Monday, October 29, 2012

Classic Treks of Bhutan

Classic Treks of Bhutan

Bhutan

BHUTAN STUNNING TOURS

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Here is a list of the available treks - most popular treks (Jomolhari Trek, Druk Path Trek), as well as the toughest trek in the world - Snowman Trek.



Druk Path
This is a short four-day trek which leads from Thimphu to Paro or vice versa, crossing the chain of mountains that separates the two valleys. There are wonderful lakes teeming with fish at 4,000 meters (13000 ft) and spectacular rhododendrons blooming in May. During winter, when the sky is clear, there is a magnificent view over the high Himalayas, This trek can be done in all seasons, but the best time is from October to the end of May.

Bumthang - Lhuentse via Rodong La
This trek can be longer or shorter than four days. The trek leaves Ogyenchoeling in Tang and gets to Lhuentse Dzong by crossing first the Rodong La (4160 m/ 13650 ft) And then making a long arduous descent. Many lovely flowers bloom during the season , and many houses can be seen along the trail.

Bumthang Trek
This two-day trek is ideal for average walkers as the altitude does not go over 3,400m (11,155 ft) at Phephela pass between Choekhor and Tang valleys. Though there are no views of snow-capped peaks, the trek visits several villages and winds through the Bumthang countryside, giving an exceptional opportunity to be in contact with rural life. This trek can be done in October, and November or from Februuary to May. Do add another day to visit Ogyenchoelimg an its museum.

Gangtey Gonpa Trek
This is another good trek for average walkers. It takes three days, and gives you a chance to visit the isolated valleys of Gangtey Gonnpa/ Phobjikha, Gogona and Kothoka. Although this trek can be done any time from Octoner to May, it is best done in April and early May when the rhododendrons are flowering.

Punakha Trek and Samtengang Trek These two treks are perfect for beginners, and during winter. They only take three or four days, altitudes are low, at 1,500-2,000 m ( 5,000-6,500 ft), and they go through several villages.

Jomolhari Trek
This is an excellent trek for experienced walkers. It traverses Bhutan in the north, to the land of the yak herders, to the base of Mount Jomolhari, at 7,316 meters (24,000 ft) and on to remote Lingshi Dzong. There are fabulous views of the mountains and exceptional flora. You will encounter many yak herders but few villagers. The maximum altitude is 4,900 m (16,000 ft). This trek can be done from the end of April to November, with the possibility of snow during these two months. There are three possibilities for the return: take the same trail back to Paro; return to Thimphu, although the trail from Shodu to Thimphu is bad and sometimes make the trek not very pleasant; return to Paro via Yaksa, which is the most beautiful of the routes. The best time to go is October, but August and September are the best months for seeing the high altitude flora if one does not mind the rain or the occasional snow fall.

Laya Trek
This trek takes about eight days and goes from the sub-tropical Punakha valley, at 1,300m (4,265ft) up to the high Laya region, at 4,000 m ( over 13,000 ft), where yak herders live at the foot of Mount Masangang, at 7,200 m (23,620 ft). The route passes by hot springs and Gasa Dzong, and through different levels of vegetation before reaching the village of Laya, where the woman wear black yak-hair costumes and strange, conical bamboo hats. This trek combines a variety of landscapes, villagers, and beautiful views of the peaks. It can be made in May, June, September, October and November, the best season being October. It is not advisable to go during the monsoon because leeches swarm in the jungles between Tashinthang and Gasa.

Lunana Trek
This tough eighteen - day trek requires excellent health, a high spirit of adventure and self control. It starts off taking the same route as the Laya Trek. After reaching Laya, it turns eastwards and cross Ganglakarchung Pass, at 5,100m (16,730 ft), into the Lunana region where habitation is concentrated in the villagers of Thargza and Chezo. It is the most difficult region of Bhutan to reach, lying at 4,000m (13,000 ft) at the foot of peaks that soar up to 7,000 m (23,000 ft). The inhabitants are farmer-herders who are famous for their difficult character. The trek then heads south, and after crossing the Rinchenzoe Pass, at 5,220 m (17,125 ft), another possibility is to continue on to Bumthang, via the base camp of Gangkar Peunsum (7,541m) and the Dur hot springs. The trek can be done from mid-June to mid- October, but there is always the possibility of snow.

