cmstraf

Hi everyone,
I promise to write a trip report in thanks for all your responses to my questions. We are still hoping for Nepal, have back up reservations for Luang Prabang, but I found out this morning that I had read incorrectly and that Luang Prabang is at 100 meters and not 1000 meters as I had thought (read figure for province not city). I had very bad reaction this summer going from zero to 10,000 feet, so would prefer to spend that week at 4,000-6,000.

Is there someplace nice in the Himalayan foothills in India we could go to easily from Bangkok? We know nothing about India and I don't want to give the country money right now, though I remind myself that the Indian govt is not the Indian people.

Thanks--decision time is next Sat night at 8 pm. We may just go to Dwarikas and hole up there and in Dhukhiel if things don't get worse and if we are not making these worse for Nepali

(we are going on to 16 day stay in Bhutan, with 5 day trek). I know--these are pretty privileged problems.

Kathie

Nepal is the easiest access place I can think of at altitude. We've been to some places in India at altitude, but it takes a full day (and a hard travel day at that) to get there. I've been keeping up on Nepal - a friend of Cheryl's is there now - and I wouldn't hesitate to go.

Have a wonderful trip! We are off to Burma again in a few weeks - can't wait!

LancasterLad

Keep a very close eye on the fuel crisis in Nepal.

Kathie

Oh, and a couple of notes about altitude sickness. You can do everything right and still get altitude sickness. We carefully plotted our trip to Peru so we spent multiple days in the Sacred Valley before spending time in Cusco and still had altitude sickness. It turned out that I was allergic to diamox. Cheryl could take it and it helped her. I hope you won't have problems, but the best predictor of whether one gets altitude sickness is whether one has gotten it before at similar altitudes. We had been at somewhat lower altitudes in the Himalayas without difficulties, but Cusco was just too high for us.

cmstraf

Thanks Kathie (also LL),
We've pretty much decided to stick with Nepal. It's where we want to go, it's right in terms of altitude and though we won't be seeing the country at its best, it may be our only opportunity to be there at all.
Even though someone told me in 1966 I was allergic to diamox, I took a trial dose when we were at 9000 feet this summer and had no trouble with it. I had a hard time this summer when we went from zero to 10,000 feet while still taking codeine for a dislocated elbow, so want to be as careful as I can about acclimatization. I've never been as high as our trek is going (11,000 to 14,000 feet), but our tour leader has never had any serious problems with any group he's taken there. The Druk Trek is the most popular in Bhutan.

AskOksena

Warm Tuesday morning greetings to the OP, cmstraf, and early congratulations on what should be a memorable holiday in two regions we absolutely loved this past July, Nepal and Bhutan. (My all-too-brief reviews on my profile page barely touch on that special time.)

Topping this thread, as received another correspondence yesterday from my long-time, Kathmandu-based friend, 'Mr. Depak'. He reiterated that Kathmandu is indeed tourist friendly these days. Hope Kathmandu becomes reality for you; it meant so much to me to have some sweet reunions with various climbing Sherpas and Nepalese friends, some I hadn't seen since the 1980s. My business travel is particularly busy at present (sending this missive off from Kuala Lumpur), but hope to return to Nepal next May or June. Love Nepal (and Bhutan).

Noticed your profile address is San Francisco Bay Area, a place I travel to for work on a regular basis. So, will give a heartfelt promotion of Kin Khao, a joyous Thai restaurant in SF. Have been friends with the gracious proprietress, 'Khun Pim', since the locale's early days. Pim is particularly happy these days, having just received a Michelin star. Will be seeing her again within the fortnight.

More later, as a morning flight awaits. Happy for you, camstraf. Best to you and all from Kuala Lumpur,

robert


... Singapore Airlines, You're a Great Way to Fly ...

karenclang

I returned from Nepal last week. I had gone with a group to help rebuild a school in rural village 3 hours away from Kathmandu but spent a day in Kathmandu before and after. Getting fuel is a problem--you'll see very long lines of cars, taxis, buses lined up (our driver had to wait in line for more 24 hours to get fuel). Your hotel will be able to get you a taxi but you'll have little or no luck hailing one on the streets (a friend had walk 5 miles back to his hotel because of the fuel problem). I'd encourage you to go to Nepal anyway--the hotels and restaurants are open for business and damage to some sites has been repaired. But communicate with your hotel, let them know what you'd like to do, and they can advise you of what's feasible.