HimalayaNet #66 (January 20, 2000)

I'm sure that many people followed the Indian Air Hijacking Story last
month. Fortunately, nearly all passengers aboard the plane returned home
safely. The Nepali government is currently investigating how the
terrorists were able to board the plane in Kathmandu. The HEC will report next month on any progress in the investigation.

And anyone considering volunteering in Nepal may want to heed Ralph
Rosenberg's advice in his "Coaches vs. Players" column below.

Scott Dimetrosky
Executive Director

IN THIS ISSUE:

1. HEC SEEKS PARTICIPANTS FOR SEWANGA BRIDGE PROJECT
2. SEEKING SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON THE FESTIVALS OF NEPAL
3. BATTREAL PHOTOGRAPHY DONATING SALES PROCEEDS BACK TO NEPAL
4. VOLUNTEERING IN NEPAL: COACHES VS PLAYERS
5. FEEDBACK FROM PAKISTAN (KARAKORAM) TRIP
6. CYBERCAFE ON THE SILK ROAD IN GILGIT, PAKISTAN
7. HEC MEMBER ATTEMPTS VINSON MASSIF: MOUNTAINZONE.COM
8. PRIME MINISTER OF NEPAL KP BHATTARAI MEETS BILL GATES
9. HEC MEMBERS SEEK TRAVEL COMPANIONS/ADVICE
9A. SEEKING EXPERIENCE WITH TREKKING COMPANIES
9B. SEEKING TREKKING PARTNER FOR EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK
9C. QUESTION ABOUT NEPAL JUNGLE LODGES
9D. SEEKING IDEAS TO STUDY CULTURAL LANDSCAPE IN NEPAL
10. 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. HEC SEEKS PARTICIPANTS FOR SEWANGA BRIDGE PROJECT

Pemba Tsering Sherpa of Denver, who grew up in the Khumbu and and herded yaks in these Himalayan mountains as a child, is returning to his boyhood village of Sewangma, near Mt. Everest, to construct a new bridge in December 2000.

The purpose of this project is to build a permanent suspension bridge over
the Dudh Kosi River, the drainage for the entire Khumbu (Everest) valley.
Currently, the low makeshift bridge, without handrails, made of a few
pieces of semi rotten scraps of wood stretched from one rock to another, is the lifeline for the local villagers and children to get to market and to
school. On the Lukla side of the valley these unanchored pieces of wood
get swept away in the unrelenting current, especially during the monsoon each year. This leaves the villagers and children with a three-hour trek up
valley to cross a sturdier bridge. Many children, discouraged by the long
walk, decide not to go to school. With a new bridge, the walk would only
be 35 minutes.

The HEC is accepting U.S. tax-deductible donations to help us raise the
estimated $15,000 to build the new bridge. Donations can be sent to the
Himalayan Explorers Club, PO Box 3665, Boulder, CO 80307.

We are also taking a group of trekkers over in December 2000 to help
construct the bridge. The cost to join the project is $1,800, which is
U.S. tax-deductible. The proceeds from the trek will also be used to pay for
the bridge. For more information please contact us at info@mountainexplorers.org <mailto:info@mountainexplorers.orgor call us at (303)998-0101

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2. SEEKING SOURCES OF INFORMATION ON THE FESTIVALS OF NEPAL

I will be visiting Nepal in November as part of the Montview Nepal 2000
trip. We currently are reading a book called "The Festivals of Nepal", by
Mariam Anderson (1988). We were wondering if anyone could recommend any other books or sources of information for the festivals of Nepal?

Ruth Hart
Dunlap2980@aol.com <mailto:Dunlap2980@aol.com

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3. BATTREAL PHOTOGRAPHY DONATING SALES PROCEEDS BACK TO NEPAL

Carl R. Battreall is fine art photographer living in Oakland California.
His
work has been exhibited nationally and published internationally. Carl
works
exclusively with a view camera and photographs only in black and white.
Carl
is currently working on a photographic project in the Khumbu region in
Nepal. One of his images from his 1998 trip with the HEC, "Bodhi Tree
Temple, Gorkarna, Nepal, 1998" is a limited edition print of forty. Each
print is a hand printed black white print, mounted and matted. A
percentage
of the proceeds from each sale will be donated to HEC. This print can be
viewed, and details about purchase can be found, at
<http://www.battreallphoto.com/landscapes.html, which also displays images
from his California portfolios and his current work in Nepal.

