So, where to begin. At the end of my last post I'd freshly returned from an extended vacation in NZ/Oz and hinted obliquely that I might be heading off someplace again. Without going into tedious detail the idea befell me to go travelling again in September. Actually it was Max's suggestion to go hiking in Nepal, and since I wasn't at all recalcitrant about it... well here I am sitting at 1am in a Kathmandu hotel listening to the sound of the rain outside and the echoes of some drunken guests down the hall. I've spent the afternoon on the steps of the hotel playing the backpacker guitar that Ryan gave me and waiting for Max and Rowena. They arrived, showered, ate and I went straight to bed. I'm feeling fresh again and the stress from the preceding weeks and months is just starting to ebb. I've got a little time and nothing to do, so it's blog time. Just getting to this hotel has been an adventure - giving up the flat, quitting the job, farewelling the friends, cancelling contractual ties, getting the girl, and all at the same time. Yes, it's been a strange and wonderful journey thus far. And this is merely the beginning.


The months since April have been a blur. I handed in my notice sometime in May I guess so I've had this trip quietly sitting in the back of my mind since then. I went out and bought a travel laptop (which I'm using now) and a decent travel camera - a Pentax shockproof, waterproof camera with a built-in GPS which tags your images as you take them. Battery life leaves something to wish for but I'm otherwise happy with it. The other significant acquisition I've made was the C.J. Martin & Co backpacker guitar, which Ryan gave me two days before my departure "in the spirit of giving everything away". The gesture was extraordinarily well received, and I'm going to have a lot of fun with this guitar. Already have. It's portable, quiet, plays well and looks a bit odd - people today were asking me what sort of instrument it was. 'It's just a guitar' I'd say, 'just smaller'.

The rest of my stuff? A precious few boxes were put in my uncle Emil's attic, but the rest... gone. Given away or, with a few exceptions, sold. An entire two room flat of the stuff went. People mostly just came and picked it up. Furniture, kitchenware, appliances, gadgets, books, the whole shebang. It was an enlightening experience to see all your worldly possessions vanish. I recommend it, this side of the mortal coil.

Long live the Hog. The legend.

 I've been keeping myself busy though. Hell have I what. Went back to training a few times, but the knee wasn't really ready for it and swelled up for two weeks. So I left it. Took it walking a few times in Switzerland and once in Austria. A day-hike in Rigi which I organised via Couchsurfing, and two overnight tramps in the Swiss alps staying in mountain huts - crützlipass and braunwald -> glattalphütte -> klönthalersee, and the 1500m climb/descent to Bikarspitze in Austria. The knee was fine, so I know it'll be okay for the 3-week Annapurna circuit tramp here in Nepal

Bikarspitze. In the middle.

The Wall

Champions

View from the top

Descent into nothing

Returning at sunset

Couchsurfing has been running non-stop. People just stopping by to crash on my couch and experience a slice of Zürich. It's typical that I can include them in some social event. My friends have become wary of inviting me to parties because they don't know whether I'll come alone or whether I'll bring four couchsurfers (plus maybe someone from work etc). I think my record is seven tag-alongs. Giving up the flat has put an end to my hosting activities, but I'll be doing it again once I've got a patch of floor space to offer. In the mean time I plan to use my couchsurfing profile to its utmost, inviting myself into strangers homes while I'm on the road. I organised one or two couchsurfing events. The Rigi hike of course, but also a 'Fireside acoustic session' in the Uetliberg forest where people brought acoustic instruments along, cooked food on a fire and made merry until the early hours. Also a continuation to the 'Beer and Politics', where I invite people to my flat to discuss issues surrounding the Swiss referendums which happen every few months. I was complimented to hear that Nina plans to continue the tradition in my absence. Zoe and Rebecca, two friends from our NZ trip, were visiting from Wales at the time and became my last couchsurfers. They helped me carry the couch up the road to Franziska's place where it lives now, carrying on the noble couchsurfing tradition.

DnD is dead. Finished my final sessions, gave my rulebooks away (on permanent loan) and said 'thanks for the games'. My old character sheets and sketches have been stored away as keepsakes. It'll be a while before I pick up the dice again I think. But then again, who knows.

I found a more than suitable replacement for me for our bi-weekly jam sessions. I met Tory at the Open Mic night. She just arrived in Switzerland from Paris and is looking for a group to play with. Perfect. She's been along once and I hope she'll continue to come. Our last jam session had just a touch of bittersweet about it. We played some of the older songs we knew till 10pm and went for a beer. The next session will be our first live performance for Erwin's birthday party (65th? I don't remember) in two years or so. Naturally I'd have to come back a bit earlier to re-make the transition from folk to blues, as I'll have developed some bad habits by then.

My final open mic night at McGee's was also special. I started my set off as as duet with Tory playing Cake's version of I Will Survive (I played, Tory sang). Then an experimental number, Lola (Kinks), followed by the vocally challenging debut performance of The Pianoman (Billy Joel). I fished with my all time favourites, The Cape (Guy Clark) and A Little Bit of Everything (Dawes). Chris, the bar manager and recent father of twins, came out and gave me a hug. Yup, McGee's have really nurtured the open mic movement. They've given the performers free drinks for playing, and I've even received the occasional meal from my involvement. So if you're ever nearby, the mic opens from 8pm every second Sunday. By all means, check it out.

Work. What is work? I do recall sitting in an office for eight hours a day since April. That must have been it. Strange company that. Been at the place two years and the first time I actually got to know the people I worked directly with was in the last two months, and even then I had the feeling I was only scratching the surface. Did an official work farewell towards the end of August (beers & pizza in the office), then an unofficial one on my last day (beers at the BQM student bar beneath the polyterrace) where a handful of friends showed up to join the mix.

The farewell I would label as 'real' was a small affair composed of close friends. It was supposed to be over a campfire in the Uetliberg forest but the storm warnings forced us into Thomas' flat for a BBQ. I was able to go around the room and share a wee personal chronicle about each person.

Leaving, I have found, is a much more difficult affair than arriving. This is especially true if you know many people, have your own flat, or are short on time. This is even more true if you happen to be leaving from Switzerland. For me, all of the above was true. In fact I somehow managed to plain myself into a time-constraint corner so effectively that were it not for some the good will and assistance of my friends and a significant amount of luck, I may never have made it without a long list of obligations. First, I have my cousin Ursi to thank for her invaluable help with the bureaucracy surrounding the Swiss taxes. Doing them is hard enough, but doing them part way through a financial year... that's another story. I was lucky that my landlord volunteered to take care of the tenant selection process, but unlucky that the person he chose was... well she thought that the flat wasn't clean enough and exercised her right that a cleaning company clean the flat. Not my style, but fair enough. That little oversight cost me CHF750. Ouch. I have Max and Rowena to thank for helping me on the last day, clearing out the crap and cleaning stuff. I know I wouldn't have been finished on time without them. Work were flexible and understanding in the last month. My motivation was below par. They understood, and that's a credit to them. I have a host of people to thank for coming around to my flat, packing up my furniture, and taking it home. It did me a service and I'm grateful. My uncle Emil gave me some attic space to store my effects and will handle any bills which arrive after I've left. You can't snort at that.

In short, I've been surrounded by a lot of really great people who I'd be lost without. And I'm leaving them behind, so that makes me pretty lost. So I've either got to find my way or find some more good people. Somehow though, I think I'll manage a haphazard mix of both.

Greetings from Kathmandu.

(Actually posted from Chame, at around 3000m)