HimalayaNet #62 (September 15, 1999)

Joining us this month is a new moderator, Kathie A. Mears. Kathie is
originally from New York where she worked in publishing, before taking up a
friend's last-minute invitation to travel across Canada to Alaska. While
based on the Kenai peninsula, she spent 7 years exploring Alaska and working in commercial fishing -- surviving the Exxon-Valdez oil spill, floods,
earthquakes, and two volcanoes along the way. She is now a web site content producer at KQED FM in San Francisco and has just completed a play about life in an Alaskan fishery. She is also a volunteer tutor of English. She'll be spending a month in the Kathmandu Valley and Everest Region in Dec-January.

Please remember to send all contributions to himnet@hotmail.com. Please
also remember to include your membership number if you'd like to post a
message.

Scott Dimetrosky
Director
info@mountainexplorers.org

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. UPDATES ON NEPAL VISAS/PERMITS FROM JAMIE MCGUINNESS
2. WORLD NEIGHBORS AWARDED $4 MILLION FROM BILL AND MELINDA GATES
3. THE WORLD MOUNTAIN FORUM
4. HIMALAYANET APOLOGIZES TO AOL USERS
5. HOW TO BEST AVOID CROWDS AND MAXIMIZE EXPOSURE TO NEPALI CULTURE?
6. KEEP SEEKING EXPERIENCED ENGLISH TEACHERS FOR LANGTANG COURSES
7. EXPERIENCED ENGLISH TEACHER NEEDED FOR NEPAL VILLAGE
8. INFORMATION ON AMERICA-NEPAL SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA (ANS/CA)
9. RESEARCHER SEEKS COMMENTS ON BOTANICAL TREKKING
10. THE MONASTERIES OF LADAKH
11. HEC MEMBERS LOOKING FOR TRAVELING COMPANIONS/ADVICE
11A. SEEKING TRAVEL COMPANIONS FOR MT. KAILASH
11B. NEED ADVICE AND/OR A TREKKING PARTNER FOR EVEREST
11C. NEED TIPPING ADVICE FOR TREK
11D. LOOKING FOR TREKKING/CLIMBING COMPANION NOV-JAN
12. LOOKING FOR CONTACT FOR SIR EDMUND HILLARY FOUNDATION (HIMALAYAN TRUST)
13. POKHARA-KATHMANDU FLIGHT CRASHES IN NEPAL
14. ADVENTUROUS TRAVELER BOOKSTORE SPONSORSHIP

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING SECTION
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
HOW TO UNSUBSCRIBE TO HIMALAYANET
HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO HIMALAYANET
HOW TO POST ON HIMALAYANET
HIMALAYAN EXPLORERS CLUB MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION
HOW TO ADVERTISE ON HIMALAYANET

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1. UPDATES ON NEPAL VISAS/PERMITS FROM JAMIE MCGUINNESS

Thanks to Jamie for clarifying the new procedures for this fall and
beyond...

Visa On Entry At All Border Posts

Visas at the border now cost US $30 CASH for 60 days, one passport photo
needed (although with a "fine" you can get away without one).

OR if you have been in Nepal the same calendar year (ie from Jan 1 onwards)
for less than 90 days (possibly 120 days, but I wouldn't like to test this)
you are automatically given a 30 day visa costing US$25 CASH, one passport
photo needed.

Visa Extensions

These are best processed in person at the Department of Immigration in
Kathmandu or Pokhara, although in theory this is possible in Nepalganj and
Biratnagar. Extensions are valid for 30 days (whether needed for a day, a
week or a whatever) and cost in Nepalese rupees the equivalent of US$50 at
the government exchange rate.

If you overstay your visa the fine is US$1 a day and US$50 (ie for a months
extension), paid in rupees. For overstay periods of less than a week this
can be processed at the airport on departure.

You are allowed to stay up to 120 days on a tourist visa, then for any
extension up to 150 days total you are required to show an airline ticket
with a suitable date on it, with OK status (ie not wait-listed).

