Sorry folks,  I seem to 've gone on a bit on this :-)

> In November I'm off on a trip to Nepal - partly hotels but mainly
> walking/camping.

Probably the best time of year to go to Nepal.  Post-monsoon,  good
visibility but not quite in bloom which can be spectacular(Spring
time,  poor visibility).

> I know from others' past experience that amoebic dysentery is a
> problem so I wondered what people thought of this advice culled
> from a Web site on travel in India?

The advice is basically OK (apart from the spelling of
metronidazole!).

This is usually caused by giardia lamblia.  Easily treated with
metro.  I would suggest 400mg three times a day for a week.  No
alcohol.

Things to watch out for in Nepal:

1. In Kathmandu,  avoid staying in Thamel if you can.
2. If you are going to Pokhara (recommended anyway),  try to fly
there.  Journey by bus is 9 back and bum breaking hours!
3. In Pokhara,  find the Trekkers Retreat (wonderful name for aging
old GPs,  ain't it?).
4. Probably the most enjoyable trek is from Pokhara up to
Goripani(10,000 feet alt.) and a coronary inducing 1000 feet climb
from Goripani straight up at 3 in the morning up Poon Hill to watch
dawn from the top (Annapurna III and Fish Tail),  well worth the
effort.
5. From Goripani,  you cross an enormous gorge to a place called
Gandruk (I think).
6. In Gandruk,  find the "Panorama Inn" at the top.  Run by an
ex-Gurkha and familiy.  The view from the garden is out of this
world.
7. Don't pack too much.  Most stuff is available for hire in
Kathmandu(sleeping bag etc.).  Travel light as you will be travelling
along the footpath highways of the Nepalese themselves.  You walk
till the next village where you have a clean bed and a gorgeous
breakfast of corn bread and porridge all for,  well,  very little.
8. Be gentle with the environment.  80% of Nepal energy comes from
burning wood.  Trekkers consume whole hillsides of it just to have a
romantic fire at night.
9. Do not leave loo paper hanging off trees!
10. Be gentle with the Nepalese.  They are one of the most gentle
people I know.  They will beat themselves down in price if you haggle
too hard so as not to offend!
11. Remember:  out of every 20 USdollars spent in the villages,  only
3 dollars remain in that village.
12. Ask about the dya trip hikes from Kathmandu and Pokhara.  They
are well worth it.
13. Take mug shots of you.  You need them for the trekking pass.  Be
prepared to hang around for hours for one.
14. Do not forget mountain sickness.  Be well hydrated all the time.
Any sign of mountain sickness,  come down.  Usually at alts beyond
10-15,000 feet but depends on individual.

Finally:  have a great trip.  It is one of the most endearing places
in the world,  the mountains make you feel really small and the
people are on small doses of hash all the time,  makes them really
mellow and friendly.  Pizza,  lasagna and choc fudge brownies are
great in Kathmandu.  On trekking,  dahl,  rice and bread.

Ahmad
_______________________________________

Ahmad Risk MB BCh
tel: +44 1737 240022 fax: +44 1737 244660
http://www.cybermedic.org/



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