It's official I have left the UK and started my trip! Thought it would feel more of an occasion but maybe it still hasn't actually sunk in still. Started to finally feel real as a repacked my bag a few times on Thursday morning and then had to stuff all my hand luggage into my little bag and run as the taxi arrived to take me to the station. As ever an extra hour would have been handy, or even really an extra day! Maybe my head is still full of the bits and bob...

Day one of trekking in the Himalayas. The lunch and dinner menus were suspiciously similar to the one in Besishahar from the previous night. The only thing that seems to change is the price, which increases in proportion to the altitude. It seems like I will see many extremes on this trip - today we had the heat. 30+ degrees and hardly any shade. Currently at 1390m and will reach 5419m at the highest point. I am reliably informed that I will need my thermals whe...

The first day in the Himalayas and I have just had the bus ride from hell - 8 hours on a local bus - stopping every 5 mins to try and pick up passengers from here, there, and everywhere. The trafic was choatic, the driving was erratic and the road was windy and pot-holed. But even so the heat was so stiffling that I was actually willing the wanna rally driver to go faster to actually get some breeze. What an introduction to travelling backpacker style!!! Gladl...

Beer by candlelight. First night in Kathmandu, out at dinner by myself and suddenly all the lights in the street have just gone out. So they brought me a candle to drink my beer by. Loving it!!!! PS Must remember that people never say no here! Do you have free wifi and take credit cards? Yes to both actually meant no wifi and I must pay by cash, but we want your custom!!

D'oh, D'oh, D'oh!!!! I did the research, I got the collection of bank cards, I won't get charged for paying in a foreign currency!! Good work Dann!! Feeling smug. Now if I just knew the PINs, I might actually be able to get to that money that it won't cost me to withdraw!!!!! Numpty!!!