Trekking In Non-Restricted Regions

Trekking permits are NOT required for all NON-RESTRICTED areas. This
includes Everest, Annapurna and Langtang-Helambu, and also Makalu, Ganesh
Himal, Dhaulagiri, Dhorpatan-Churen, Rara Lake, Kaptada, Simikot.

Trekking permits, which are obtainable only through a trekking agency, are
still required for:

Kanchenjunga (US$10 per week, US$20 after 4 weeks), Olangchung Gola
(requires home ministry approval, cost unsure), Rolwaling, Manaslu (US$90
per week during peak season, US$75 off peak, usually a week's permit will
get you thru the restricted area, Liaison Officer required), Upper Mustang
(US$700 for 10 days, Liaison Officer required), Upper Dolpo (US$700 for 10
days, Liaison Officer required), Lower Dolpo (US$10 per week, essentially
for treks from Dunai to Do-Tarap, Phuksumdo Lake and over the Kagmara La),
Mugu (requires home ministry approval, cost unsure), Simikot to Yari, ie to
Kailash (requires a Liaison Officer), Upper Api-Saipal (requires home
ministry approval, cost unsure).

Permits are not routinely given for Olangchung Gola and Mugu.

If trekking in a national park and/or conservation area you are still
required to pay the park permit fee, either Rs650 for national parks without
attached conservation areas, or Rs1000 for conservation areas and for
national parks with attached conservation areas.

Government Hours

Other recent news is on 20 Aug government offices in Nepal moved from the
six day working week to a Monday to Friday (five day) working week with
hours set at 9am to 5pm during summer and 9am to 4pm during winter.
Embassies, INGO and some NGO offices and banks (apart from Thamel exchange
counters) are expected to follow suit.

Expect Mountaineering Rules Changes

Expect some major mountaineering rule changes in the next 4-8 months. My
pick is for 1 Jan changes, but we will see. The changes will mean it will
become significantly cheaper and less hassle to climb 6000m expedition
peaks, perhaps up to a ceiling of 7500m. It is expected that peaks under
6000m will become free.

New Parks In The Works

The Kanchenjunga region will be gazetted as a national park sometime while
the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation, who already manage the
Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) will manage the Manaslu
Conservation Area. These organizations have yet to take up the reins but the
process has begun.

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2. WORLD NEIGHBORS AWARDED $4 MILLION FROM BILL AND MELINDA GATES

The HEC featured World Neighbors in Himalayan News about two years ago, and
would like to congratulate them on their recent grant from the Gates
Foundation.

OKLAHOMA CITY, Aug. 24 /PRNewswire/ -- World Neighbors, an Oklahoma
City-based international development organization, announced today that the
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has approved a grant of $4 million for
expanding and sustaining reproductive health and family planning in rural
communities of Asia, Africa and Latin America. The three-year grant will be
used to expand and strengthen programs in rural India, Nepal, Kenya, Burkina
Faso, Haiti and Ecuador. The program will help improve income in rural
communities, and organize women to meet population, poverty and development
objectives in a sustainable manner.

Subsistence farming communities in the developing world make up one fifth of
the world's population, have high fertility rates and have traditionally not
responded well to family planning programs. World Neighbors has been a
pioneer in combining family planning and reproductive health education with
agriculture, community health, natural resource management,
income-generation and strengthening the capacity of communities to organize
and implement their own programs. Results have clearly shown that this
integrated approach is two to three times more effective in encouraging
smaller, healthier families than stand-alone family planning programs.

"We are grateful for the confidence this generous grant from Bill and
Melinda Gates demonstrates in World Neighbors," said Ron Burkard, World
Neighbors executive director. "We approach those we work with in the
developing world as equals and respond to the priorities and needs they
identify. This grant makes it possible for us to respond to the huge demand
for education and services to help improve the nutritional status and
survival of mothers and children, reduce HIV/AIDS infection rates, and
increase the ability of local people to create solutions to the many
challenges they face."