For more information contact Carl at:
Carl R. Battreall
Photographer
500 A Zorah Street
Oakland, California 94606
510.271.8032
battreallphoto@hotmail.com <mailto:battreallphoto@hotmail.com

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4. VOLUNTEERING IN NEPAL: COACHES VS PLAYERS

My wife and I spent six weeks in Bandipur, Nepal, a remote, hill top
village
near Dumre on the Kathmandu to Pokhara highway. We went at the invitation
of
the village during the fall of 1998. (This was our third trip to Nepal,
going back to 1973.)

My mission was to develop a comprehensive Master Plan to guide the
development of the village. After many interviews with the locals, the
plan
addressed infrastructure improvements, telecommunications, e-commerce,
business development, and worldwide marketing. At the end of our stay, the
plan was presented to the town leadership for implementation.

The Master Plan was agreed to by all concerned. I knew it would take at
least five years to make significant improvements in the village, but I
thought they would at least get started with some of the easier
recommendations. What I did not know is that the locals, especially the
men,
would do nothing one year later.

I received a hint of this do nothing philosophy when the mayor looked at
me
after being presented the plan and said "we will get a NGO (non
governmental
organization) to do everything. That is the way it is in Nepal." The
Nepali
are very good at showing friendship to volunteers and NGO's and in the
process subtly conditioned them to do the work.

I encourage those considering volunteering to Nepal to only do so as a
coach. You mission should be to provide resources and expertise to get
things done. The locals must be the players and do the work. It is called
"sweat equity." An agreement on this key point should be obtained before
even beginning to plan a volunteer/NGO project.

To illustrate how NOT to do this, take the most recent example from
Bandipur. A worldwide civic organization went to the village after we left
and built another hospital for the village. They did the work. The civic
organization only forgot one thing--a doctor. Now the village has a nice
hospital but no body to run it. Have the Nepali come up with a solution?
Of
course not. I am sure they are waiting for western doctors to volunteer
their time to staff the hospital, as they do with the primary hospital.

What was needed was funding to recruit and educated a key person in the
village to become a future doctor or even a nurse practitioner (the US
term). Once a committed Nepali medical person was in place (the hard
part),
go ahead and build the hospital (the easy part).

An example of how the Nepali in Bandipur want others to do everything for
them is the bazaar. In the ancient days it was beautiful and on a key
trading route. The bazaar was slated in those days so it would not be
muddy
during the monsoon or dusty during the dry season. One of the key
recommendations in my Master Plan was to re-slate the bazaar and park
vehicles outside the bazaar area.

There is ample slate nearby. In the village, there is lots of labor,
primarily men with nothing to do but drink tea during the day and
"rocksie"
(moonshine) at night during their card games. When I suggested the men
slate
the bazaar themselves I was greeted with, "no let the district do it."
With
an old fashion "work party" the bazaar could have been slated in less than
one month.

The main point from my limited experience is that we must not do things
for
others, even if we feel good doing it. The locals must invest their own
"sweat equity" and then take pride in the results. They must provide the
labor to get things done.

If you want to be a volunteer in Nepal, go as a coach, not a player. Get a
commitment before you start work that the locals will provide the labor
and
do the work.

Ralph G. Rosenberg
Buena Vista, CO
ralphpamr@aol.com <mailto:ralphpamr@aol.com

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5. FEEDBACK FROM PAKISTAN (KARAKORAM) TRIP

A friend and I travelled in Pakistan last September, trekking and visiting
as much of the Northern Areas as we could cram into a month. Despite
persistent rumors and rather baseless opinions in America, we encountered
nothing but honesty, friendliness, and hospitality. Trekking in the
Karakorum can be dry and physically difficult, and seem at times far more
remote than Nepal, but the people are wonderful.

