Stop by the Tourism Bureau-Free Stuff/Free Information and things to do

You can see this building many times because of its location.

It seems there is always something to do in Kathmandu and you really seldom need a lot of money to have a great time. One tip is to check at the Tourism Board to see what’s going on. You really cannot help but see this huge building in the Ratna Park area and right next to that is a nice park, the expo center, a covered market (flea market), places to eat and a Ram Dev store. I suggest that you spend a morning in this area shortly after you arrive in-between activities. 

This loom is still used in textile manufacturing

This artwork is made with broken jewelry

If you come to Nepal you may be able to enjoy one of the Tourism Expos/fairs/festivals that are sponsored by a town, caste or the government. They are usually in this ‘Tourism Board’ area when they come and there are often expeditions here of one sort or the other. This was the second one like this I got to attend here and several others throughout the Valley. This one, sponsored by the tourism board or government, didn’t have quite as much for the Western tourist this year as some of the other ones I’d been to. Most of the brochures were written in Nepalese, but I did get to see and learn some interesting things. The people, both behind the booth and local Nepali, were quite friendly and helpful.

Tip for dealing with lines while waiting: Nepali are horrible about crowding in front at places like the hospital pharmacy or anywhere you would expect a line to form. Just politely say, "Excuse me, please" and it will seem as though they just woke up and noticed you. Just use a polite tone and it works like magic-for tourists.  

When you stop by the tourism Board be sure to ask for some free posters to take back home. These free posters make great gifts for young people who may become inspired to travel.  They also make great gifts for Nepali host families you might meet because they are reserved for tourists and Nepali in the tourism industry. The posters can be a bit of a problem because they are bulky, but if you buy a thanka you can put a few into the same shipping tube. The posters are of tourist places throughout Nepal, Bhaktapur temples, Everest mountain range area, etc. You can also get a map of Kathmandu and sometimes they have nice maps of Nepal. But the best reason to stop into this office is to find out what’s going on here during your visit.

I got several free posters and had them framed

Just behind this building is one of my favorite local places to eat. You can get a bowl of rajma (bean soup), roti (flat bread) and tea or soda for under a dollar and it is really good. The place stays so crowded the food is very fresh and therefore safe. It’s also a fun place to eat because you just find a place to sit at any of the tables. Nepali being so friendly, you will really have a nice time. 

If you go behind this restaurant you will see a street that will take you to the Ram Dev store, which should be your next stop. There, for 250 NRs. you can get an ionic foot bath to pull heavy metals and other toxins out of your body. These treatments are quite pricey in the West. Additionally, they have some unique metaphysical and magnet therapy items, organic teas and potions, etc. all at great prices. There are several of these stores around, but they all carry different items. You can also find one in Thamel near the KTM Guest House. 

Behind this street with Ram Dev, there is a huge, covered flea market. Be careful about purchasing electronics from there, as many things are imported from China, can be pirated and cause problems. Remember, once the money leaves your fingertips you own the item; there is little customer service in Nepal and even less at street vendors. I avoid all Chinese products because the items sent to Nepal are much lower quality than gets exported to the West. One day, after ignoring the vendors own warning about buying Chinese, I was sitting on my bed putting my socks on when I smelled something burning. It was the cord from a rechargeable lamp that had gotten too hot because when I sat down the sheet rested on it. 

This is the park near the Tourist Bureau with many blooming trees and flowers

The park is across the pavilion and is very nice. There is a small entrance fee, but it is nice and safe there. I have some nice memories of this park. One day I rescued a baby crow from here. It is interesting to stroll through this park, or one of the many others throughout the Valley and see how many flowers are familiar to you. I had no idea how many of our common, Western flowers come from Asia. 

Nepal Tourism Board Tel.: 977-1-4211870, 4211879, 4211607 Fax: 977-1-4211758

E-mail: info@tourism.gov.np    tourismnp@gmail.com   tourismnp@tourism.gov.np
Website: www.tourism.gov.np

Did you know I wrote an eBook filled with tips on getting the most out of your visit to Nepal?

Satisfaction Guaranteed: NO FINE PRINT. If you don't truly love Nepal: A Tourist’s Manual, please send for 100% money back. If you are not completely satisfied just send your purchase information along with a note to: FrugalTravelsNepal@gmail.com

Nepal: A Tourist’s Manual-For more information check out our website. If you enjoy this blog and the website you will enjoy the 299 page eBook. It is a well illustrated, easy read with over 1,000 tips to help you get the most out of Nepal.

Visit my website: Nepal: A Tourist's Manual

Corrections and updates from Nepal: A Tourist's Manual

I caught the Himalayas peaking through even though it's monsoon.

