Hello

see, Zoltan, that's what I was worried about.

a guy yesterday wanted a thousand rupees for a three-gramme lump of hash. It's a pity it took me a moment to convert to pounds and pence and ounces cos I should have laughed in his face

vdvoort - I'd love to

jim, i'm a smoker, trekker, AND live in Amsterdam which qualifies me for absolutely nothing. I'm just thinking, from experience i felt that buying in KTM really risks directly supporting some of seamiest elements of the tourist-induced underworld. I'm not judging - I buy and use on the trail which I am not sure is that much better, but it seems less underworldly.. good luck.

I'm thinking I might wait until I'm out of KTM. A guy today wanted me to go back to his tea-house to try before I buy... yeah, right.

any up-to-date prices, lhotse? the fact that I'm supporting nasty folks by buying it is my least favourite aspect of bering a smoker, but as long as it's kept illegal by short-sighted dickheads the world over that's just the way it is.

I'd wait till I knew a situation or knew fellow travellers before broaching the subject. In the past have been in towns when police do specific clamp downs and have been warned to be on my gaurd. one time I was heading north from delhi when a western woman walked through the train warning westerners that the police are searching. met her and her boyfriend at the next station, the police searched his backpack, found some illegal substances and relieved him of a fair few rupees. he was happy enough with his freedom but a little bit annoyed with the thought of having to cut his trip short by a month or so.

On the trail would seem so much more logical and safer but has anyone got any idea how one might come across it? I walked the Annapurna in '91 but didn't see any telltale signs during the walk, maybe the guesthouses?

When I walked the Annapurna last year, it was growing wild.
We ended up getting some in Lower Pisang, when you cross the river on the way to Upper Pisang there is a pool hall and there was no shortage of charras in there.
The pool hall wasn't finished and there was wood shavings all around us, so wouldn't be suprised if the place was burned to the ground by now...