…probably isn’t worth the bother of trying to get past extremely insistant young Karnatakan women trying to sell you stuff. The flipside is that my beard is now darker than it’s been in years and my room cost 100 rupees.

I’m staying at the Manali guest-house: 0832 227 4421. They have clean, neat rooms, a bookshop (non-ensuite but very welcome) showers and toilets and a (currently non-runctional) cybercafe.