Yes, I already booked and paid for the flight. Regarding the Aussie, I am not sure whether I have a chance to meet him in that Pattaya twin city as I intend to travel outside Kathmandu in the south and in the north. So, unless he has turned into the legendary Yeti, the snowman, who is said to live in the remoter hills of the Himalaya, the chance of crossing that Aussie's ways are very low. After meeting the Vice Chancellor of Nepal's new Open University, I will spend most of my time in the village where my currently last PhD student comes from. His native community belongs to one of Nepal's Sino-Tibetan communities, and his PhD project focuses on the culture and native language community (Dhimal) so far not very well researched yet. To me, this trip is a mix of a work mission and some holiday to spend that makes a lot of sense to me.

"Are you still departing by 17th for Nepal? We are looking forward to some snaps from Kathmandu, and will scrutinise carefully in case an Aussie comes into view".