Manali

A typically stunning mountain view

  Manali is an odd little town in an extraordinary setting. The Kulli Valley is one of those geological wonders where over thousands of years a tiny river has cut a wide and deep valley between snow topped mountains. You can walk amongst orchards and green pastoral land and into villages which have managed to hold onto their wooden traditional buildings in the face of the steel and concrete onslaught that tourism has encouraged.

A hippy salivating at the awesome
cake gorging opportunities

  Cider is served which is great as the dull thin taste of Kingfisher has been irritating me. And there are dozens of bakeries here selling cake to the multitudes of hungry hippies, stoned out of their mind on Manali Charras (a type of cannabis resin which is world famous). I have been working my way through Apple Pie, and Mud Cake, and Brownies with deep and satisfying relish. Nightfall has seen some predictably strange conversations with dreadlocked folk who possess strong opinions about witchcraft and the effect of wifi microwaves on the human brain.

  Biking has been fun, although brutal - 50km across the valley today and I am totally knackered.  Wondered around in the grasslands yesterday and followed the river up stream with my mouth gawping at the mountains. I was desperate to do some trekking but the passes are closed due to snow - apparently they only open May to September....!

Moody