Snowman Trek
When the Jomolhari, Laya and Lunana treks are combined, you have the Snowman Trek, considered by many as the toughest trek in the world. Taking twenty four days, a total distance of 356 km (221 miles), eleven passes, three of which are more than 5,000 m (16,405 ft) and an average altitude of 4,000 m (13,125 ft), one should be warned of the strenuous efforts required on this trek, and a thorough medical check-up is highly advisable.

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Acute Mountain Sickness

Altitude Sickness (Acute Mountain Sickness)

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Acute altitude sickness is the mildest and most common form. Because more people are traveling to areas of high elevation for skiing and mountain climbing, acute altitude sickness has become a greater public health concern. Roughly one fourth of Colorado ski area vacationers, two thirds of climbers on Mount Rainier, and half the people who fly to the Khumbu region of Nepal develop acute altitude sickness.

AMS - Acute Mountain Sickness is generally the first sign of altitude sickness, with any combination of the following symptoms , headache, insomnia, fatigue, nausea, n lack of appetite, dizziness, shortness of breath during exertion,swelling of extremities, and social withdrawal.

If left untreated, AMS, can quickly worsen into either HIGH Altitude Cerebral Edema ( HACE) , or High Altitude Pulmonary Edema ( HAPE).
As AMS progresses into HACE, fluid leaks into the brain, there is a loss of coordination and balance ( a condition known as ataxia), and, if untreated, the patient will slip into a coma and die.

HAPE
High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE), an advanced form of acute altitude sickness, causes the following progression of symptoms:
Shortness of breath at rest
Gurgling respirations
Wet cough with frothy sputum
Possible fever
Respiratory failure
Onset of HAPE can be gradual or sudden. HAPE typically occurs after more than one day spent at high altitude. With HAPE,fluid leaks into the lungs, producing a frothy cough, sometimes pink in color, which will eventually accumulate, and drown the person if they don't receive urgent medical care.

HACE
High altitude cerebral edema (HACE) can begin with confusion.

A person developing HACE begins having trouble keeping up with the group.
Next, walking and coordination become impaired.
As the brain continues to swell, lethargy and then coma will develop.
If left untreated, HACE will ultimately result in death.

Altitude Sickness Causes

Altitude sickness develops when the rate of ascent into higher altitudes outpaces the body's ability to adjust to those altitudes.< BR>
Altitude sickness generally develops at elevations higher than 8,000 feet (about 2,400 meters) above sea level and when the rate of ascent exceeds 1,000 feet (300 meters) per day.

The following actions can trigger altitude sickness:
Ascending too rapidly
Overexertion within 24 hours of ascent
Inadequate fluid intake
Hypothermia
Consumption of alcohol or other sedatives
One way to avoid altitude sickness is allowing the body to get used to the altitude slowly.

Acclimatization is the process by which the body adjusts to high altitudes. The goal of acclimatization is to increase ventilation (breathing) to compensate for lower oxygen content in the air.
To compensate for this extra ventilation, blood needs to have a lower pH. In response, the kidneys excrete bicarbonate into the urine, which in turn lowers the body's pH to accommodate for this extra respiratory effort.

When to Seek Medical Care
If symptoms such as headache or shortness of breath do not improve promptly with simple changes, visiting a doctor may be helpful if descent is inconvenient and a doctor is available.
Descend immediately if shortness of breath at rest, mental confusion or lethargy, or loss of muscle coordination develop. Symptoms of most people with acute altitude sickness improve by the time they reach a medical facility, which is usually located at a lower altitude.