It was our experience that Pakistan does involve a little more research on
local customs than other areas of the Himal. Many things are just not on
in
a strong Islamic culture that sees few tourists. It is not possible to
tea
house trek in Northern Pakistan, nor is it appropriate to bumble off the
plane in shorts and demand accommodation of western habits and prejudices.
The upshot of this is that any move to adopt, and respect local ways
(wearing the shalwar kameez, figuring out a little Urdu, sharing your
naswar, etc) will pay off a thousandfold. As an HEC member travelling to
Pakistan was made much easier by the services of Ovais Ashraf, who helped
us
with simply everything. Ovais spent 15 years in the states before
returning
to Pakistan to continue to write design software. Ovais can answer any
questions about current conditions in Pakistan. Please contact him at the
Pakistan clubhouse if you are curious.
Chester Gilmore
gilmorch@hotmail.com <mailto:gilmorch@hotmail.com

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6. CYBERCAFE ON THE SILK ROAD IN GILGIT, PAKISTAN

Gilgit, the staging station and center of many mountain related activities
in Pakistan, is now on hooked up to the Internet. Comsats, one of the
major
ISPs in Pakistan, recently introduced Internet service in Gilgit.
Travelers
can log onto the net from a cybercafe located in their office. The rate
is
Rs. 120 (about$2.25)/hr with minimum usage of 1/2 hr.

This is a great news for travelers who are planning to visit Pakistan.
Before introduction of this service, the closest Internet outlets were in
Islamabad, which is 16 hours by road. Gilgit will be a destination for
most
travelers and it will now be lot easier and cheaper to stay in touch back
home.

The cybercafe is located at:
Comsats Internet Services
Zulfiqar Colony, Opposit Army Mess,
Main Road, Jutial, Gilgit
Tel: 92-572-55355, 55366
Fax: 92-572-55300
Email: info@glt.comsats.net.pk <mailto:info@glt.comsats.net.pk

The web site is <http://glt.comsats.net.pk, however it does not say
anything
about their Cybercafe.

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7. HEC MEMBER ATTEMPTS VINSON MASSIF ON MOUNTAINZONE.COM

Dana Isherwood reports: "My attempt on the Vinson Massif represents a
mission to carry a dozen or so tribute flags to the summit, each one
honoring a woman who's had breast cancer. These flags were carried to the
top of Mount Aspiring, in New Zealand, earlier this year..."
<http://www.mountainzone.com/cgi-bin/mmail/decnews.pl?id=49

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8. PRIME MINISTER OF NEPAL KP BHATTARAI MEETS BILL GATES

Prime Minister of Nepal KP Bhattarai met Bill Gates while the former was
visiting the States in September 1999. The following are excerpts from
Bhattarai-Gates talk. Author: anonymous:-)

Gates: Have you installed Windows 98 at home?
Bhattarai: Oh yes, otherwise you never know when the Maoists jump through
your window and into your bed with the khukuris!

Gates(Confused): Then what is the system you operate on?
Bhattarai: Operation? I had a hernia operation last month. And we have
multi-party system, and we like to rule by a single party. People in
general
call it multi-party Panchayat system, we politicians call it multi-party
democratic system.

Gates: I hope the Internet is being used a lot in Nepal.
Bhattarai: Oh Yes! But in Nepal, we use Exter-net, not Internet. Due to
lack
of garbage dumping sites, mosquitoes are increasing. So many people sleep
under the net, I mean they use external-nets.

Gates: By the year 2000 Nepal should import computer chips.
Bhattarai: We are already exporting potato chips and "Uncle Chips," so we
do
not need that.

Gates: Do you use a laptop?
Bhattarai: Of course yes. At many of Nepali Congress addresses many women
have had a wonderful opportunity to sit on the top of my lap.