"This grant also reinforces the commitment of the thousands of individual
donors who have shared our vision of a better world with their generous
voluntary contributions," Burkard said. "Without them, these programs would
not have been possible."

World Neighbors, established in 1951 as a private non-sectarian
organization, currently operates rural development programs in 18 countries
in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. World Neighbors does not solicit or
accept U.S. government funds.

CONTACT: Jan Miller of World Neighbors, 405-752-9700

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3. THE WORLD MOUNTAIN FORUM

The World Mountain Forum welcomes you to France, Paris and Chambéry in the
French Alpes from June 5-12, 2000. The Forum is organized by the
municipality of Chambéry, the capital of the Savoie region and the National
Association of Elected Representatives from Mountain Areas (ANEM). It's aim
is to give, for the first time, an opportunity for representatives of
mountain's population to meet each other, to discuss about their countries
future and to debate on common problems, ever in various situations.

The organizers suggest 5 main themes, on which the Forum will be
concentrated: the globalization of trade, growing socio-economic
disparities, the over exploitation of resources, the weakening of local
cultures and the loss of mountain identity, and the risk of marginalization
and dependence. It's already supported by Mr. Jacques Chirac, President of
the French Republic ; Mr Lionel Jospin, Prime Minister of France, and Mr.
Federico Mayor, Director General of UNESCO and Mr. Jacques Diouf, Director
General of the FAO.

The First Ever Meeting of the World's Mountain Areas can only result from
your contribution, testimony and your participation. If you need further
information about the event, you can consult our introduction brochure on
our web site: http://www.mairie-chambery.fr Of course, we are entirely at
your disposal, should you require other information. For the attention you
pay to our project, thank you.

Sincerly,
Monique Marchal Jean-Albert Corrand
Chargée de mission Ancien Directeur Général des Jeux Olympiques d'
Albertville

For further information:

Ville de Chambéry
Forum Mondial
Hôtel de Ville
73011 Chambéry
Phone. 04.79.60.21.01
Fax. 04.79.60.20.74
forum@mairie-chambery.fr

You have to send your contribution to the following address :

ANEM
50, bd Malherbes
F- 75008 Paris
Phone. 01.45.22.15.13
Fax. 01.45.22.15.26
Forum@anem.org

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4. HIMALAYANET APOLOGIZES TO AOL USERS

After a few months of frustrated e-mails from AOL users, we've finally
figured out that AOL has some sort of "anti-spam" device that has,
unfortunately, blocked HimalayaNet. Of course, we don't consider HimalayaNet
spam (and hope that our readers don't), so as a temporary solution we'll be
e-mailing HimalayaNets to AOL users (and not using the listserv mailer). If
anyone would like issues from the past few months, please e-mail us at
info@mountainexplorers.org

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5. HOW TO BEST AVOID CROWDS AND MAXIMIZE EXPOSURE TO NEPALI CULTURE?

In the last issue of HimalayaNet (#61), Leah Herman posted the questions
below: "How to best avoid crowds and maximize exposure to Nepali culture?"
Her correct email address is: petunia@hermanfamily.org

#1)I am going to spend 4 weeks trekking the Annapurna circuit beginning
October 8 of this year. I am learning some Nepali in hopes of staying in
homes instead of the tea-houses wherever possible. What else can I do to
maximize my experience of Nepali culture and life and minimize the
inevitable contact with other trekkers? I am a single woman & will either
hire a female guide or hook up with a like-minded trekker in Khatmandu.

#2)In addition to Helambu, what other areas can I trek through, either in
addition to or instead of Annapurna, that do not require self-sufficiency,
where I can maximize my experience of Nepali culture and life and minimize
my contact with hordes of other trekkers?

#3) Okay. Annapurna, four weeks, October. What clothing did YOU take and
what did you actually use?

