communicating with those at home

[kmcboogie]

Hi:

What's the best way to communicate with folks back home from the Everest trekking region? I don't own a cell phone and have no idea how to text (although I'm fine with email!).

Kay

[rich]

Slow email available in Lukla and Namche
Telephone too if you are that desperate

[webmaster]

Tell them you are on holiday before you leave and don't communicate at all.

A visit to Nepal is a good chance to step back in time to a place where there were no cell phones, email, televisision and satellites.

[Petrus]

Agree with above. Tell them it is total wilderness and cut of from the rest of the world, and have a holiday...

In -84-85 we travelled 7 months around Asia and used telephone once (called our bank...), no e-mail or SMS either. So relaxing. I never take my cell phone to Nepal when going trekking.

[kmcboogie]

Thanks for the info.

K

[yakshaver]

I cannot miss my weekly therapy session. Else my shrink would go bananas. She's funny like that.

[kmcboogie]

Sarcasm isn't necessary. Some of us love to travel and may have children at home who appreciate a phone call or email. Gone are the days 25 years ago when I first started traveling when communication back home was a hurried collect phone call every 3 weeks from a phone booth at 3 a.m. local time so as to not wake up those paying for the call. There are often other options now. I feel my question was a valid one and answers to the question, rather than flippant replies would be appreciated.

K

[Wolfblass]

When I was in EBC Feb 2010 we had good telephone calls / email up to Namche I was also able to get a couple of texts out of Tengboche - but as you don't have a cell phone thats not an option unless you can rent one for the trip. I understand there is a phone cell mask now at Gorakshep.

I was also able to email from Gokyo and I paid for a satellite call from Loboche on my daughters birthday ( I can't remember the cost) but i think these may be the only options for you.

[yakshaver]

My therapist agrees with you K, less flippancy would be helpful according to her. She also tells me that past behavoiur most often predicts future behaviour, whatever that means. Told me to take my teddy bear with me on my next trek as some kind of gestalt intervention, just in case.

[Edgewood]

How about just renting a satellite phone for your trip. Call when and were you want.

[kmcboogie]

Thanks for more suggestions. I looked into renting a satellite phone and it was too expensive. I think a couple of emails, and paying for a satellite call or 2 will be fine. Maybe my guide will have a cell phone (in the shape of a teddy bear, no doubt) and then I can arrange something with him or her.

K

[yakshaver]

The guide will have a mobile phone. They all do these days. I remember Santa & Rame talking from even as far as Mong La without a problem back in January 08. These days I think the cover goes much further like Wolfblass says.
Like home, you can buy a pre-paid phone chip in KTM, that will serve you ok while in Nepal. Talk to your guide in KTM as to what provider has better coverage in Khumbu. Maybe 20-30 dollars or so credit will do. It might be a good idea to take with you a handset which is "open", not locked in to some telephony provider (else you can purchase a basic one in Nepal for 50 dollars or so). Then stick in the Nepali pre-paid. Make sure when you purchase it, that you can speak overseas, rates/minute etc.

If you want to speak from a lodge, it gets more expensive as you go up. They do have satellite phones, for example, at Gokyo. They charged me 5 USD/minute back in 2004, and about 4USD/minute in 2008 (having to consult the therapist and stuff...). It might be cheaper, or more expensive, these days, I don't know.

Regarding my therapist, I was trying to convince her to let me take an inflatable relationship device on trek. She insisted on the teddy. A fixation of hers, no doubt. She wouldn't talk about it.

[nikky]

I’m glad that this site is not only for sharing views and advice, but having fun. For those bothered by our senior yak psychologist's flippant comments, I’d recommend a desensitisation regime starting by reading some of his FAQs such as the one on amazing things one can do with trekking poles, or his packing list. Enjoy.;)

[yakshaver]

I’m glad that this site is not only for sharing views and advice, but having fun. For those bothered by our senior yak psychologist's flippant comments, I’d recommend a desensitisation regime starting by reading some of his FAQs such as the one on amazing things one can do with trekking poles, or his packing list. Enjoy.;)

Thanks Nikky! Those trekking polese, what memories... Please don't get me started. I have been in therapy for years to desensitize myself from... myself.

[redders]

Well said Nikky ,I quite agree with You ! The Yaks given plenty of good advice ,but a sense of humour is welcome on here and is always the first thing I pack before trekking
Personally I would hate to take a phone with me to Khumbu ,and would also hate to have someone wittering away in the lodges
" I can see Mount Everest from here "
"There are Yaks passing by now can you hear the Bells ""
and so on and on
Cheers Mike

[Sujoy]

I believe Ncell is now the recommended provider for the Khumbu. They have a web site as well.

[kmcboogie]

Thanks again for the informative replies. It's nice to know that there are different options.

K

[marcy]

email available from Lukla, namche, tengboche, and dingboche.. and probably from more places as well by now