Along the way you meet an eclectic and colorful cast of characters, including Boris, a Russian ballet dancer turned hotelier, the mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary, a somewhat domesticated panda cub, Prince Basundhara, the younger brother of the king, who Selby taught to water-ski, and Father Moran, a motorcycle-riding Jesuit priest. As a diplomat he becomes acquainted with the ambassadors from India, Great Britain, and from the former Soviet Union. Frederick Selby is a climber and trekker. He writes of his journeys into the Annapurna range, travels to remote Inner Dolpo, and to the Everest region where he learns of life among the Sherpas. He has returned to Nepal nine times and notes the changes leading up to the 21st Century. With more than 400,000 tourists visiting Nepal last year (roughly 60,000 of them on trekking holidays), the book has a built-in audience. But My Life in Kathmandu has an appeal beyond its obvious market for lovers of Nepal. Selby's experience has many parallels with Harrer's Seven Years in Tibet (though obviously Prince Basundhara is no Dalai Lama!), and with its affection and fondness is in the spirit of Mayle's A Year in Provence or even Travels With Charley in its mix of discovery and celebration. A major influx of tourists is expected since the country recently went through a revolution. The details are described in the manuscript.

Postcards from Kathmandu: Life among Gods, Kings and Diplomats, Frederick Selby, Vajra Publications, 217 pp, $19.00

Selby is a career investment banker and has served on the boards of several public companies. He is a frequent speaker at various chapters of the American Alpine Club, The Explorers Club and Himalayan groups. His articles and photographs have appeared in travel publications.

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