#4)Any advice on choosing a guide OR anyone have the name and/or contact
information for a particular guide you loved?

#5)My mother would love to know that her globe-trotting daughter is going to
be safe. So if any of you have the inclination, please feel free to pop her
a reassuring e-mail at mumsy@hermanfamily.org.
Thank you!
Leih, petunia@hermanfamily.org

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6. KEEP SEEKING EXPERIENCED ENGLISH TEACHERS FOR LANGTANG COURSES

The Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP) is again looking for
experienced volunteer English teachers to teach Basic English and advance
Language Course for trekking industry and lodge owners staff. These courses
will help to provide a solid foundation in spoken English to trekking
sirdars, sherpas, cooks, and kitchen staff with an emphasis on
trekking-related vocabulary.

In addition to English instruction, four Sunday workshops will provide
presentations and practical demonstrations by experts on acute mountain
sickness, eco-trekking, first aid, and food handling etc.

For more information and registration, please contact:

PT Sherpa"Kerung", Executive Director
KEEP
PO Box 9178, Jyatha Thamel, Kathmandu
Tel: 259567
email: tour@keep.wlink.com.np
web: www.nepal-connect.com/keep
www.nepal-connect.com/hf
www.nepal-connect.com/sf

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7. EXPERIENCED ENGLISH TEACHER NEEDED FOR NEPAL VILLAGE

The HEC has learned that there is an opening for an experienced English
(ESL) teacher in Nuwakot, Nepal. Nuwakot is an historic hill town about 3
(?) hours from Kathmandu, near Trisuli Bazar, and offers views of the Ganesh
and Langtang Himal to the North.

The position is in the Nuwakot High School, where the students are between
14 and 20 years old. Class size will be about 20 students. The position is
for about one year (a nontourist visa will be arranged), and will begin in
the next few months. Room and board will probably be provided, but
candidates must pay their own airfare to Nepal.

Applicants must have experience teaching English as a second language (ESL)
and send resumes (C.V.s) to the Himalayan Explorers Club at info@mountainexplorers.org

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8. INFORMATION ON AMERICA-NEPAL SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA (ANS/CA)

The America-Nepal Society was founded over 25 years ago when a recent Nepali
immigrant to Southern California and his wife saw another couple in a
shopping mall. They remarked how much they all looked alike and ask "Are you
from Nepalese?" This led let to informal dinners and eventually the founding
of the not-for-profit America Nepal Society of Southern California.

Formal meetings are held three times a year, with the summer meeting usually
being a picnic. There are less formal events on the Nepali religious
calendar that are celebrated (like Desai). All meetings center around pot
luck food, much of it traditional Nepali style. Meetings are attended by
Nepalese and Americans and others of all ages. The indoor meetings usually
have a slide show, or some entertainment (often an annual cultural show),
but mainly they are an excuse for everyone to get together. Members come
from as far away as San Diego and Santa Barbara.

Anyone with interest in Nepal is welcome. The Society has a scholarship fund
for Nepali women college students to enable them to complete their education
in Nepal. For more information and future events. Please see the ANS/CA
newsletter -- Crossroads -- on the Internet at:
http://www.catmando.com/npo/ansca/ansca1.htm

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9. RESEARCHER SEEKS COMMENTS ON BOTANICAL TREKKING

The monsoon makes trekking in Nepal highly seasonal. However, the monsoon
is the best flowering period in the Nepal Himalaya. Could "botanical treks"
help attract trekkers in low season? Neville Shortt, with the support of the
Nepal Tourism Board, is starting a one year research project in December to
look into their potential.
Comments welcome to nevilleshortt@hotmail.com

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10. THE MONASTERIES OF LADAKH

Greetings and many thanks to all who took the time to reply to my earlier
query on travel in Ladakh (HimalayaNet #61 Question 9A). I returned from
India on August 31 and would like to share with you what I saw. First, it
was a beautiful trip and I found even more than I had anticipated in my
visits to the old monasteries (my goal was to see the Buddhist art stored in
them) along the upper Indus river and then to travel south on the Leh-Manali
road to a very special place called Tabo built in 996AD.

