Nepal Warning or Danger Tips by GillianMcLaughlin

I would add a couple of points o the warnings that everyone gives about not drinking the water.

You'll be able to buy iodine and other water sterilisation provisions in Kathmandu / Pokhara. DO IT!

Apart from leaving it in for long enough before drinking, make sure you open your drinking bottle a little, turn it upside down and shake it - the escaping sterilised water will get rid of any bacteria lurking at the rim of your drinking bottle.

Most sterilisation treatment tastes fowl... you can make it more palatable by adding flavours (you can get loads of fruit-flavoured powders in the supermarket).

Be careful about trusting boiled water in the mountains: water boils at a lower temperature at altitude, and is unlikely to reach the necessary 100 degrees for a while... below this it remains suspect.

Finally, remember to use your sterilised water when brusing your teeth and also keep your mouth shut under the shower!

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Don't let these warnings put you off visiting one of the world most wonderful countries... but do think ahead.

There are stalls around offering fresh fruit juice. Careful they may (and frequently do) add untreated water to the juice.

Other than in top hotels ice is also normally made of untreated water. Best just to avoid it altogether, even if you are warm. Similarly avoid salads (they will probably have been washed in untreated water) and also ice cream (which frequently is kept in an environment in which it can melt and refreeze).

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Despite your best efforts, it is still possible to succumb to a rogue bacterium... at certain times of the year, notably just before the rains cleanse the air, it is possible to breathe in bacteria.

I swear by ORS: Oral rehydration salts. They replace very necessary minerals in your body. I take them everywhere now, and they can be used even before you fall ill (if, for example, you think you may have eaten or drunk something suspect take them in any case).

They can be found in any good sports / trekking supplier.

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