>> General Information about Nepal

Geographical Information

Nepal, a land of ageless traditions, living legends, fantastic festivals and majestic mountains, commanding an unending attraction of fabulous forms of flora and fauna is a must visit destination for all seasons and for people of all ages and socio-economic brackets. It lies between 80 o4' and 88 o12' east longitude and 26 o22' and 30 o27' north latitude. The following is some very basic information about Nepal. You may wish to look at other sources for more in depth information. Nepal is a small land locked country of approximately 150 000 square km nestled in between India and the Chinese controlled Tibetan Autonomous Region. Nepal is an agricultural country and is mostly made up of the mighty Himalayan Mountains. Most of Nepal is mountainous (about 80%) but the densely populated Terai region in the south of the country is a flat semi tropical zone. Nepal is very rich in fresh water supplies (second only to Brazil) and as such is mostly a very green fertile and beautiful place.

Cultural Information

Nepal is divided into 14 zones and 75 districts. To date there has always been religious harmony in Nepal where Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians live side by side. There is also a large Tibetan population in Nepal out of a 23 million strong total.

Health Information

Seek advice form a travel doctor or a suitable guide before you come. The most common health problems travelers face in Nepal is stomach upsets and diarrhea in the first few weeks. This is normal and not usually a major problem. Strong medicines like imodium are available. Some natural remedies that work well are grapefruit seed extract and belladonna (best to bring these things with you). Altitude sickness may also be a problem for some people who venture high into the mountains. Again strong medications like diamox are available with natural alternatives such as nux vomica, plenty of water and carbohydrates and certain Chinese herbs helping as well. The only real remedy however is to go to a lower altitude. Malaria has been eradicated from Nepal. Medications / medical supplies are very inexpensive in Nepal and readily available over the counter without prescription. Bring a list recommended things from your Doctor because purchasing in Nepal will save a lot of money.

Personal Spending Information

To assist you with your budget and help in decision making for what to bring, we have complied some costs for common things in Nepal. All prices are approximate. Everything is more expensive in Thamel so bargain. (US $ 1 = Nepalese Rupees 75 in September 2006)

>>Food
Meals: An average meal costs between Rs 50 to 200.Cheaper places can be found but be aware of checking hygiene in some of these places.
Drinks: Water Rs Rs 15 in Super markets / shops. Rs 50 in hotels. Soft drinks Rs 15 and Tea / coffee Rs 20 to 60. Beer 750 ml. Rs 90 to 200.
Snacks: Mars/ Snickers Rs 30.Small block of chocolate Rs 90 to Rs 200.Potato chips Rs 5 to 30.

>>Transport
Short Distances (i.e. within or just out of Kathmandu Valley):
Tempo: Rs 9 to 15.
Buses: Rs 9 to 15.
Taxi: (By the meter which begins at Rs 8 and goes up by Rs 2 for day rate and Rs 3 for night rate). Day rate: 30 to 150 rupees for most distances within the “Ring Road" of Kathmandu.
Auto rickshaws (tuk-tuks) slightly cheaper than taxis (by metro also). Bikes can be bought (Rs 25,000) or hired (approx. Rs 50 to 100 per day). Longer Distance:
Local buses: Pokhara, Rs 260 to 300. Janakpur Rs 400.
Tourist buses cost more.

>>Communications
Postcards: Rs 10 to 20. Stamps are Rs 70 for North America and Europe. Rs 20 to Australia and NZ.
Letters: Rs 20 (if within weight restriction).
Lovely handmade writing paper and notebooks: Rs 70 Aerograms: Rs 11 to 20 plus Rs 7 for postage.
Parcel airmail / cargo: Approx. US$ 6 to 7 per kg. Please Note: if receiving parcels from home use a post box address as it is up to the discretion of the post -man if they wish to deliver parcels to home addresses. You can also use Post Restate services. Email: Rs 15 to 40 per hour in Kathmandu.
Printing Rs 25 to 30 per page.
Fax: Rs 160 approx per minute and local fax Rs 10 per minute.

Phone:

International:

Rs 35 per minute. Many places charge a call back fee (if you get your home to call you back) of Rs 5 to 10 per minute. Some places do not charge this.

Local calls:
Generally Rs 3 to 5 per minute. It is cheaper to organise for your friends and family to call you at your host family.The Rs 500 sim card is also instantly available for your cell phone.