Going west from Leh I stopped at Basgo, Saspol, Likir, Alchi, and Lamayuru
each of which is beautiful in its own way. Charles Genoud and Takao Inoue
have compiled an excellent reference book on these sites and their art
called "Buddhist Wall Painting of Ladakh" published in 1982 (English
edition) by Edition Olizane in Geneva.

My own preference is still for Alchi which has lovely wall paintings going
back to the tenth century. It is a marvel and is not to be missed. Each of
the others had its own distinctive art, but Basgo had an added surprise in
one of its murals which had a small male figure wearing a Kyrgyzstan hat
(white and pointed with a black band around the bottom) similar to those I
saw in Osh in 1997. In his hand there is a stringed instrument. He is part
of a large wall mural on the left side of the door as oneenters the upper
chapel and would seem to indicate ties to central Asia, perhaps a part of
the Silk Road.

South of Leh on the road to Manali I visited Shey (now being refurbished),
Thikse, and Hemis (each of which has some very striking Buddhist art) before
heading south over the Taglang La (5360 meters), stopping at Kar Lake, and
spending my first night at Sarchu. Next day we drove over the Baralacha La
(4480), Kunzom La(4551) to Losar, and into Tabo monastery. The roads are
passable after the floods and slides of late July, but are still being
repaired in many places. Be prepared for some delays of an hour or so,
nothing longer. Most of the way it was narrow (10 to 12 feet wide) with no
guard rails or shoulders and a mix of paved and dirt.

Passing is done at turn-outs or, if you're lucky, at wide places in the
road, but there are not many of either. It is not a road for those afraid
of heights or of fording streams. In Tabo we learned that we needed a
special permit to travel along the "Interior Zone" or border with China
instead of over the Rothang La (the usual route) so we back tracked to Kaza
where we were very lucky to find the District Officer who could issue us
one. Some travelers had been waiting since Saturday and we arrived on a
Wednesday. The road south from Tabo is mostly paved. The route we had
chosen lay over the Jalori La through Spiti to Kulu where we caught the
plane to Delhi. Going this way enabled us to see a part of Himachal Pradesh
that we would have otherwise missed and to happen on one of the local
festivals. It was a great trip and one I would recommend to those who love
the mountains for it passed directly through the Himalayas.
Robert Burns, Ft Collins, Colo
rob14.burns@Juno.com

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11. HEC MEMBERS LOOKING FOR TRAVELING COMPANIONS/ADVICE

Note: Please respond directly to the HEC member. And, members, please
summarize all helpful responses so we can post them in a future issue of
HimalayaNet.

11A. SEEKING TRAVEL COMPANIONS FOR MT. KAILASH

I'm interested in a trip to Mt. Kailash next year and would also like to
include Kathmandu and Lhasa. My schedule is open and would have 4 to 6
weeks for travel. I've been looking at a number of group trips, but before
committing, wanted to see if there are others interested in or are planning
a similar trip for year 2000.

Thank you,
Barry Wick
barrywick@earthlink.net

11B. NEED ADVICE AND/OR A TREKKING PARTNER FOR EVEREST

I've recently joined the HEC and am planning an Everest Base Camp/Gokyo
Lakes trek in April-May of 2000. I've never traveled out of the US and
certainly never trekked like this before. As of now, I'm planning on going
solo, but would prefer a partner or two along the way. Is there anyone
interested in sharing my once-in-a-lifetime experience?

Since I'm planning on tea-house trekking, a second option is hiring a guide
for the journey. What's a good way of going about this? Most trekking web
sites I've reviewed offer to take me on a "tour" with a gaggle of porters
carrying me and my belongings. I have no desire for that. Should I wait
until arriving in Kathmandu and interview guides there? Or should I attempt
email/phone contact with the plethora of trekking agents and ask them to
provide only a guide rather than the whole shebang? The former method
provides me with a face-to-face interview before committing, but may play
havoc with my schedule. The latter is the just the opposite.

