Here’s another shot to pull at the heart strings. This little boy (I thought it was a girl at first but when I got close I realised it was a boy) was sitting by a really busy, polluted road junction in Kathmandu, in the prayer position while people practically walked over him and, if he was lucky, occasionally dropped a coin in his little pot.

What a horrible existence for the poor little thing. It stopped me in my tracks to see him. I didn’t give him any money because I don’t know who he is working for and I don’t want to encourage childhood begging, but I wanted to give him something, so I bought him a bunch of bananas. When I handed him the bag his little face lit up even though he didn’t know what was in it – I guess a moment of human interaction and kindness makes a difference when you’re just looking at people’s feet all day.

There is a paper kite shop around the corner from where I live and Nepalese kids seem to love flying kites, so I’d love to go back and give him one, but I’m scared that it will be taken away from him and it will upset him even more. So I may just have to settle with a few balloons for him to discreetly put in his pocket and save for later.

I hope if karma really does exist, that this little boy’s next life turns out to be a lot easier than this one!