After a long day visiting the British and Chinese Embassies and many tour operators yesterday, we’ve discovered that we are unable to obtain permits or visas for Tibet or China at this present time.

No permits for Tibet have been issued since March and the Chinese visa is virtually impossible to get.  The Chinese representative at the embassy was so F**king rude – he literally through our application forms back at us and told us that we should have applied in our home country.  When we explained that our plans had changes since leaving and now we’d like to visit China, he said it wasn’t his problem, next! – absolute tosser!

We hear or read very little of the political situation in Tibet or China regarding the Olympics, so we have no idea what is going on – can somebody fill us in – so now we are left in limbo.  We’re not he only ones, half of the guests in our hotel have had similar experiences and many have just come to Nepal to enter Tibet – many are leaving for home in disgust. 

Inevitably, we thought we would have to change our plans in some way, but to miss out Tibet and China is a right blow.  We’re thinking of heading straight to Bangkok and going to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam etc. and once the Olympics are over, heading into China and then Tibet if possible – but it’s the extra cost and hassle. 

Nevertheless, it’s onward and upwards, we are heading to Pokhara in the next few days and plan on 10–14 days trekking.  We are unsure whether to do the Jomsom or the Annapurna Base Camp trek.  Any advice or recommendation would be appreciated.  They are both pretty amazing by all accounts, maybe we’ll decide when we get to Pokhara.