Postcard from Kathmandu English 2008

Postcards from Kathmandu evokes a simpler, more idealistic age when Americans of all stripes, through the Peace Corps and Government service, journeyed to far off lands to assist in bettering the lives of the local people. From 1960 to 1963 Fritz Selby took a detour from his career as an investment banker to serve as a US diplomatic attaché to Nepal. This was well before trekking and mass tourism came to that country. During his sojourn, Fritz, with his deep love and knowledge of the mountains, came to know and befriend most of the iconic figures that still resonate in that country including Sir Edmund Hillary, Colonel Jimmy Roberts - the trekking industry pioneer, Boris - the proprietor of the legendary Yak and Yeti Bar and Liz Hawley, chronicler extraordinaire of all Himalayan expeditions. Like most young Americans of his generation he received as much as he gave from these gentle people and their culture. Postcards is must reading for anyone who has or is planning to climb or trek in Nepal or for anyone who has been touched or transformed by exposure to a different culture.