>>Clothings
(Don’t forget to bargain)
Long cotton pants: Rs 175 to 350
Cotton shirts: Rs 150 to 500.
T-shirts: Rs 100 to 500.
Shorts: Rs 150 to 300.
Long wrap cotton skirts: Rs 175 to 600.
Dresses: Rs 200 to 600.
Sarong: Rs 200.
Kurta (traditional dress for woman of pants/ dress/ scarf): Rs 600 to 1200 plus tailor fee of Rs 150.
Fleece jacket: Rs 700 to 1200.
Fleece vest / pants: Rs 600 to 750.
Sandals: Rs 300 to 1500 depending on quality.
Hiking boots: Rs 1800 to 3200 depending on quality.
Slip on shoes for around the house: Rs 80 to 250.
Gortex jacket: Rs 900 to 1500 (not the same fabric and zip quality).
Poncho Style raincoat: Rs 250 to 300.

>>Equipment
Gaiters: Rs 200 to 300
Backpack cover: Rs 200 to 700
Sleeping bags: Rs 2000 to Rs 3000.
Fleece sleeping bag liner: Rs 600 to 700.
Day packs: Rs 400 to 900.
Umbrella: Rs 120 to 150.

>>Other things
All personal toiletry items are available.
Toilet paper is approx. R20 per roll.
Film: Rs 160 per roll of 36. Developing Rs 400.
CDs (mostly pirated): Rs 100 to 350. Please Note: Quality hair/skin products are not easily found. Supermarket type quality is usual.
You may wish to bring good insect repellent. Vaseline is recommended to smear on your feet to avoid blisters whilst trekking and is readily available.

What is it like in Nepal?

As the co-coordinator of WWOOF Nepal, I would like to share some of my experiences. I am sure you will love Nepal because of the following reasons: 1. Menus written in English are sometimes very entertaining. Take for example: mushed potato, smashed potato, cord (curd which is yogurt), eggs with style (instead of any style) and my favorite - special fried chicken. 2. As many people as possible are always squashed into all forms of transport. 3. Cows walk down the road in the middle of the traffic and dogs sleep lazily oblivious to the noise around them. 4. You do washing standing in a plastic bowl. 5. You can gaze at mountains, temples, fields of rice and ancient looking houses. 6. Children run down allies near your home and grab your hand to hold. 7. People walk with huge loads - plastics buckets piled high, chickens tied to handlebars of bikes, huge lengths of plastic pipes on shoulders, metal frames with dozens of eggs, huge piles of corn, wardrobes, you name it. 8. Life is lived in front of you. Everything is out in the open and up close. Sewing machines, butchers, lounge chairs, barbers, optometrist, chemists. Everything is all mish-mashed together right on the street. You can see people bathing, collecting water, eating, cuddling children, talking and having a smoke with a friend, selling, making. Everything in life is before you and not hidden behind fences, doors or in office buildings. 9. There’s always “a special price for you, especially in the low tourist season. 10. No-one ever has change and everyone will ask until someone can help him or her out. 11. Banana and mango lassis are delicious. 12. You always have a multitude of little interactions be it smiles, looks or joking comments every time you go out. The people are so friendly. 13. You buy produce from little shops and markets, or from men or women with baskets and scales on bicycles selling their fruit. No big crazy supermarkets. 14. Lengths of colourful sari cloths hang from windows drying. 15. Dogs bark and children scream and run around and up and down the stairs. Everyone uses their horn on the roads. 16. There are so many things that are incongruent yet live side by side. 17. You always feel valued, respected and welcome. You may find that you miss this crazy place when you have to leave.

Other Places You May Want to Visit

Chitwan National Park is incredible. There is a little island in the middle of the river in the park and you could row there in low wooden boats. You can take an elephant rides and enjoy a view of the passing scenery from atop these beautiful and incredibly graceful creatures. You can ride bareback and then wash in the river. It is very interesting trying to stay on an elephant as it goes for a diving dip! They walk soundlessly, which is incredible. You hear only the noise of the foliage as they brush past. They drink between 40-60 liters of water a day and they eat about 200 kg of food per day. It is a full time job making tasty plant parcels for them. They also have a good feed every time they go into the jungle. They apparently sleep for only 3 to 4 hours on their side. People there will teach you that if you hold onto their ears from the ground and put your food up their trunk they will lift you up. It certainly is a unusual elevator! You then climb on to the top of their heads and then onto their backs. You can see many birds as well as rare rhinos, sloth bears and tigers. It gets the heart pumping when they give you the safety instructions of what to do if you see these animals. For a sloth bear: stand together, look big and make lots of noise. For a rhino: run in a zig –zag fashion and climb at least 10-15ft up a fairly thick tree or they’ll knock it down, and for a tiger: stare directly into its eyes and walk slowly backwards! Needless to say your eyes do not leave the guides, your heart beats fast and you get ready to run a few times. It is brilliant staying in the very cute thatched huts, with only kero lamps for lights, the sound of the river, fireflies glowing and beautiful tropical foliage all around.

You may also want to check out Mount Everest treks and mountain flights, Jankapur in the east, Pokhara and the Annapurna Ranges in the west and Lumbini near the Indian border. There is a lot of good information in guide books and on the internet.