First, you will note that we've changed the name, yet again. It went from Nepal: On a Budget, to Nepal: Unconventional Tourism and now Nepal: A Tourist's Manual. Please let me know if you think it's not an improvement. I couldn't find the proper word, but I think this might be it.

There is still some political unrest in Nepal. This was a women's protest. It was nice because most of the police escorts for this protest were also women.

When I wrote the book it was all as I or others found things in Nepal. There was nowhere to actually check for most of it. For example, I needed to add the phone number of the tourism board because I found they were closed when I went there a couple times in a row. I went to the website and tried to send a note to find out the new office hours. The link did not work. That's just the way it is here in Nepal. When you get here you will find so many things to be so different from what you would expect or even what you've been told or read. That is why I'm trying to keep my book in the electronic realm. It's just so much easier to update it without having to send something to the publisher to get a new version printed. When I finally found someone at the Tourist Bureau he couldn't seem to understand what I was talking about when I suggested the office had been closed multiple times I'd come by.

This Tamang village is still in the KTM Valley, so don't worry if you need to have a short stay here. There is plenty do see in the valley nearby.

So, on the list that I've been sending out as a sample of the book, I suggest bringing used phones and having them unlocked at home and hopefully they will work here. But that wasn't all that needed to be included in the tip. You should also only bring 'SIM card' compatible phones. We do not have them in the US, but people in Europe and Asia understand this concept. This is the only kind of phone that will work in Nepal and most of Asia. And even if you bring one here and it isn't unlocked you will have another problem. You need to pay up to 12,000 NRs. to unlock it, depending on your carrier. So, if you are coming to Nepal look to see if you have an extra 'SIM card compatible mobile phone' and get it unlocked from your carrier. It should be unlocked at no charge as a courtesy from your own mobile server. Then you are all set. Just check out my blog post on 'Getting your vacation off to a good start' and you will save about $25 in your first couple hours in Nepal. 

Another change from the earlier editions: More and more ATM machines in Nepal are charging 400 NRs. per transaction. Check with your bank to see how to get the charges reduced or removed by getting an account with one of the international banks such as Chase Bank. Standard Chartered Bank is here in Kathmandu, so this is a bit easier for Brits and those living in major cities in the US. Some banks allow people to set up an account online so you may want to explore this option. But, don't worry about these charges too much. I tell how to deal with this issue in the book. You should not have this charge if you know which ATM machines to use.

If you've read the book, by whatever name and if you've found something that is either confusing, didn't work out for you exactly the same way, or perhaps it is outdated already, please leave a comment below. If you've read the book and would like to comment on it, please leave a comment below or send me a picture of you to use on the website.

Additional apology:  It has not been easily accessible for a few months. It is ready for sale now with many updates. If you have an earlier version let me know when you are coming back to Nepal and I will give you a free, updated download link.

Did you know I wrote an eBook filled with tips on getting the most out of your visit to Nepal?

Satisfaction Guaranteed: NO FINE PRINT. If you don't truly love Nepal: A Tourist’s Manual, please send for 100% money back. If you are not completely satisfied just send your purchase information along with a note to: FrugalTravelsNepal@gmail.com

Nepal: A Tourist’s Manual-For more information check out our website. If you enjoy this blog and the website you will enjoy the 299 page eBook. It is a well illustrated, easy read with over 1,000 tips to help you get the most out of Nepal.

Visit my website: Nepal: A Tourist's Manual

Altitude Sickness-Yes, it’s a big deal

I had originally submitted this article to Zen Treks and had made an agreement to do some work for them. However, I sent them a note to clarify what they expected from me and never heard anything back. Whether or not this actually got published on their site or not, I do not know, but its my work so I am putting it here, where it may actually get read.

One in five trekkers experiences it to one degree or another. It can even be fatal, yet many trekking companies do nothing to warn their customers about it, so I am happy to write about this very serious subject. Rather than recant lists that you really must read, this article will help you to be more aware of altitude sickness and hopefully motivate you to do your due diligence. I also have a few tips of my own you will want to keep in mind.

The most important thing to keep in mind is to honor your own personal body. No one knows it better than you do, but do you really love and support your body? We’ve all felt ill while in the middle of something that we felt we could not abandon. We call it ‘pushing ourselves’ and it usually works pretty well. Actually, isn’t that why you want to go trekking, to push yourself to the limit? But when it comes to altitude sickness you may not, you cannot push yourself. It could be fatal to try. 

