Tuborg and Orangeboom

Day four now in Nepal. Headed straight to Khatmandu from the Indian border a promised 12 hour bus ride took 19 in a bus full of violently unpredictable reclining seats which reclined or folded at random like human mouse traps crushing the arms, legs and heads of the uncomplaining pasengers who seemed quite used to it.
Khatmandu- Hole up in Khatmandu's Thamel area super touristy and unrecognisable from previous visits. My legendary sense of direction which serves me so well in India appears to have failed to penetrate the Katmnadu valley and spend the next four days wandering around the maze of streets in a state of confusement.
Regain my bearings in the evening time on a diet of Momos and slurping Nepal's favourite beers those long since forgotten master brewers Tuborg and Orangeboom which can be bought in any shop including the barbers. In other ways they are way ahead of the times here and spend a pleasant Nepali New Year celebration in French, Australian, Canadian and Israeli company bringing in the Nepali year of 2064!
Mountain biking in Khatmandu seems quite advanced as well relative to India with a few shops renting out decent imported bikes, there are M.T.B maps, a competition on the 29th April; which I will skip as its 100 US$; and a few foreigners winding their way through the streets on impressive looking bikes. Join up with two French lads one a M.T.B guide from Pokhara( 300k away) and another a French teacher. Have a few rides out with them, some superb and very technical trails in the hills surrounding Khatmandu and the lads prove to be fitter, faster and Frencher than me in that initially surly way they have.