Pixie,

Words such as 'publicity seeking dirts' are yours, not mines. I don't care about this guy, and I don't think this guy deserves to be paid from national exchequer. Sure, if he inspired you (or probably some others), then surely you will be willing to listen for his lectures or buy his postcards or support whatever business venture he starts out and then he will be able to make some money?--BUT NOT ANY PENNY FROM GOVT MONEY and that is my position.

Everybody has some passion. All Nepali, wherever they are, have done their bit to say Nepal isnot part of India. Don't give too much credit to this guy alone. Look, frankly nobody cares about a bike riding foreigner. If you want to give Nepal an international fame, do something creative, build some nice product that people find useful or write some good theorem, and fame will come.

Here is what professor Pigou, father of development economics, wrote long ago. If some people are rich, it allows them to pursue vocations poors can't pursue. Flying around the world in the balloon is normally a hobby of rich people. No govt should be paying for these frivolous hobbies of any individual and they normally don't. Nobody should expect either.