Seymour Totti’s Foreign Policy

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I had been reading the newspaper. I know, ghastly old fashioned things filled with half-truths and outright lies, almost as bad as the television. But I was trying to acquaint myself with recent events in Nepal with a view to paying a visit when I found a story about Kathmandu’s bar scene.

Now as far as I knew Kathmandu didn’t have a bar scene and if it had recently acquired one I felt it was something I should know about so I read on. The story told of seedy bars that charged multiple times the normal rate for a beer. How young girls, trapped by poverty, turn to dancing on a stage and selling their honour to lecherous foreign males. In short, the usual stuff. I knew most of it was probably rubbish but it did cement my intention to pay a visit.

Geographically Nepal straddles the dividing line between the Indian and Tibetan racial groups and, I know from previous experience, is home to some strikingly beautiful women. It is also very conservative and girls do not risk the wrath of Shiva, their fathers, brothers and husbands for romantic interludes with passing strangers. Further more everything closes really early and even in the tourist district of Thamel most places are shut by 10.30pm.

Kathmandu is a warren of little alleys. If one is wide enough to afford a single lane of traffic in each direction it is an important thoroughfare. All have major potholes, lack any kind of traffic control and are teaming with pedestrians. Giving way is seen as a weakness of character.

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