The legendary British rock & roll band Deep Purple were due to play in Kathmandu on the 15th March 2013. However, allegedly due to "civil unrest, nationwide strikes and demonstrations," they cancelled. More a case of rock and roll over?

One of the demonstrations is Occupy Baluwatar - a women's group campaigning against rape, sex crimes and all forms of discrimination against women.

Now I wouldn't have expected the band to know that. However, if they had come they may just have found out about it.

One morning members of Occupy Baluwatar were beaten up and harassed by the YCL - the Young Communist League - Maoists bully boys.

The women came back the next morning.

Would I have come back?

No probably not. I am a traveller. What is my role in this? At the first sign of trouble I would have been the first one to stand on the sidelines with a bottle of Coke and a plate of buff mo-mos (buffalo dumplings).

These brave women came back the next day; and the next day; and they keep on coming back.

Back in Scotland when I was teenager I went to see Deep Purple and they represented something different. As young boy I thought they were revolutionaries wanting change and a new beginning.

When I heard that they had cancelled their concert in Kathmandu I felt so letdown. Glasgow back in the mid-1970s, I am sure was a much tougher place than Kathmandu could ever be.

Sid Vicious on hearing the news that Elvis had died reportedly said:

"Don't you have the feeling you have been had?" I do.

As a traveller what position should we take and what should we learn?

Travelling, not to be confused with going on holiday, and do not be mistaken, sometimes when I am out on the road I dream of nothing else than lying on a palm fringed shore drinking ice-cold margaritas.

As a traveller should we observe? Of course. Should we gain an understanding? I hope so. Tolerance? Well that would be a bonus.

Should we participate? We travel to learn, to seek out new places, to meet people of different races, colours and creeds. Ultimately it is up to the individual to decide that one.

I told someone I was visiting Bangladesh: "I wouldn't go there if you paid me!"

I am glad he said that to me because I just had to go then.

I went; I enjoyed every minute of it; and I wasn't paid.

On arriving in Nepal I told someone else that I was so impressed and humbled with the young people of Bangladesh and how often I would see him or her give money to beggars.

"Well" he rather besmirchingly said, "that's because they are all Muslims."

They weren't all Muslims 10% of the 150 million population of Bangladesh is Hindu. But how was he to know?

If after visiting Bangladesh I have only one memory of that hospitable country it would be of those thoughtful selfless teenagers helping people worse of than themselves.

Since coming to Nepal I have given more money to beggars than I ever have done in the past.

We are never too old to learn and the street boy I give money every night in Pokhara has a lot to thank those kind-hearted young people of Bangladesh. Everything is connected.

I have just read that Deep Purple has re-scheduled for the 26th April. I hope that they arrive and perform this time.

I also hope that if they have the time they get to see Nepal and experience what life is like for the vast majority of the people.

Most of them started off with nothing and nearly all of them have managed to keep a hold of that.

The revolution is not over: people are still struggling to survive and brave individuals are out there fighting for change.

I know because I see it everyday.

The title Water on the Smoke is a play on Deep Purple's most succesful hit Smoke on the Water.