The Great Escape

Perfect Contrast to Dubai!

I'm back! Did you miss me?!  Nepal was wonderful.  Think complete relaxation in a forest hotel, with Kathmandu and the ancient city of Baktaphur just a short journey away.  This made for lots of book-reading, celebrity trash magazine reading, wine drinking and spa visits.  We even managed a day of full-on sunbathing, which was a surprise to us as the weather is usually rainy at this time of year.  Instead it was 32 degrees, sunny and blue skies!

As we didn't want to be accused of being boring layabouts we got involved in a forest walk at one point.  Well, I say walk, it was more like getting frog-marched over hill and down dale in a military fashion as if we were running from a forest fire...but despite being sure that death was moments away, we survived, and felt we'd really earned our restorative glasses of fizz once we were done.

Considering the bargain knock-down deal we got, we felt extremely smug about the whole thing, not to mention rested, peaceful and utterly relaxed.  I can't recommend Nepal enough!

A (literal) Breath of Fresh Air

Goodbye Dubai, Hello Himalayas!

I had to make a pretty tough decision this week.  It took a lot of thought, research and consideration. Yes, I booked a holiday.  When I say tough decision, it boiled down to the Maldives, the Seychelles or Sri Lanka.  Hardly a rock and a hard place, non?

Whilst the Maldives and Seychelles obviously look, and are fabulous, we eventually baulked at spending the best part of two thousand quid on a four day trip.  And going to Sri Lanka (which I do love) would go against my 'never visit the same place twice unless it's New York" rule.  And then I remembered that Air Arabia (the UAE's answer to BMI or Easyjet only more civilised) also does holidays.  Which is how I'm booked to fly to Nepal in less than two weeks. It's never been on my list of 'must-see' places, but it was a complete bargain.  And having researched it a bit more, I'm actually really looking forward to it.

For the equivalent of 400 quid, we'll be staying here, with daily: 90 minute spa sessions, early morning yoga sessions, and forest walks. I can't WAIT!  We did wonder if we'd rather lie on a beach for four days, but honestly? We do that each and every weekend, so this will  make a lovely change.

Now I can't stop thinking about which books to take!