Dervla Murphy has been a favourite travel writer of mine for many years. With a trip to Nepal planned for 2008, I felt sure that this book would enhance my anticipation and I wasn't disappointed. It was worth every cent of the shipping cost from the USA and I can't wait now to visit a country which Ms Murphy describes so vividly, particularly the tiny settlements, each with its own peculiarities, colourful, squalid, crazy, and countryside of a beauty that defies description.