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<hr>If everyone followed your advice they would not be able to eat or drink much anywhere in Asia.<hr></blockquote>
My advice was simple and direct: Minimize illness risk by drinking bottled water over questionable "boiled" water wherever you can.
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<hr>avoiding boiled water is ridiculousy paranoid and completely unnecessary.<hr></blockquote>
Your opinion based on anecdotal stories, personal predjudices and profound denial.
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<hr>If what you say is true then most of the population in Asia would be sick all the time!!<hr></blockquote>
Food borne illnesses are rampant in Asia and a serious health problem. Locals and long time visitors do tend to become resistant to a lot of the pathogens but visitors do not. My advice is to visitors and to the OP-- who a serious case of internal distress I presume would be a major set-back in their travel plans and enjoyment.
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<hr>As for the recycling arguement. That is flawed from the beginnning.<hr></blockquote>
My argumentive point is not as flawed as yours is in simple logic, as I am an advocate of recycling and you are speaking of "conservation" which is a totaly different subject and issue.
One scientific point you may have failed to recognize (and I did not think was necessary to cite) is that on the Tibetan plateau, water boils at a significantly lower temperature and bringing to a "boil" for a few moments simply will not kill bacteria et. al. without extended exposure to heat. I'm sure you have noticed the very large pressure cookers for sale in the various stores so you can make dinners in a reasonable time. They are for sale for a reason.
I'll repeat: My advice is simple and direct: Minimize illness risk by drinking bottled water over questionable "boiled" water wherever you can.
Amberlea
And you thought you were asking a simple question!! Now you have lots of material to mull over on the long drive!!
Taderbush.....you're quick to judge mate!! Ready!....Fire!.....Aim! is quite fitting!!???
Personal prejudice!? Profound denial?? , Anecdotal!? WOW.....You are assuming a lot about my lack of knowledge. My info as a combination of scientific/academic reading, Wilderness medicine training, attending conferences on high altitude medicine etc etc.
Have you ever bothered to read any material on backcountry/3rd world travel medicine?? From your reponses it seems like you haven't done much reading. I would highly suggest you get hold of some material and read it before you slag others off!! You could at least bother to get your facts straight. Your "scientific point" that you proudly present is actually totally inaccurate.
Here is an example for you:
"Boiling is the most effective method for sterilizing water. It kills all enteric pathogens, including baceria, viruses and protozoa. Boiling water vigorously for at least one minute is sufficient, even at high altitdues. This treatment is not affected by chemical composition of the water or the presence of sediment. Unfortunately, boiling may not always be practical because of technical, fuel or time constraints"
Reference: (A. Pollard & D. Murdoch 1997 "The High Altitude Medicine Handbook")
And another:
Even the World Health Organisation recommends boiling water as a sound method for preventing illness while travelling
"Bringing water to a rolling boil is the most effective way to kill all disease-causing pathogens. Let the hot water cool down on its own without adding ice (as one cannot be sure if the ice itself is safe)."
Reference: ("Preventing Travellers' Diarrhoea: How to Make Drinking Water Safe)
WHO doc. See link below
This document is highly recomended and worth reading.
Can I also suggest getting a hold of a copy of "Medicine for Mountaineering" published by "The Mountaineers" Seattle Washington (I think)
CJWHO doc on treating drinking water
I don't have anything to add to the Great Water Debate, but I am wondering what "injee" means. I don't know where the OP is from, but to this American it looks like a slur on Indians, whether American Indians or Indian Indians. Or is it a slur on black people, a short form of the N word? Please enlighten your non-Thorn Tree World readers. (Your nationality is listed at Thorn Tree World.)
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<hr>what "injee" means<hr></blockquote>
When I read the OP, I thought it meant white people, a Tibetan / Nepalese slang, as in "english" but used to refer to all whites.
MSR (Mountain Safety Research) makes a great product called the MIOX Purifier. It only weighs 3.5 ounces and it's about 7 inches long. It inactivates bacteria, viruses, giardia, and even cryptosporidium.
Injee means English language or westerners (whites) in Tibetan. Chu (the word in the title) means water in Tibetan.
apparently 'chu isn't the only thing that boils easily...heh heh...thanks again guys...thanda, gna kor-la chu chenpo shing-gi-yo!!
Well well...
It appears the argument boils down to two camps while crossing Tibet. (pun intended)....
a) Those that are in "profound denial" and advocate melting and marking their trail with softspots in the Tibetan permafrost, by boiling water.
b) Those that are "ridiculousy paranoid " and avocate littering the permafrost and marking their progress with a trail of empty plastic bottles.
Never the twain shall meet.
One final word of advice this winter when you are out on the plateau: Don't eat any yellow snow.
I was hoping Zhet was going to lurch us off in a far more interesting direction........
ok ok...I'll leave my sleeping bag, my extra layers, my camera, med kit and jacket...this should allow me enough room to pack the 15 gallon goat-skin of Tang...I feel better about myself now...don't know what I was thinking of...gong-da...shida gong-da.....snicker.
haha......good to see some alternative views and opinions......it makes the world go round!!
Taderbush.......the permafrost is doomed anyway's!! That's why I'm a kayaker....I figure we may as well enjoy the run off when it melts!!
Amberlea. A far better alternative to Tang is Chang.......15 Litres of Chang should see you enjoy your trip across the plateau immensely.....drinking copius amounts of Chang breaks down social barriers....often gets you a free place to stay for the night and if you're lucky you'll even find yourself a Tibetan husband!!??
Have a great trip!!
CJ
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