Gates: What is more popular in your country - Apple or PC?
Bhattarai: Of course apple. Apples are grown in Humla and Jumla, but we
have
no transportation access there. I am thinking of asking Bill Clinton to
donate some helicopters to transport the sweet apples to Kathmandu. Apples
are not like expensive like in your country, an apple costs one cent only
in
Nepal

Gates: What is the size of your RAM and ROM.
Bhattarai: Rum? No, I prefer scotch whisky. Size? Big bottle is okay for
me.
That is why I contested the Parliamentary elections for easy money to buy
whisky. Without whisky no sleep, that is my life.

Gates: What kind of CPU do you have?
Bhattarai: No, we do not have any CPU, but CPN. We have a lot of
CPNs(Communist Party of Nepal) - with different suffixes like: Maoist,
Khaoist, Marxist and Leninist, oho so many - I don't remember all of them!
All of them are hassle-makers and headaches for the Nepali Congress party.
And we also have GPK (Girija Prasad Koirala), that is solely hassle-maker
to
me.

Gates: Are there virus problem in your country?
Bhattarai: Of course yes. The HIV viruses are becoming very dangerous. I
am
myself vulnerable of the HIV viruses. I am neither married nor can I stay
as
a virgin man - I am very frank speaking man - I have told this to the
public.

Gates: What is the size of your Hard Disk?
Bhattarai: What? The size of my hard diks (this is how Bhattarai
pronounced)! Hare Ram, yo American-le ke ke sodhna sakeko hola (he
murmured
in Nepali)!!!

Gates: I have no energy left, let us go out and have a bite.
Bhattarai: Bite? I do not bite. I believe in non-violence. Only my
policemen
in Nepal believe on bite, hit and shoot. You know, how brave they are to
kill the Maoists! Amnesty International-folks told me that policemen in
Nepal believe on bite, hit and shoot. You know, how brave they are to kill
the Maoists! Amnesty International- folks told me that Nepal is on the top
of their list in human and hu-woman hunting records. But I read Geeta and
I
like women and whisky and believe in non-violence.

(System crashed as usual PC does and Gates disappeared).
"Windows 98 is restarting. Please wait............."

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9. HEC MEMBERS SEEK TRAVEL COMPANIONS/ADVICE

9A. SEEKING EXPERIENCE WITH TREKKING COMPANIES
My husband and I are planning our first trek to Nepal for April or May of
this year. We would like to make arrangements in advance with a trekking
company, preferably one based in Nepal with English-speaking guides who
would be able to provide us with information about the culture and
geography. We have not yet decided upon our location, but it will
probably
be one of the high elevation areas of Nepal. We are experienced
backpackers
so don't require (or even want) a lot of luxury in accommodation. Does
anyone have a recommendation?

The companies I have contacted so far are Above the Clouds, Getaway
Ecotreks, Adventure Thirdpole, Blue Mountain, and Adventure Treks, all
located in Kathmandu. Does anyone have any information about any of these
companies?
Jan Scott
janascot@aol.com <mailto:janascot@aol.com

9B. SEEKING TREKKING PARTNER FOR EVEREST BASE CAMP TREK
I'm planning on trekking to Everest Base Camp the first three weeks of
April
and am looking for someone to travel with. I'm hoping to hire a local
guide
and a porter. Please call me if you are interested in joining me (I don't
have e-mail!).
Dana Jones
(206)285-7164

9C. QUESTION ABOUT NEPAL JUNGLE LODGES
Does anyone have any information, suggestions or opinions regarding which
resort is best for seeing wildlife and just enjoying the jungle? (Tiger
Tops, Temple Tiger, Bhardia etc.) Price is not a concern. Many thanks,
Tim
Olmsted, tim@amigo.net <mailto:tim@amigo.net

9D. SEEKING IDEAS TO STUDY CULTURAL LANDSCAPE IN NEPAL
I am going to Tibet and Nepal on a semester abroad program and am trying
to
find contacts in Nepal which might help me find a village or area in which
I
could study the cultural landscape- specifically how the community uses
the
space they have to provide shared and private spaces. I am also interested
in where children play and what role do trails and rural areas play for
the
community. If you have any ideas or advice for me, I would really love any
help- even a name or an address or a region you recommend. Namaste! Molly
Holmberg, holmberg@middlebury.edu <mailto:holmberg@middlebury.edu.

