I had hoped to fly back to the UK last Thursday but my flight was cancelled and I was instead given a flight for this evening. But this morning transport workers called a wildcat strike which has brought the capital to a standstill. Burning tyres on the road and intimidation prevent people from getting around and stop me from being able to make it to the airport. These strikes cause such disruption to daily life and they are called by differing groups - from teachers to students to ethnic minorities - on a regular basis. You just have to work around them as best you can but when it comes to catching international flights there's often not much to be done. I am hoping that I'll be allowed a place on a flight tomorrow but that hinges on Qatar Airways being charitable. Usually they are not.
It seems that there was a misunderstanding over the agent begging for the circus performers not to be sent back to Nepal (see previous blog). Apparently he was, on the contrary, pleading for them to be returned as it would help his case. This really does explain the circus's apparent magnanimous gesture before the team left for India. It does take time to establish the truth in Nepal.
