money, money, money

I just went into camp to cash a cheque in the admin office only to be told that 'Sorry, there's no money, ma'am'. I said no worries, and that I would go and cash the cheque in the bank on the High Street, which has an agreement with the Gurkha camp, only to be told that 'Sorry, there's no money there, either, ma'am'. It transpires that Nepal has run out of money. There's none to be had in the ATM machines or the banks and apparently people are having their credit cards refused as well (in the few places that accept cards). Bummer, huh? I am down to my last twenty five rupees (about 20p) as well, and we are supposed to be going on holiday to Pokhara tomorrow morning. Feeling a bit sad at the prospect of cancelling our little holiday jaunt. Have you ever known a country to run out of money? And here it's the equivalent of our Christmas holidays. It's like telling everyone on the day before Xmas eve that there will be no cash available until after Boxing Day. Can you imagine? Only in Nepal...