Thorn Tree travel forum

1

Hi Balthasar.
As you may know,there´s a Mahoist moviment,so...
At the time I was there,I saw a bus burned for the mahoist on the way to Pokkara from Kathmandu...some people that did treks,met some mahoist people,they only had to pay some rupies and that´s it,I think I hadn´t meet any... Some times they put booms at the capital...the thing that I try to tell you is that Nepal is save,but sometimes is not save at all... There´s a risk in Nepal with the mahoist in another contries with another people,so.... GO AND ENJOY IT´S A LAND TO SPEND LOT OFF TIME,YOU NEED IT TO BE AMONG THE NATIVES AND UNTHERSTAND THE CULTURE,SMILE WITH THEM,PLAY WITH KIDS.....
Have a nice trip!!!!!!

2

There is no SAFE or UNSAFE !

For example ...
It is a matter of how risky you like it.
Also a matter of comparing to other places (countries).
Also a matter of changes from day to day (and things can change extremely fast in Nepal!).

It's RELATIV.

On one day it seems safe to a certain person, his /her friend feels unsafe or scared.
The next day the situation might have changed at all.
You just can't predict things going to happen in futur, and whether these things will affect a certain traveler strongly. This depents on so many objective facts and subjective understandings.

What you can do is:
GET INFORMED - USE YOUR BRAIN - MAKE UP YOUR OWN DECISIONS !

Harry

Everyone is a stranger somewhere - so don't give narrowmindedness or intolerance no chance nowhere.

3

Hi Balthasar,

you wrote:

"Let’s not beat around the bush anymore. Keep it simple. Is Nepal on the brink of a civil war? "

That exactly is the point: Noone can answer that question ! It is not simple.
If they do, they either have no idea or they have good connections to fortunetellers.
And noone can tell you if Nepal is safe for YOU ! That to decide is up to yourself.

What I mean is: Collect the FACTS (there are loads of postings from people who are/were there), and make up your own idea whether Nepal seems safe for YOU.

Harry

Everyone is a stranger somewhere - so don't give narrowmindedness or intolerance no chance nowhere.

4

You should be OK on the Annapurna circuit. You might get 'hit' for a donation by the Maoists, but that's about it. They won't harm you though. Obviously if you encounter an army patrol don't tag along with them!

5

Hiya......

I went to the Everest region last winter.....the advice I was given by the Sherpa who walked with me was that the upper sections of that area and the Annapurna region are okay, but that there could be trouble on the lower parts of the trails.... apparently the Maoists aren't hanging out at high altitude, perhaps because there isn't any cover to hide in from helecopter gunships.....they are down lower in the trees.......so if you FLY in and out of Lukla or Jomsum, and stay above the 'maoist line' ,you should be okay, at least in those two areas........the more remote routes in the west of the country and those farther east than EBC are likely to be more dangerous......(lots and lots of trees on those other paths) ...go well

LJ

6

You should be fine, I would advise you keep your main money stash well hidden with about $20 cash in your pocket, just incase you run into any maoists. As long as you give them a donation, they are fine with you.

Last year we had 7 bombs go off in the valley in one night.............and believe me they where no fire crackers.
Also, there is a curfew so you wont be going out late at night anyway. Tourists should be in for about 11pm in the thamel area.

There's a voice that keeps on calling me,
Down the road is where I'll always be,
Every stop I make, I'll make a new friend.
Can't stay for long, just turn around and I'm gone again.
Maybe tomorrow, I'll wana settle down,
Until tomorrow, I'll just keep moving on.
The Littlest Hobo.MY TRAVEL PICTURES (Includes some useful politcal/maoist photos, for those interested.)

7

I agree that no on can tell you if if is safe, and I can understand your concern. I myself am flying into Kathmandu on the 10th and am concerned, but I have traveled in countries that are in the midst of civil war before and I think the best advice I can offer is to listen to the locals. This is their life day to day and they are the best informed, if a local tells you not to go somewhere listen to them. If they feel an area is safe than more than likely it is. Life anywhere is never a sure thing, use your common sense, and listyen.

8

The best advice is to watch the news and get more details from the region. First hand reports are good from the outlying areas. It seems evident that the situation is detiorating to a degree. Risk seems to be increasing, if not to life in a major way, at least to trip disruption or tranquility. "Spring is the time when wars begin" is an old proverb which does apply. Civil disturbances always heat up at this time of year all over the globe.

A major factor has to be your own risk tollerance and personality. Good advice was given earlier -- proceed with caution and common sense, test the waters if you are so inclined and back away if your peace is ruined.

"He who walks travels fastest" -- Thoreau

9

Balthasar,

Here are some ideas of places you can get information to help make your own mind up. Try:

UK Foreign Office travel advice

The Australian Foreign office country advice

The US department of foreign affairs.

news.bbc.co.uk South Asia section

Look also on the British Embassy Website for Nepal and the US embassy website for Nepal

If you decide to go, have a great time!

(+text edited+)

youth is not a period in life, it's a state of mind - anon........ting-aling-aling!

10

and finally, a few more warnings from www.fco.gov.uk (the UK foreign travel office). Take note of curfews, especially, where in the past (when I was living there fulltime in 1990, for example) foreign tourists were shot and killed while breaking a curfew (this after the prodemocracy rioting then-the tension now in nepal eerily reminds me of that dangerous time in the early '90's in nepal).