What is actually going on in your body at high altitudes? The capillaries in the body dilate and leak fluid with the reduction in oxygen. Altitude sickness isn’t something you can ignore and ‘push yourself’ through. No, your precious body is not able to overcome what altitude sickness brings. Why? We need one thing on this planet more than anything else. That one thing is oxygen and there just isn’t much of that up in the mountains at 3,000 meters in elevation. That is all you need to remember, the need for oxygen is the most crucial thing on the planet.

How are your lungs? Do you have a lung condition such as asthma? Do you smoke and disregard them in other ways? How is your heart? Does heart disease run in your family? Do you live at sea level? Have you been an ‘eggs and bacon’ kind of person with a love for butter and cheese? Really take inventory on your own, personal, human body. Seriously, even 20 year old trekkers have come into trouble over altitude sickness. And, yes, people do die from it. It can also make you more susceptible to accidents, and no one is immune. 

If you go on a group trek you may feel peer pressure to go on when your body tells you it’s time to stop. You can read all the lists and blog posts you want, and I am including a few with this article, but it has to start with this: Go with people in your own age bracket and skill level. As an older American, a woman of short stature in my late 50’s, I went trekking with two Dutch women around my age, but were 6-8 inches taller than me. Dutch? Oh my god! these people ride their bicycles in the snow! Americans get into their car and push the remote garage door button to get to work. Well, they schooled me. By the time I caught up with the group they had rested long enough to want to go on. Do not allow anyone to make you feel like you have to keep up with them. Stay focused on your body and allow it to speak to you; listen to it.

The altitude sickness lists are not rules. Keep in mind that your body is unique in how it will deal with this issue. When a thought comes to you that you had never noticed something about yourself before, it is likely that it is the beginnings of altitude sickness. It might even be something that wasn’t on any of the lists. Tell someone. Stop and drink water-a lot of water. Dehydration will actually make the symptoms worse. One blog post listed below suggested a very strong correlation between altitude sickness and dehydration as if the two go together. I like the author’s idea to monitor urination to be at least every two to three hours. 

Before you go on the trek have a discussion with your trekking group and guide. If one person needs to slow down how will it be handled? Note the attitude of the group. The problem can also become an issue when activities are scheduled too closely together. Always allow a few extra days prior to your departure flight. No one wants to be the one to cause the group to miss the next activity, so it is probably best to keep your schedule as free as possible to make adjustments.

These trekkers are helping each other with back issues.

Bring envelopes of electrolytes, like you would take after diarrhea. Drink one each day to keep yourself hydrated and healthy. Some of the brands are not very tasty, so try them prior to your trek to make sure you can drink it.  One study showed that ibuprofen, or Advil/Motrin can help to keep you symptom free (See link below).
 

If you decide not to take a porter for yourself, consider hiring someone from one of the villages you will pass through if you feel it will help you. That means you will need to bring a bit of extra cash with you. Contingency planning is key.

I would suggest renting a walking stick in Thamel because one of the symptoms is lack of coordination. Bring healthy snacks for the trip and avoid things that tax your body and can dehydrate you like processed foods, caffeine and alcohol. If you have asthma or another health challenge that makes you a higher risk for altitude sickness issues, don’t let it stop you from coming to Nepal. There are many treks at lower elevations that can be both challenging and rewarding. Additionally, even if you have more severe physical challenges, your quality trekking company can provide alternative transportation so you can enjoy Nepal, too. Nepal has something amazing to show you, regardless of your age or health. 

Here are a few links on the subject:

http://www.wikihow.com/Prevent-Altitude-Sickness

http://healthland.time.com/2012/03/20/ibuprofen-can-prevent-altitude-sickness/#ixzz2N0J7aV4y)

http://www.onthesnow.com/news/a/106686

Photos: Complements of Sven Shuster, Germany 

About the author: Amanda Summers is an American widow who’s come to Nepal to enjoy her retirement years. Her mission, borne out of her love for this amazing country, is to encourage more Westerners to come to Nepal. Her goal is to help others experience Nepal more fully so each will return and bring friends. Learn more at https://WhatAboutNepal.org
 

Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor. These suggestions mentioned above are only suggestions. Please use your own discretion and remember your health is your own responsibility, especially in Nepal.

Did you know I wrote an eBook filled with tips on getting the most out of your visit to Nepal?

Satisfaction Guaranteed: NO FINE PRINT. If you don't truly love Nepal: A Tourist’s Manual, please send for 100% money back. If you are not completely satisfied just send your purchase information along with a note to: FrugalTravelsNepal@gmail.com

Nepal: A Tourist’s Manual-For more information check out our website. If you enjoy this blog and the website you will enjoy the 299 page eBook. It is a well illustrated, easy read with over 1,000 tips to help you get the most out of Nepal.

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