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10. ADVENTUROUS TRAVELER BOOKSTORE SPONSORSHIP

This newsletter is sponsored in part by www.AdventurousTraveler.com <http://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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11. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING SECTION
(updated January 18, 2000)

GUIDES

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

Explore Himalaya: Can 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 <mailto:adventur@mos.com.np

Join the Himalayan Explorers Club in the Himalayas! Pemba Sherpa leads
Everest trek with Island Peak in March and October 2000. info@mountainexplorers.org <mailto:info@mountainexplorers.orgor
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
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JOURNEYS
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we
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Join our group departures or set off on your own personally-guided
expedition. Phone (800)255-8735 for your free color catalog and full
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KE Adventure Travel. Unique trekking, climbing, mountain biking and
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<http://www.keadventure.com

HIMALAYA CLIMBS. Tibet, Nepal, China. Easy 7000, 8000 meter peaks.
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e-mail: mazur@cybernet1.com <mailto:mazur@cybernet1.com<http://www.cybernet1.com/himalaya, or phone
(406)363-7747

Trek with independent guide Dan Tamang. Camping or teahouse treks.
Trekking
peak & high altitude experience. Treks with porter(s) as required. English
spoken. P.O. Box 13607 Kathmandu, Nepal. E-mail: glonet@wlink.com.np <mailto:glonet@wlink.com.np. Fax:
(011)977-1-416835. For U.S. references contact Rick Brown
(rbbrown@hotmail.com <mailto:rbbrown@hotmail.com) or Gary McCarthy(mccarthy@gci.net <mailto:mccarthy@gci.net).

NEPAL, TIBET, SIKKIM, PAKISTAN, & BHUTAN. Scheduled treks & tours with USA
leader of 33 Sierra Club Himalayan trips. From $400. Custom itineraries.
Off-the-beaten track areas. Environmentally sensitive and porter friendly.
Peter Owens' Asian Treks. E-mail: peter@lotusnrg.com.np <mailto:peter@lotusnrg.com.npPhone:
(800)223-1813 or (510)222-5307. Website: www.instantweb.com/p/peterowens <http://www.instantweb.com/p/peterowens

World of Wonder Adventures, Inc. - specializing in adventure travel - WOW!
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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.comHEC 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 <mailto: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 <mailto:govindsh@himtrek.com, <http://www.himalayantrekking.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.comor email us at himalayas@ticketplanet.com <mailto:himalayas@ticketplanet.com

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VOLUNTEER/STUDY ABROAD

Himalayan Study-Abroad Program. Applications now being accepted for 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 <http://www.bridges-prtd.com, Contact: sicroff@bridges-prtd.com <mailto:sicroff@bridges-prtd.com

Volunteer Nepal Himalaya offers participants a unique opportunity to teach
English in Sherpa villages in the Himalayas, near Mt. Everest.
Accommodations are with local families. While not teaching, participants
work on community service projects or explore the endless trails and
villages of the Khumbu region. For more information, please contact the
Himalayan Explorers Club at info@mountainexplorers.org <mailto:info@mountainexplorers.orgor call (303) 998-0101.

The Nepal Volunteer Handbook offers potential volunteers everything they
will need to know about volunteering in Nepal, including a personal skills
assessment, background on the history of foreign assistance in Nepal, tips
for ensuring a worthwhile experience, and information on over 50 volunteer
leads. The Handbook sells for $20. Contact the HEC at (303)998-0101 or
e-mail info@mountainexplorers.org <mailto:info@mountainexplorers.org

The Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP) is looking for
experienced volunteer English teachers to teach English and educational
workshops for sirdars, sherpas, cooks, and kitchen staff. For more
information please contact: PT Sherpa"Kerung", Executive Director KEEP,
tour@keep.wlink.com.np <mailto:tour@keep.wlink.com.np

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HIMALAYAN EXPLORERS CLUB MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION

The Himalayan Explorers Club (HEC) is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit
organization that seeks to promote a better understanding of and respect
for
the environment and culture of the Himalayan Region. Members can receive
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Phone: (303)998-0101
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