17 Feb 2003

How to find a guide in Kathmandu - TIME - Time Magazine
www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,423558,00.html

17 Feb 2003 – TIME Magazine - Arts ...
Beyond the Limits Trek and Expeditions, provides excellent value, with the added benefit of knowing ...

GUIDELINES There are more than 2,000 registered trekking guides in Kathmandu alone, and while most offer honest, impeccable service, horror stories abound. When choosing a guide, make sure he or she has been accredited by the Hotel Management and Tourism Training Centre, is familiar with the area you will be visiting and can arrange emergency-helicopter evacuation service should a member of your party be injured. Beware of guides who tout their own services. Beyond the Limits Trek and Expeditions, provides excellent value, with the added benefit of knowing which teahouses serve the best apple pie along the Annapurna trail; visit his informative website at www.treksinnepal.com

INN STYLE The Hyatt Regency in Kathmandu has a swimming pool; the Yak and Yeti has a luxurious reputation. But what Kathmandu's Hotel Vajra lacks in televisions and high-speed Internet connections, it more than makes up for in charm, comfort and personality. A pleasant distance from the tourist area of Thamel and a stone's throw from the landmark Swayambhu stupa, the 22-year-old inn was designed to resemble a traditional Nepali palace, complete with a tranquil flower garden, fountains and a rooftop terrace ideal for watching the sun set over the capital. You get it all for less than half the price of the luxury hotels. Call (977-1) 271545 for reservations, or click on www.hotelvajra.com for a glimpse of the hotel's traditional architecture and more information.

NIRVANA ON A PLATE While food on the Annapurna trail is pretty good, it's hard to beat a crisp-crusted pizza oozing with mozzarella and tangy tomato sauce straight out of an authentic wood-fired oven. Serving up some of the best Italian bistro fare this side of Sicily, Fire and Ice on Tridevi Marg, just outside Thamel, dishes up a delectable selection of pizzas, pastas and salads from its bustling open kitchen. While the terrace is perfect for watching the world go by, the restaurant also delivers to hotel rooms should post-trek patrons be too sore to get out.