"There continue to be incidences on all the main trekking routes of Maoist extortion of trekkers and climbers (trekkers are commonly asked to pay a "tax" before being allowed to continue on their journey). There is no evidence that violence has been used during these incidents. But it cannot be ruled out if trekkers were to decline to pay.

There have also been reports of trekkers being robbed where violence or the direct threat of violence has been used. These incidents are not at this time thought to have been carried out by Maoists but by others using the deteriorating security situation to their own ends. Nonetheless you must be aware of the real possibility of robbery, regardless of the tag applied to it.
If trekking, you are advised to remain on established routes, and to walk in groups and with reputable trekking agencies. Never trek alone or become separated from larger groups. See also the above reference to Maoists extorting money from trekkers. Maoist attacks on the country's infrastructure have destroyed certain telecommunications facilities and bridges being destroyed. You should also be aware that it might be difficult to obtain rapid helicopter evacuation if you were to fall ill or suffer a serious accident in a remote area of the country.

Local Travel

Countrywide Bandhs (strikes) have been called for 6, 7 and 8 April and again on 10,11 and 12 June.

Past experience of such bandhs has shown that most shops and businesses, particularly in the early stages of a bandh, will remain closed. Transport by road is severely affected, as many fewer vehicles (both public and private) take to the streets. Travellers within Nepal are likely to encounter increased difficulties if travelling by road. During bandhs, the Nepalese government has said it will provide official transport from Tribhuvan International Airport to central Kathmandu to assist travellers with their journeys.

Unofficial curfews can be declared at short notice throughout the Kathmandu Valley and other major towns and districts in the country. Often the areas affected by the curfew are not clearly defined. Curfews are being rigorously enforced and the security forces have been given instructions to shoot on sight any person defying a curfew. The announcement of official curfews can be uncoordinated. It is therefore essential that you try to keep a close watch on the local media for advance notice of upcoming curfews. A good source of local up-to-date information can be found at http://www.nepembassy.org.uk/ . Your hotel or guesthouse will also be able to advise you and the British Embassy website carries up-dated local security advice. You must abide by the curfew restrictions.

There are frequent Army and Police checkpoints, including in the capital, resulting in extended journey times. At checkpoints we urge you to heed any instructions and requests made to you by the authorities.

11

Shadow,

Your comments are mostly accurate but do not tell the whole story. The incidents involving tourist vehicles have all stemmed from people not knowing our chosing to ignore blockades or bandhs.

A bandh is a general strike where commerce and travel is not permitted. If you travel on such days then you risk your vehicle being torched. And ignorance is no defence.

My advice is to do your homework before you travel, don't ignore any bandhs or blockades and stay away from any marches or disturbances.

youth is not a period in life, it's a state of mind - anon........ting-aling-aling!

12

I have been closely following the news out of Nepal for weeks now and I think I am going to have to put off our time there. I am travelling with my 2 children (age 9 &12) and my husband and think that it would not be very responsible to take them into a situation that may be dangerous. With the US being it's usual helpfull self and recently offering the Govt. 70 million in military aid to fight the Maoists, we feel the anti American sentiment may be higher than before. As we are Canadians and are almost always mistaken for Americans we are afraid that our reception could be not so good. Just don't feel it is fair to take the kids into a situation they cannot possibly understand the potential seriousness of. It is hard to let go of though as we were really looking forward to going there. We are travelling ATW for 10 months and it fit so nicely into our itinerary. It is hard to admit we are cowed by it all but I think it is wiser to admit so. Just wanted to say thanks to all contributers to this thread as all info has been food for thought and helpful in one way or another. Hopefully we can get to Nepal another time, and that it will remain with it's spirit intact as it's people make their way through what must be a terribly difficult time. Namaste, Canaduck

"Reminds me of the time I went to Africa, someone forgot the corkscrew and we had to live on food and water for days."
W.C. Fields

13

I have one more comment re bandhs. Usemoi (see post above) suggests that you just have to keep an eye on the news to know when bandhs occur. The fact is, if you are traveling in certain areas, often bands are called quickly without much announcement, and if you are traveling, say, in Chitwan, access to news is scarce in the english language. There aren't a heck of a lot of cybercafes or english language newspapers floating around!

The bandh last Saturday in Kathmandu was called by the POLITICAL PARTIES, not by the Maoists!! And, in fact, most people in Kathmandu were caught unawares. In the early morning, people were plying the roads until they learned it was a bandh. But late morning, the streets were slowly deserted. So if you don't know a bandh is occuring in kathmandu (even the local people didn't on that particular day, although other bandhs, like the one occuring now and in june, are publicized well in advance) then how is a tourist supposed to know?

For historical perspective, it was the political parties who first started the whole idea of "strikes" or "bandhs" and not the Maoists. The maoists quickly preempted the idea to use for themselves.

14

My husband leads treks in Nepal. He returned to KTM on Saturday (3rd April) having taken 12 westerners up to EBC. Everything was fine, no maoists no hassle (only delay was flight back from Lukla due to weather). He's taking another 14 up there starting next Saturday, again, situation looks fine, but who knows. Annapurna however is much more shaky at the moment in terms of unrest. Pokhara is relatively deserted re: tourists, and nationally the roads are pretty poor. However the weather is warm (although it's raining in KTM today) and the mossies are about - pack your repellent.