The coronavirus fells the consummate consultant Oliver Bennett 1943-2020 Oliver Bennet is the first person I know to succumb to COVID-19. On 11 March he cheerfully informed his Facebook followers that he was testing for the virus, then silence until…
The saga of getting back home down under after Nepal suspended all international flights The plane flew in an elegant arc silhouetted against the sunset far above some lazily circling raptors, a victory lap around the purple hills of the…
Marking the WWI anniversary in Kathmandu through earthquakes and lockdowns Under a gunmetal grey sky, the four of us stood for the Last Post on an expansive empty lawn as the crows wheeled overhead. The Nepal Army general and British…
Mingma Sherpa scholarship students return from New Zealand just before Nepal shuts down to COVID-19 Sunil’s eyes shine with excitement and his wispy beard blows in the southern hemisphere breeze. The churning ocean accounts for his queasy stomach, but he…
1,000 recollections of Desmond Doig at the hotel’s Shambala Garden that he designed in Kathmandu As befits a celebration in the time of coronavirus, the party in the Shangri~la Hotel’s Shambala garden is muted. Hugs and handshakes are replaced with knuckle taps,…