Finally, any comments on appropriate clothing/sleeping bag for that time of
the year would be appreciated.

Thanks for your input.
Jay, jay.lobb@trw.com

11C. NEED TIPPING ADVICE FOR TREK

A friend and I are planning a camping trek from Jiri to Kala Patar at the
end of October. We have arranged for a guide and porters. Can anyone out
there advise us as to whether it is considered appropriate to tip trekking
staff and, if so, the amounts considered reasonable? Any information would
be appreciated.

Rick Brown, rbbrown@hotmail.com

LOOKING FOR TREKKING/CLIMBING COMPANION NOV-JAN

Looking for folks to trek with or possibly climb with from Nov. 8th on. Have
experience living and working in North Cascades in WA. First trip to Nepal.
Going to be doing an internship with the World Wildlife Fund from Sept
through Nov 8th and would love to find people to travel with after that.
Email: jenniebarna@hotmail.com

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12. LOOKING FOR CONTACT FOR SIR EDMUND HILLARY FOUNDATION (HIMALAYAN TRUST)

The HEC has been contacted numerous times for members who would like to make
donations to the Edmund Hilary Foundation. After being somewhat
"stone-walled" by another U.S. nonprofit, we believe we may have finally
found the contact. According to the American Alpine Club directory, the
contact is:

Sir Edmund Hillary
Himalayan Trust
278 A Remuera Road
Auckland
New Zealand

We'd appreciate if someone can confirm this for us, so we can pass this
information along. Also, if someone has a phone, fax, or e-mail that would
also be helpful. Please contact us at info@mountainexplorers.org

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13. POKHARA-KATHMANDU FLIGHT CRASHES IN NEPAL

A Necon airlines plane flying from Pokhara to Kathmandu crashed on September
5. The 44 seater plane apparently hit its wing on a communication tower.
Initial reports said that all 15 people on board were killed. A traveler in
Kathmandu also reported that a German group of 19 was supposed to be on the
plane, but didn't get to Pokhara on time from Jomsom to connect.

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14. ADVENTUROUS TRAVELER BOOKSTORE SPONSORSHIP

This newsletter is sponsored in part by www.AdventurousTraveler.com.
Check them out for the most complete collection of Himalayan guidebooks,
narratives and maps on the internet. Give them your HEC membership number
for a 10% discount!

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15. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING SECTION
(updated 9 September 1999)

GUIDES

Pakistan with Pakistanis: Concordia Expeditions, your premier connection to
Pakistan, offers superior and affordable adventures to K2, Hunza, Snow Lake,
Chitral, and the Karakoram Glaciers. Contact Concordia Expeditions, PO Box
4159, Buena Vista, CO 81211 (719)395-9191, info@concordiaexpeditions.com,
http://www.concordiaexpeditions.com.

Explore Himalaya: We can also arrange individual/group holidays to all
destinations in Nepal, India, and Tibet. High altitude treks & climbing,
mountain biking, and white water rafting. Contact Suman Pandey, PO Box 4902,
Kathmandu, Nepal, Fax:977-1-252 115,
e-mail:adventur@mos.com.np

Join the Himalayan Explorers Club in the Himalayas! Pemba Sherpa leads
Everest trek and Island Peak climb via the remote Arun Valley and Island
Peak (October 1999, ONLY TWO SPOTS AVAILABLE). Everest trek with Island
Peak in March and October 2000. Info@mountainexplorers.org or call (303)998-0101. All
trips also include an excursion "off the beaten path" to the village where
Pemba grew up.

