Readers of the book "Annapurna Circuit -- A Himalayan Journey'' had the opportunity to see developments of the mountain community in Nepal.

Local resident Andrew Stevenson presented a lecture and slide show on his most recent trip to the region which he first trekked through five years ago.

Yesterday's lecture was presented by the Friends of the College Library in support of the Bermuda College Library.

Son of famed spy master William Stevenson and brother of Bermudian Magazine publisher Kevin, Mr. Stevenson noted the many changes in the rural community that has seen an increase in facilities for others who want to see the Himalayas.

"Annapurna Circuit'' had its second printing just three months after the original print run in March 1997, and Stevenson expects a paperback printing in July.

He is busy trying to get additional copies sent from the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu.

"This is the best time to go,'' Mr. Stevenson said. "The infrastructure has improved but it hasn't quite caught on.

"It's still rustic and primitive, but now there is hot running water and electricity in the lodges,'' he added.

Annapurna has seen many changes in five years with the rise of eco-tourism, new investment, and certain conservation measures taking hold on the rural community.

One great change is the impact of a landslide on one village that Stevenson knew well.

"You can still see the tops of buildings and realise that people are buried there,'' Mr. Stevenson said. "I knew about it beforehand, but I didn't know how bad it was.'' Stevenson is also impressed with an innovative conservation programme started in the 1980s.

In 1987 the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) was started by Nepalese trained overseas in wildlife preservation.

After nationalisation of the land decades ago and forced deportation of local residents, people were left with no ties to the land and its wildlife.

Stevenson has completed a new travelogue on his two months in New Zealand -- portions of it ironically written in a garden in Kathmandu -- and next week he will jet off to Australia where he plans to research his next travelogue.

Andrew Stevenson