high.

Friday first thing we met with the delightful Mr Padam our shipping agent, he had lined up several meetings with potential suppliers, and took us along to meet them. Such interesting people, Nepal is full of the most diverse and inventive entrepreneurs. We met one guy that makes ultra pure essential oils by taking steam distillation equipment to high altitude villages, sometimes by helicopter so that the locals can turn otherwise unused crops in to valuable oils and bring income to super remote locations. Another guy a genuine Mr Sherpa who has a passion for working with artisans including Tibetans exiled from near by China who make exquisite singing bowls and other beautiful things. Ceremonial gongs that could also be wall art, who wouldn't want such a lovely thing hanging on their dining room wall?

The "ABC" experience.

Sunday morning we woke early before dawn, a taxi waiting outside the hotel took us to the domestic airport. An interesting airport where tickets are a bit fluid, and flight numbers change. Flights are cancelled because of weather conditions and you are on another flight before you know it. The small plane took us below mountain height - spectacular endless snow capped mountains - to tiny Pokhara airport.. a young lady in a red t-shirt was waiting for us on the tarmac right from the plane.  We followed her very excited, it was time to get high...

A four-seat helicopter waiting for us, quickly we were weighed, asked to sign a disclaimer document.. then seconds later strapped in - given head phones - all the flight control chatter in our heads - . OMG!.. OH-MY-GIDDY-AUNT!!!.. we are off.. Up up up.. Pokhara lake getting smaller below us rising up and up.. cresting spectacular ridges, following a tumbling river, up and up we go. Then surrounded by the most awesome mountain peaks I have ever seen eventually we spiral down to land on a tiny patch of green at ABC.. otherwise known as... Annapurna  Base Camp and it's as high as I have ever been. The altitude sends you a quite lightheaded.. like smoking dope (Tomas told me), so now I know what it feels like to be high. And I can report.. The most exhilarating experience ever - it was amazing!



Back to Pokhara where we had time for lunch by the tranquil lake in a laid-back hippy restaurant.. it's a very cool place Pokhara.. we plan to return.

Back in Kathmandu time to work.. so much to do and so little time. Monday and Tuesday long days sorting out details, approving samples jumping from meeting to meeting. Tomas in one meeting me in another.. finally we catch the evening flight down to Delhi. 

Mr Chatterjee, our man in India had sent his guy to meet us with a car.. then a long drive to the hotel... 

Bad air day..

From the ultra clean air of ABC to the thickest dirtiest air on the planet.. my app: AirVisual on arrival showed an incredible 203 US AQI - described as dangerous. Today as I write this it's 180 US AQI - Unhealthy. 

If you think the air is bad in UK.. it compares to London today with 15.. - good.  

Anyway, the air might be bad but the people are cool and creative.. and we are working hard on the next Indian products,  a full report next week. 

Take care..

David