So B&S are indie veterans now then? I remember when they were newcomers. I really must have been on here too long. OK, so I send a great long email to sinister about Tibet, get quite a few interesting replies, and don't get anywhere near my email for two weeks. So, sorry everyone... So not everyone agreed with me. And others did. That's fine. To be expected. I did present a bit of a one-sided view - probably more enthusisastic towards the Chinese than I actually believe myself? - but the important thing was to present the other side of the story to what you normally hear. Hope I managed that at least. You're right - things aren't perfect in Tibet, most notably the lack of freedom, as elsewhere in China. I just don't like being constantly told in the West that it's an open-and-shut case whether things are good or bad in Tibet, when really it's a lot more complicated than that. Whatever the Beastie Boys might like us to think... I also don't like the idea that China must be a bad thing for Tibet, because of what their leaders did 40 years ago, when the destruction of monasteries and killing of monks etc actually happened. Let's face it, I wouldn't like it if people started having a go at me because of what the British government did in the days of the Empire before I was even born (and that has happened several times while I've been travelling...) On another note, a few people were asking me to explain a bit about what's going on in Nepal right now, since it's not been reported much in the West. So, if you don't care, skip this bit... About 5 years ago, most of the royal family were murdered. According to the official palace version, the crown prince went mad because he wasn't allowed to marry the woman he loved, so he got an automatic weapon out and massacred all the royals present. And then killed himself. His uncle, who was conveniently absent (along with his son) at another palace in Pokhara, became king. So far, so good. Except, if the crown prince was firing an automatic weapon around the room, how come not one security guard was injured? And how did he manage to shoot himself in the left-hand side of his head, with an automatic weapon, when he's right-handed? And how did the only other member of the royal family not present, the prince's sister, die in a terrible helicopter crash two weeks later in which the pilot was un-injured? The only thing anyone knows for sure is that the official version is a load of rubbish. And the truth? Doesn't really matter really - all that's important is what people believe, especially in a country where news spreads by word of mouth in the absence of TV or radio. So now, the Maoists, who have been violently campaigning since before then for the end of the monarchy and an agrarian state (alarmingly similar in aims and methods to the Khmer Rouge actually) are stronger than ever. They're getting money from somewhere, but no-one is sure where - officially China have disowned them, and they're not getting that much from robbing banks. Some people in Nepal even think the king is giving them money, because as long as the rebellion continues, he has an excuse to maintain absolute power. 18 months ago, the king diosolved parliament for not controlling the Maoists and being corrupt (and they were). So now the politcal parties are also campaigning against both the King and the Maoists. And every week there's a national strike called by one or the other, which paralyses the country and destroys the economy. In the meantime, things keep getting worse. Hundreds have been killed this year on both the Maoist side and in the army and amongst civilians. And the only thing rescuing the country from all-out civil war is that most of the population don't support the King OR the Maoists OR the parties. Nepal is just another example of why democracy isn't always the best answer for a country, no matter what the US government would have us believe... Anyways, enough politics. Wasn't that in the list rules once upon a time, no talk of politics? Oh well, nobody is talking about anything else these days... So, I'll get back to travelling. I love this lifestyle. I've been in four countries since last I wrote. I love the hot, sticky weather. I love the challenge of crossing a road in Saigon, or breathing in Kathmandu, or not freezing to death at Everest Base Camp. I love the people you meet, from all over the world (well apart from one nationality, best not say but anyone who's ever backpacked will know...). I love the challenges of putting up with the touts and con-artists without losing your temper. I love the food, and the sounds and smells (apart from the smell of the Durian fruit, obviously). I love the stamps in my passport. I don't love the fact that on the 3rd of July I've got to fly home... Big Stu _________________________________________________________________ It's fast, it's easy and it's free. Get MSN Messenger today! http://www.msn.co.uk/messenger +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister@missprint.org. To unsubscribe send "unsubscribe sinister" or "unsubscribe sinister-digest" to majordomo@missprint.org. 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