Everest Base Camp trek - Nepal TR

[Galitzyaner]

Wow! This TR pulled me along. Once I started it I just had to finish it. It was like starting a good book that you don't want to put down, and once it's over you're sad that it is over. That's how I felt about this TR. You are a terrific writer, and if I was an editor of a magazine I'd hire you.

+1
Absolutely amazing, thank you!

[Yaalili]

+1
Absolutely amazing, thank you!

+2, kept me reading through it the whole time. thanks for taking the patience to write it.

[ual902]

nice report thank you.

[Achas Veachas]

nice report thank you.

Your welcome!
Waiting for your Anapurna one now (kidding)

[Cbs]

Part 1
Kathmandu

I just read part 1 and its very nice, but I'd like to make a few updates since that was a few years ago.
Arriving at airport: if you don't have a passport picture handy like I didn't, you can get an instant one by arrivals for 260Rs = about $2.75 (or as Achas says an arm and a leg)
The visa desk accepts a few currencies and nepal rupies are Not on of them. So i managed to scratch together the exact amount needed to give them the $100 for  90 day visa in dollars and in Qatar rials..
Exiting the airport as said above everyone jumped on us so I stopped everyone and made an auction! It was hilarious scene. I had everyone (40 ppl at least) screaming numbers and following me. I ended with 400 Rs and a bigger van although I was offered 300rs for a small car
Currency: 95Rs =$1.00 so I count every 100 as a dollar in my head.

Guesthouses - maybe it's the off season but the quotes I got are between $7-15 dollars for a double room. And with a/c you can get for $12-15. Hotels range $40-$150 a night.

Internet - there's wifi everywhere! But it's locked. And some places will give u the code willingly and some won't unless u stay there or eat/drink. The Internet cafes are all over and the highest I've seen was 80Rs for an hour. That's about $.80 cents!! And the Skype works just fine in all These places.
I paid for data on my phone. Which  is pretty decent Internet. There's diff packages, not as cheap as I thought but still quite cheap. And I got a data sim usb For my laptop which costs 2,259Rs for device and 1gb included.

Electricity - goes off a few hours every day and theres an app for it that'll tell u the hours. Thamel is in category 5.
Some places have lights still working and generators. Water in my apt runs out every so often which is annoying....

More to come...

[Achas Veachas]

I just read part 1 and its very nice, but I'd like to make a few updates since that was a few years ago.
Arriving at airport: if you don't have a passport picture handy like I didn't, you can get an instant one by arrivals for 260Rs = about $2.75 (or as Achas says an arm and a leg)

I guess after spending 2 months in Nepal you start thinking in Rupees, and then $2.75US becomes an arm and a leg

The visa desk accepts a few currencies and nepal rupies are Not on of them. So i managed to scratch together the exact amount needed to give them the $100 for  90 day visa in dollars and in Qatar rials..

Interestning. IIRC when I was there they ONLY took Nepali Rupees or Indian Rupees :-/

Internet - there's wifi everywhere! But it's locked. And some places will give u the code willingly and some won't unless u stay there or eat/drink. The Internet cafes are all over and the highest I've seen was 80Rs for an hour. That's about $.80 cents!! And the Skype works just fine in all These places.
I paid for data on my phone. Which  is pretty decent Internet. There's diff packages, not as cheap as I thought but still quite cheap. And I got a data sim usb For my laptop which costs 2,259Rs for device and 1gb included.

Electricity - goes off a few hours every day and theres an app for it that'll tell u the hours. Thamel is in category 5.
Some places have lights still working and generators. Water in my apt runs out every so often which is annoying....

Nice to see they advanced a bit in the past few years

More to come...

Waiting...

[Dan]

I guess after spending 2 months in Nepal you start thinking in Rupees, and then $2.75US becomes an arm and a leg

Kind of like once you're in Thailand for a week and you're haggling over 30 baht before taking a step back and realizing it's just a buck!
#BTDT

[Cbs]

Kind of like once you're in Thailand for a week and you're haggling over 30 baht before taking a step back and realizing it's just a buck!
#BTDT

exactly! i was just arguing with my taxi driver who drove me a nice 10 min drive or so  - .20 cents - he wanted 100 rupees ($1) and i said 80!

[ash]

just reat the Achas veachas tr amazing......

[deenz]

Amazing TR!
I've read tons of books about climbing Mt. Everest, and I don't remember too many of them giving such great info about this part of the trek.

[Achas Veachas]

If I would have climbed Mt. Everest I don't think I would have written about this part either

[deenz]

Still
Great memory and great pics!

[Achas Veachas]

Thanks it's always fun to remember

[HP58]

Just found this thread. Wow! Amazing TR, @1+1! Puts this on my bucket list...

[ual902]

Just found this thread. Wow! Amazing TR, @1+1! Puts this on my bucket list...

You could check out my trip report on Everst base camp but from the Tibet side:
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=27876.15

[Achas Veachas]

You could check out my trip report on Everst base camp but from the Tibet side:
http://forums.dansdeals.com/index.php?topic=27876.15

+1 Really cool trip!

[Suave]

Achas Veachas - AMAZING TR!!!!! 

So very informative, saving me lots of aggravation. I hope to be in KTM for pesach and travel around a bit after.

[Achas Veachas]

Achas Veachas - AMAZING TR!!!!! 

So very informative, saving me lots of aggravation. I hope to be in KTM for pesach and travel around a bit after.

Awesomest Seder ever! Enjoy!
Send regards to the Lifshitzes.

[Suave]

Awesomest Seder ever! Enjoy!
Send regards to the Lifshitzes.

Chezki sent regards back.

[Achas Veachas]

Chezki sent regards back.