JOURNEYS International. Nepal, Ladakh, Bhutan, Tibet, Mongolia, Burma. Since
1978, group, individual, family, and research travelers have chosen JOURNEYS
based on our reputation for reliable, locally-based services and expert,
friendly local leadership. In all Himalayan and South Asian destinations we
handle flights, outfitting, permits and reservations, and keep you healthy.
Join our group departures or set off on your own personally-guided
expedition. Phone (800)255-8735 for your free color catalog and full
details. Or e-mail info@journeys-intl.com, http://www.journeys-intl.com.

KE Adventure Travel. Unique trekking, climbing, mountain biking and cultural
journeys throughout Pakistan, Nepal, Tibet, China, Bhutan, Sikkim, Ladakh,
Bolivia, Peru, Patagonia, Ecuador, Russia, Africa & more! Contact us for a
free, color brochure. (800)497-9675, ketravel@rof.net,
http://www.keadventure.com

NEPAL, TIBET, SIKKIM, LADAKH, & BHUTAN. Scheduled treks & tours with USA
leader of 33 Sierra Club Himalayan trips. From $800. Custom itineraries.
Off-the-beaten track areas. Environmentally sensitive and porter friendly.
E-mail peter@lotusnrg.com.np or Website www.instantweb.com/p/peterowens or
phone (800)223-1813 or (510)222-5307.

World of Wonder Adventures, Inc. - specializing in adventure travel - WOW!
Takes you to places you've always wanted to go, to do the things you've
always wanted to do, at a price you can afford. Our exciting schedule of
upcoming adventures includes Nepal, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia,
Malaysia, Spain, Jamaica, Fiji and the beautiful Oregon Coast. For more
details call toll free - 1-888-4-wow-fun or e-mail us at
wowadventure@earthlink.net

TRAVEL

Adventurous Traveler Bookstore offers the world's most complete selection of
outdoor travel books and maps. Books, maps, and videos for the entire
Himalayan region. Call (800)282-3963 or order on the web at
http://www.adventurousTraveler.com. HEC members get 10% discount!

The Asian Trail is your FREE downloadable guide to work, travel, and
adventure in Asia. Job listings too! Get your copy of The Asian Trail at
http://www.asiantrail.com

Avia Travel. Competitive fares to Asia, especially Nepal, Pakistan, and
Thailand though major consolidators. Established since 1987, recommended by
Lonely Planet as "reliable source" for discounted fares. Customized land
packages into Asia and small group adventures. Call (800) 950 2842 or
(415)536-4155; avia@avia.com; http://www.avia.com

Himalayan Treasures and Travel. We have seats to Kathmandu all the time.
Call us for the best price and best service. We book for many HEC members
and give HEC discounts! Call (800)223-1813 or (510)222-5307,
govindsh@himtrek.com

Ticket Planet. We are America's leading round the world air consolidator,
and also your Nepal airfare experts. We can get seats to Kathmandu when
others can't. We broker over 50 airlines. We have over 15 years of
experience pricing international airfares. Please contact us at (800)
799-8888, (415) 288-9999, fax (415) 288-9839, see our website:
http://www.ticketplanet.com, or email us at himalayas@ticketplanet.com.

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VOLUNTEER/STUDY ABROAD

Himalayan Study-Abroad Program. Applications now being accepted for Fall
1999 and Fall 2000. Participants will study tourism development along the
Everest route, then design community development projects for remote
Rolwaling valley, according to
individual interests and community needs.
Info: www.bridges-prtd.com
Contact: sicroff@bridges-prtd.com

HEC's "Volunteer Nepal Himalaya" offers participants a unique opportunity
to volunteer in local Sherpa village in the Himalayas. Participants spend
the first ten days in Kathmandu, doing an orientation in Nepali language and
culture. Volunteers then fly to Lukla, the gateway to the Khumbu region of
Nepal, and teach English in a Sherpa school for three months (while living
with a family). While not teaching, volunteers will be free to stay in the
village or explore the endless trails and villages of the Khumbu region.
Upcoming program Feb-Apr 2000. For more information, please contact the HEC
at info@mountainexplorers.org or call (303) 998-0101.