When to Seek Medical Care
If symptoms such as headache or shortness of breath do not improve promptly with simple changes, visiting a doctor may be helpful if descent is inconvenient and a doctor is available.
Descend immediately if shortness of breath at rest, mental confusion or lethargy, or loss of muscle coordination develop. Symptoms of most people with acute altitude sickness improve by the time they reach a medical facility, which is usually located at a lower altitude.

Altitude Sickness Treatment

Descending to lower altitudes or delaying further ascent are treatments for acute altitude sickness until symptoms are gone.
A Gamow bag may be used if descent is not feasible.
Oxygen (2-4 liters per minute) will improve oxygen saturation of blood.
Aspirin or acetaminophen (Tylenol) may be taken for headache.
For nausea, the doctor may prescribe prochlorperazine (Compazine), an antinausea medication that also enhances the body's ability to increase the breathing rate in response to low-oxygen environments.
Sleeping pills for insomnia should not be taken. They are potentially dangerous because they can slow breathing.
Acetazolamide (Diamox) may be prescribed to hasten acclimatization.
Acetazolamide is a diuretic (a drug that increases urine output) that increases kidney excretion of bicarbonate. This decreases the blood pH, thereby stimulating extra breathing, which results in higher oxygen levels in the blood.
In addition, acetazolamide corrects nighttime pauses in breathing known as periodic breathing. Acetazolamide also improves symptoms of insomnia.
HAPE responds best to descent.

Oxygen, if available, should be provided.
Nifedipine (Procardia), a medication for high blood pressure, has been shown to be beneficial for HAPE.
Antibiotics may be given if a fever is present and pneumonia is possible.
For more severe cases of HAPE, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask ventilation can be used. Although uncomfortable to wear, the CPAP mask helps by increasing the pressure of the inhaled air.
If this intervention fails, a tube may be placed through the mouth and into the airway. This, along with assisted ventilation, is required to treat respiratory failure.
The only definitive treatment for HACE is descent.

Dexamethasone (Decadron, a steroid) may be beneficial.
Generally, if dexamethasone is considered, then a plan for descent should be in place unless descent is impossible.
Some people, after receiving dexamethasone, may feel so much better that they want to continue ascending. Under no circumstance should this be allowed.
Oxygen may be helpful.
A Gamow bag may buy time until descent is possible.
Anyone with HACE or HAPE should be kept as comfortable as possible.

Exertion of any type should be minimized, even during descent.
This means that it may be necessary to arrange descent for the ill person by whatever means available (helicopter, snowmobile, or mule, for example).

Altitude Sickness Prevention
Altitude sickness is preventable. The body needs time to adjust to high altitude. Physical conditioning has no bearing on this.
For people who do not know the rate at which their bodies adjust to high altitude, the following preventive measures are recommended.
If traveling by air to a ski area above 8,250 feet (2,500 meters), incorporate a layover of 1-2 days at an intermediate altitude.
Avoid physical exertion for the first 24 hours.
Drink plenty of fluids, and avoid alcoholic beverages.
Consume a high-carbohydrate diet.
If mountain climbing or hiking, ascend gradually once past 8,000 feet (2,400 meters) above sea level.
Increase the sleeping altitude by no more than 1,000 feet (300 meters) per 24 hours. The mountaineer's rule is "climb high, sleep low." This means that on layover days, a climber can ascend to a higher elevation during the day and return to a lower sleeping elevation at night. This helps to hasten acclimatization.

The doctor may prescribe acetazolamide (Diamox) to prevent acute altitude sickness. This medication speeds acclimatization.
If rapid ascent is unavoidable, as in rescue missions, or if a person is prone to developing HAPE, the doctor may also prescribe nifedipine (Procardia). Nifedipine is normally used to treat high blood pressure.
Prevention of high altitude cerebral edema (HACE) is the same as for acute altitude sickness.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Beneath Blossom Rain

BHUTAN STUNNING TOURS

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I am reading the book Beneath Blossom Rain..

Discovering Bhutan on the Toughest Trek in the World




This is a very interesting book, as I am attracted by the title, because it is about the toughest trek in the world!
I like challenges.

