Contemplation

I lift up my eyes to the hills

From where does my help come?

In Nepal, it's difficult to do anything but lift your eyes to the hills, as that's what most of the country is made up of. But where does our help come from? In a country where there's reputedly more than 18,000 NGOs, everyone wants to help everyone else. However, there's only a finite amount of "help" available.

So, what to do? That's the 4 million rupee - sixty-four thousand dollar - question. Answers on the back of a signed blank cheque...

Yesterday, the former King - know known as Mr Shah - left the Royal Palace in the middle of Kathmandu, moving to a smaller former palace on the outskirts of the capital. The whole family sat in front of the TV and listened as Mr Shah explained to his "Nepali Brother and Sisters" how he did not cause his brother's death, and how everything he had done in his time was in support of Nepal. He also said that he would remain in Nepal to "contribute to its greater good and peace", which many believe to mean that he's going to move more into politics. Although I was not there in 1936 when King Edward VIII announced his abdication, I thought this was a similar occasion for Nepal. This is uncharted territory for the Nepali people, the King provided them unity 240 years ago, and now they were heading into the unknown with a man the Americans still label as a terrorist at the helm.

I've been out and about as well, and have taken Bhanja - my Nepali nephew, sort of - to a few places he's never visited before in Kathmandu, as he's originally from the south of the country.

The Raato Machendranath - a tower built on a chariot that is dragged through Lalitpur to pray for a good rainy season

Basantapur, the old former Royal Palace which houses a museum to the monarchy. Maybe a taste of what the new palace will become soon...

The evening sky from the roof

Bhanja and me at the Zoo - pronounced "jew" in Nepali

SAM