I like to consider myself an exemplary parent, but probably all mothers think that Mum, Mum, Sangjay’s been playing with a python.” Rinchen was hoping to get one up on his elder sibling, but he knew he had to come up with something pretty spectacular to get my attention. “That’s…
Finding the Rana-era elephant stables in Bhimphedi in between changing nappies Our second son Rinchen was only six weeks old when we bundled him into the red Range Rover in a cosy basket cot wedged in the back, surrounded by all the clobber required at that age, and headed for…
Sir Ed would not have liked the queues on Everest this spring Sir Edmund Percival Hillary KG ONZ KBE was born 100 years ago, on 20 July 1919. A big man in every way, Sir Ed is the Sherpas’ beloved Burra Sahib, a towering presence in the Sagarmatha story, the most celebrated New…
Adding a new purpose to hiking in the Himalaya After walking to Jomsom in 1974, my next foray was to Langtang. I went better prepared this time, remembering to bring a hat and wear socks inside my humble canvas shoes. The path was precipitous, and packed by centuries of human…
The combined power of eight former living goddesses brought down an April storm on a book launch During my first days in Kathmandu, I ventured into the medieval courtyard to catch a glimpse of the child peeking through the richly carved windows of the Kumari Ghar’s upper storey. I could…