I know there will be a group of people out there, who simply think that they could not do it! They believe that they could not possibly complete this trek. But there again, there exists yet a second group of people around, who will find it inpiring, and who will write it down as a WISH list, and make sure that they will make it a point, to attempt this challenging trek.

We are all different due to our upbringing, our past experiences, our fitness level, and our belief, and even our religion. I am a free thinker, as I do not like to be bound by so many rules. I want the freedom to pursue my interests, and I remind myself that I should try not not do anything harmful to others.

Why do we want to seek out the challenge?

Why do we need to push ourselves to the limit?
Why do we want to even attempt something already said to be very tough?
Why, and the list goes on...

If something is so easily accomplished, then there is no fun, no elation, no excitment, nothing to really look forward to... It could be done by so many others, and so long, anyone who attempts it, will most likely succeed in completing the task.

We want to celebrate the victories, and triumphs! No pain, no gain... Even if it will take the hard work, there is someting in our minds, that we like to seek something more, to tread on the unchartered path, or unbeaten track, to find something more thrilling in order to have the sense of fulfilment. We have tried it, and we have made it! The success is sweet, and only when we experienced it, we will treasure it more.

I had read and found out that at Laya, it should be the last spot for anyone who wants to give up the idea of continueing the trek, to retrace their steps. Otherwise, the trek continues to the remote Lunana region, and evacuation would be tough. I am very happy to follow the story till this point, when the author revealed Larry 's (one of the trekkers in the group) decision to press on, and not give up. Yes, there may be tough times, but we have to strive to move on to be the winner ourselves. We decide for ourselves the path that we want to choose!

All the way, Larry!!



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Bhutanese cuisine

Bhutanese cuisine

BHUTAN STUNNING TOURS

Toughest Trek in the World - Snowman Trek
Bhutan Festival Dates 2013
Map of Bhutan
Bhutan weather
Gross National Happiness
Flights to Bhutan
Visa
Recommended 3 Star Hotels
Classic Treks of Bhutan
11 Days Enchanting Bhutan itinerary
7 Days Bhutan Festival Tour Itinerary

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The basic staple food is rice, white, and red rice, though white rice is more common. There are a great variety of vegetables, and I had eaten spinach,cabbage, cauliflower, brocolli, eggplant, and etc. Potatoes are in abundant, so I have potatoes in almost every meal. Together with the rice, we have five to six dishes of vegetables , and some dried meat. Do note that the Bhutanese do not slaughter the animals for the meat, so most of the meat that the tourists get to eat are actually imported from India.

Basically, the Bhutanese love chili. Yes, they add chili and salt, and sometimes saffron or curry spices. Generally, their food is greatly influenced by Tibetan and Indian food. However, as a tourist, you normally eat at the restaurant which serves the tourists. I came to understand there are restaurants or rather eateries, which are only meant for the locals. After all, the food the Bhutanese eat is much more spicy, and due to cleanliness issue, your local guide will never bring you to eat at the local eatery. The reason for me to ask the guide to bring us to such eatery is to actually try the authentic Bhutanese food. You would probably know that food that is prepared for the tourists is always not so authentic, as they try to cater to the taste bud of the others. In this case, they use less chili, especially a lot of the foreign visitors are from the Western countries - USA, and Europe, and most of them would not be able to take spicy food. However, for those Asians who love chilis, there is no issue, and probably you might like the ema datshi (chili cheese, national dish) especially if you love the cheese.

In Bumthang, I had tried the buckwheat pancake, and it was quite nice.

The national dish is ema datshi, which means chili cheese.
It is quite common to see bright red chilies (small peppers) drying on the roof and strips of yak meat of beef hanging out to dry in the sun.

And you must try their yak butter tea. Very heavily salted, and very concentrated taste of the butter. Butter tea - sudja. And you can often find the Indian style milk tea - ngad-ja

If you love beer, try the Red Panda, which is locally brewed in the Bumthang area. And perhaps the Black Mountain Whiskey which is often called the BMW.