November
2004
Kathmandu-Lhasa
direct bus service |
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An
agreement has been signed between Chinese and Nepali transport authorities
to start direct bus service from Kathmandu to Lhasa, Tibet, from
the first week of May 2005.
The agreement was signed in Lhasa on Friday.
Each
side will be operating two buses in the initial phase. Three types of buses
- luxurious, standard and general - will be running in the 900km Kathmandu-Lhasa
route. Ticket fare for the luxurious buses have been set for US$70,
60 for standard and US$50 for the general type.
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September
2004
Kathmandu:
Tribhuvan International Airport meets international safety standards |
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The
Civil Aviation Office at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) has
refuted media reports that claimed that there was a possible threat of
hijacking Indian airlines planes flying to Nepal. Tribhuvan International
Airport meets all the provisions on aviation safety as per the international
standard and principles of the International Civil Aviation organisation
(ICAO) and that all international and domestic flights are being operated
regularly in a smooth manner. The security arrangements at the Tribhuvan
International Airport is capable of avoiding any possible unfavorable situation
that may arise as TIA has been consolidating security provisions necessary
for the aircraft and airport in a regular manner. The Civil Aviation Office
has also assured all passengers and tourists about the security at the
airport and urged them to carry on their travel plans as scheduled.
The
Chief of the Civil Aviation Office at the TIA said there was tight security
at the TIA. "People have to cross the 'Golden Gate' manned by the Royal
Nepalese Army personnel to enter the TIA. Then they have to pass through
the security check carried out by Nepal Police personnel. Finally, security
officials of concerned airlines also carry out security checks," the CAO
chief said.
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April
2004
Entry
fees and Taxes: More and more popular |
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Tourists
most welcome in paying taxes
Visa
fees cost from US$ 30.- (single) to US$ 80.- (multiply). Your taxi
driver will charge you with NRS 650.- on a ride from TIA to the city. Every
room bill is charged with 10% government tax and at least 5% service
charge. Bhaktapur welcomes you with a entry fee of US$ 10.-.
Your Hanuman Dhoka and Patan sightseeings become more beautiful with entry
fees of NRS 250.- each. Before your trekking to Manang you have to pay
at least US$ 75 for the trekking permit. While on trekking you have
to fill the Maoist donation bag with NRs 1000.- ore more. Tribhuvan
International Airport says good-bye with a departure tax of NRs
RS 1100.-.
US$
30.- + NRs 650.- + US$ 10.- + NRs 500.- + US$ 75.- + NRs 1000.- + NRs 1100.-
(approx. US$ 34.) ... Isn't it too much? A Coke will cost you only NRs
15.- to NRs 40.-
April
2004
Trekkers
bring medical care to the Annapurnas |
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The
phrase 'medical tourism' gets a whole new meaning with this unique project
that relies on tourists to stock remote health posts with first aid supplies.
Over the years, Medicines for Nepal has given supplies to the Maternity
Hospital in Thapathali, Bir Hospital, TU Teaching Hospital, Siddhi Memorial
Foundation in Bhaktapur and Tashi Palkhiel Tibetan Settlement in Pokhara.
They have a long standing rapport with Kanti Children's Hospital where
they are raising funds for Prakash Nidhi Tiwari to join a fellowship at
Children's Hospital in Los Angeles, the world's leading facility for paediatric
oncology.
Local
experts are also concerned about travellers distributing medicine. "They
have a moral responsibility to make sure the medicines are properly used,"
an expert said
April
2004 |
April
2004
Manang,
Pheriche (Everest Region) and Everest base camp: Medical Clinics |
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Medical
clinic at Everest base camp |
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The Himalayan
Rescue Association (HRA) has set up medical clinics at Manang, Pheriche
(Everest Region) and Everest base camp. The clinics in Manang Goan
and Pheriche have been in operation since March 01, 2004 with the Everest
base camp starting opening from April 01, 2004.
The
Manang Clinic is managed by Dr. Alexandra Halina Dunin Bell and Dr. Michael
Kai Chin while the Pheriche Clinic is manned by Dr. Suzanne Christinne
Boyle. The two clinics will be open until the 20th of May 2004.
The
Everest base camp Medical Clinic set up at the height 5,340 meters will
be looked after by Dr. Lauanne Freer and Dr. Denise Meritt and assisted
by the HRA staff. The Everest clinic will be open till the end of May,
2004, coinciding with the closure of expeditions and trekking in the area.
The managers of the clinics are experienced and qualified persons in mountaineering
and high altitude emergencies, the NTB release added.
The
Himalayan Rescue Association (HRA) is a voluntary non-profit organisation
formed in 1973 with an objective to reduce casualties in the Nepal Himalayas,
especially keeping in view the increasing number of Nepalese and foreigners
who trek up into the remote wilderness.
Everest
Base Camp Clinic
The
Himalayan Rescue Association Nepal, a non profit organisation which operates
medical clinics at Pheriche and Manang is considering a proposal to set
up a trial medical clinic at Everest Base Camp spring 2003, staffed by
physicians with previous high altitude experience. We plan to set up camp
on or around April 1 and remain at EBC until the end of spring climbing
season. The experienced medical staff will treat all climbers and staff
at EBC for a fee (similar to the operations at Manang and Pheriche) and
will treat trekkers visiting base camp as well. If the clinic is successful,
it will allow climbers and trekkers to pursue their missions and leave
their health care needs to the professionals. Of course, our mission to
provide low cost medical care the native Nepali will carry on at the EBC
clinic as well.
The
HRA staff will be based at EBC and will not climb with any team, even in
the event of emergency. Any medical emergencies occurring at advanced camps
will be expected to be dealt with by the individual team in the usual manner.
In addition, the HRA clinic will NOT supply teams with medications for
their summit attempts. We will, of course, provide any assistance we can
from our base in case of emergency.
If
the spring trial of the HRA EBC clinic is successful, the clinic will be
a permanent entity at Everest. If there is sufficient demand, services
may be expanded to fall climbing season as well.April
2004 |
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April
2004
Kathmandu:
Prohibitory orders to more places |
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Kathmandu:
New prohibitory orders
Kathmandu
District Administration Office (DAO) issued prohibitory orders at a few
more places in the city. DAO has restricted protest rallies, sit-ins and
hungers strikes around Bhotahiti area, Jamal, Teendhara Pathsala, Ghantaghar
and Ranoddip Chowk.
Similar
restrictive orders are already in place at few other areas including Durbar
Marg, Ratnapark, Bhadrakali and Singh Darbar since March 21.
Kathmandu:
Air-China landed at TIA
Air-China
landed in Kathmandu for the first time with 80 Chinese tourists. Air-China,
currently operating two weekly flights between Kathmandu to Chengdu , is
planning to increase its flights along with the increase in the Chinese
tourists to Nepal.
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