Nepal's Annapurna region, nestled amongst the Himalayas, is one to consider when contemplating your next adventure holiday.

The first thing that strikes the weary traveller upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport of Nepal is the relaxed attitude of the locals. Friendly and eager to please, the Nepalese are well versed in English and provide a hospitality that is warm and welcoming to adventurers and tourists alike.

The next thing that strikes you is the dust - a facemask would not go astray.

The capital, Kathmandu, is a busy, bustling metropolis that harbours a people steeped in religious and traditional observation. Hindu and Buddhist architecture dominate the landscape, and yet somewhat surprisingly, are temples that allow worshipers the freedom to celebrate a variety of beliefs. A fact not lost on the casual observer when acknowledging the hospitality of the region's custodians.

Once through Immigration, there are two options for vehicular transport. Prepay a taxi service that one might suggest is government-controlled or haggle with the seemingly hundreds of cabs jostling for a fare.

Navigating the potholes of an unkempt road while endeavouring to avoid collision with the myriad of trucks, farm animals, and human traffic is but a sample of the ordered chaos unravelling itself along this most mystical of geographic hubs.

The majority of trekkers will congregate in the tourist precinct of Thamel, where you will find accommodation ranging from $5 - $150 a night; as well as dine on modern, western cuisine. Although, there is something to be said for the local delicacies, in particular the Dahl Bhat - a smorgasboard consisting of lentil soup (dahl) and rice (bhat) served with steam spinach and curried vegetables or curried meat for those who have not yet acquired the taste for a vegetarian lifestyle. If you are budget-conscious, seek out a Nepalese café, where you can dine with the locals and pay half the price for meals served at other tourist venues.

There are a number of touring packages available depending on your penchant for adventure. And these range from the 'tour group' experience, led by able guides eager to engage you with their repartee; to the equivalent of an Aussie outback adventure, where overnight stops are chosen among tea houses in villages dotted along the region's many trekking routes.

Kerri in Nepal with Everest in the background

Be advised, trekking in the Annapurna region requires a good level of fitness in order to sustain the 6 to 10 hour-a-day walks, negotiating a terrain that can best be described as undulating. In the Annapurna region there are 2 main treks - Annapurna Sanctuary or the Annapurna Circuit, each with its own unique appeal and invariable challenges. On either trail you will find yourself walking through rainforests that parallel thundering glacial rivers. You will observe the locals tending to their terraced hillside farms, while taking in the majestic views of snow-capped peaks of the highest mountain range the world has to offer.

Caravan Himalaya is a local tour company with the expertise to make your next adventure holiday the experience of a lifetime. On offer is a range of tour packages through Nepal, Tibet and Bhutan - which, as you might agree, are some of the most exotic places on Earth. For more information visit: www.caravanhimalaya.com

As with any adventure holiday, it is highly recommended that you do your research and plan for the unexpected. Read widely and consult extensively. And please be sure to see your GP for up-to-date tips on vaccinations and staying healthy.

Principal owner and family matriarch Sue Hawas is keen to point out that the freshness of her produce is the hallmark of a successful business and what keeps her customers coming back.

Such is the loyalty of the locals, that each Tuesday for the past six years, one admirer places a takeaway order of fish and chips to the value of $100. That meal is then taken home where the entire family is waiting to enjoy a much a loved tradition.

A single-mother of four, Sue begins her day at 5.30am each morning at the Hamilton markets, selecting the delicacies for what is destined to adorn her clients' dinner table that evening.

Ashgrove Fish n Chips is open 7 days a week, including public holidays. Phone orders are welcomed. You may choose to either take your fish home or have it cooked on site to suit your personal taste.

Ashgrove Fish n Chips
5 Ashgrove Avenue
ASHGROVE QLD 4060
Ph 3366 7014

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A four-wheel drive rolled back and forth, stalking row upon row of cars, searching for a parking bay in close proximity to the supermarket. At that precise moment a flock of pigeons could be seen industriously feasting on scraps left behind by deli patrons to nourish their hearty appetite. The vehicle disturbed our flock, enough to send most scurrying every which way. The scrambled flight-plan of one placed him directly in the path of that metallic beast. The tiny creature’s bones exploded upon impact. The driver, oblivious to the sanctity of life, continued his stalking.

As the feathers settled, I could see the little fellow had not succumbed - a minor miracle given the savagery of this encounter. The young warrior held on, perhaps unaware of the extent of his injuries. Much like a battered prizefighter it seemed he wanted to go on. But in raising that tiny cranium to survey the damage, this spirited creature came face to face with the reality of a crumpled mass void of hope. A gaping wound pierced his side, yet there was no evidence of blood - an indignity he was not about to suffer publicly.

I crouched over his mangled frame, a loss as to what I should do. I could have gambled and taken him to the Vet which after all was only a few hundred yards away. But we both understood that would have been futile.

I prayed death would come quickly, mercifully.

For an instant I felt anger that he had not immediately accepted a fate that will eventually befall all of us. Ironically life is easier that way. No, within this pigeon there was truly the heart of a hawk.

Birds of a feather

It was then my little friend summoned the strength to tilt his head in an effort to meet my sympathetic gaze. Unbeknownst to me we were in conversation without a word having been spoken. A moment in what was to become the rest of his life. For that honour I will always remain humbled.

In life we forge a reputation by accepting challenges that take us to the brink of our own humanity. This gives reason to our very existence. Don’t accept circumstance simply because you interpret them in a negative light. Instead, challenge the Universe with all your might. Never compromise with your dreams and never reach for them thinking there will be clouds to cushion your fall. Instead be like the tightrope walker above Niagara Falls. Experience the fear; the heart-pounding adrenalin pulsating through your veins and always, always have a smile for those who would caution against such bravado.

Sensing the fight had been lost my mortally wounded friend turned away gently and began to regurgitate life from those lungs. At first the bodily fluids trickled, but then that trickle flowed torrentially. I held him up - it was all I could do. There was time enough to say our goodbyes and then his Spirit left him.

I looked left and I looked right. Inexplicably at 1.30 on a Saturday afternoon the Coles carpark was deathly silent. A tribute no doubt to a life well lived!